Page 227 of Breathe Like Hell

One slice of something that looked like an orange but was black. A small bunch of translucent white grapes. One cube of pale cheese. A thin piece of bread with honey drizzled on top—honey which was glowing ruby.

I set the plate down on the nightstand, then got on the bed to eat.

Everything tasted fine. Different than Earth food in the way that everything in Heaven was different from Earth, but not disgusting in any way.

Zephyr had said tomorrow my wings would be healed.

Tomorrow I could fall and return to Mason and Micah.

Was I supposed to sleep now?

I didn’t feel tired.

But, with nothing else to do, I laid my head down and allowed my eyes to slip shut.

CHAPTER FIFTY-FIVE

DAKOTA

When my eyes opened, everything looked the exact same as when they’d last closed. The sky was the same oxblood shade, millions of stars glistening, and the same cool breeze was drifting through the window I’d reopened. I stood up and peered out, seeing angels flying and walking down the streets.

My skin still glistened with ultraneon, and there were still large white wings attached to my back.

The panic of being completely alone in such an unfamiliar place was constantly snapping at my throat, but I kept pushing it down. I didn’t have time to panic. Mason and Micah used to live here; it was a safe place. And I needed to keep myself calm so I could return to them as soon as possible.

I tentatively pushed open the door to my room, glancing side to side in the hallway, but seeing nothing. What the fuck do I do now?

I tiptoed towards the same stairs Zephyr had brought me up earlier, then descended until I was in the same spacious lobby. Zephyr was nowhere to be found, but there was a new female angel sitting at a desk across the room. She noticed me immediately, and her face softened.

“Did you sleep?” she asked.

“Um. Yes. I have no idea for how long, though.”

“Probably twelve hours or so. You won’t need to sleep so long in the future here.” The angel stood up from behind her desk, then walked over to me.

“I’m not planning on staying here,” I said, my eyes flicking nervously all around the room. Why was everyone so invested in my presence remaining in Heaven?

“Oh. Are you sure? I can show you around. You’d be very happy and taken care of here.” Her head tilted to the side, pretty blue eyes blinking at me. “And if you’re worried about being alone, we can help you find your creator’s birthplace.”

“My creator? The person who marked me as an infant? I don’t care about that.”

“Well—”

“I have to go back.” I swallowed against the nervousness tightening my throat, cutting her off. My hands were shaking. “Am I allowed to do that now?”

“Let’s head back to your room, and we can discuss it.”

I took a deep breath, then went back up the stairs and through the hallway to my room.

“My name is Calliope,” she said, quietly shutting the door behind herself. “I just need to check your wings, then explain to you the process. I’m not really here to stop you from leaving.” She sighed, rubbing the back of her neck. “But Angelakia are very special to Heaven, and we prefer not to lose them if possible.”

“But most angels don’t know about them.”

“No. Most angels don’t. It really only affects fallen angels, which there are far less of.” Her gaze skated briefly over my face, as if she was searching for a shift in my expression to illuminate some truth for her. “I can check your wings now.”

“I’m not able to make them disappear,” I informed her, then instantly regretted it, afraid that would mean they weren’t yet healed and I would have to stay.

“Are you sure? Try thinking about it again,” Calliope instructed.