AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Protect her?” Agone snarled and clutched her tighter to his chest even as his skin burned. “You were supposed to be protecting her sothiswouldn’t happen. She never should’ve been in danger.”
The reprimand stung because it was true. He wasn’t there for her when he should’ve been.
“Where were you?” Agone demanded.
“I went to Ayleth’s grave.” No reason not to admit it. “I never said goodbye. I never let her go. That chapter of my life remained open. I had to close it.”
Agone’s lips curled in a silent snarl of pain and disgust, Seren guessed. “And is it closed? Have you finally buried the female?”
“Yes. Unlike you, who buried her the second she died.”
“Because I never loved her.” Agone’s head dipped to Eden. “Now I know the difference.”
It pained him, but Seren understood. The love he had felt for Ayleth was a fraction of what Eden stirred in him. A fraction.
Seren reached for Eden. This time, Agone didn’t stop him. Gingerly, Seren plucked her from Agone’s arms and understood the loss on his face. Once the precious weight was settled in his arms, he never wanted to let her go.
She looked so much like Ayleth; he thought she had to be a demon incarnated, created to entrap and torment him. He was wrong and still didn’t know how to adjust to his new reality. Eden wasn’t Ayleth, and he wanted her. Eden. Desperately. But couldn’t have her. Ever. And worse, he couldn’t walk away to lick his wounds.
Damn, he did not want this assignment. He wasn’t given a choice when Iaiél came to him with a command. But when he first saw her, everything went sideways. His rage... He planned to keep his distance every way he could and only fulfill what Iaiél required: train and protect her.
He didn’t plan on letting ahumanget under his skin, again. Can’t say she used her feminine wiles. The fact she didn’t even try irked. She despised him, rightly so. The emotion flared in the depths of her eyes every time she looked at him.
Seren couldn’t blame her when, from the moment they met, he’d made it clear he cared little for her. What was the human saying?You’ve made your bed. Now lie in it.He certainly had.His obstinacy resulted in her seeking Agone for comfort — a demon — instead of him, an angel.
“You got it bad.” Agone snorted, his voice strained.
No use denying the obvious. Seren tore his gaze away from the huma — woman in his arms and looked at Agone. The demon healed rapidly, but there were still a few raw patches. A quick scan of the area confirmed all were dead, and they were alone, but for how much longer?
“We need to leave.”
Agone nodded once. “I’m surprised more demons aren’t here already. This battle had to have resonated throughout the levels of Hell.”
And in Heaven. In fact, they should’ve already been besieged. The fact they weren’t spoke of a higher power — Iaiél and the demon who had aided in creating the beautiful abomination in his arms. “Are you strong enough to touch me so we can travel?”
Agone rolled his shoulders and flexed, an unnecessary display of his brawn. “Yes. I give you permission to transport me. Only this one time.”
Seren chuckled. “Because a demon needs no help from an angel?”
“Correct.” Agone placed one finger on Seren’s arm. Immediately, it sizzled. “Tempest fugit.”
“Yes. Time flies.” Seren extended power around Eden and Agone, who growled and attempted to hide his trembling limbs and failed. “And so must we.”
???
The melodic tones of birds chirping roused Eden from her sleep. On her stomach, head buried in the pillow, she didn’t want to move. The bed was so warm and comfortable. She rolled over and snuggled deeper into the lavender-scented sheets for a few more precious seconds of oblivion.
The scent of grass, moss, and heather tickled her nose. The rustle of leaves and the soft creak of trees swaying in the breeze teased her ears. Her apartment never smelled this good. Sleep was never this restful. She wanted to stay, just like this for the next year and pretend the events of the last few days never happened.
She could do that, couldn’t she?
It worked until the scent of roasted coffee hit her nose and her eyelids popped open. A wooden vaulted ceiling with exposed beams was above her. This was not her apartment, though she already knew that minor fact.
“Where am I?” Fast and furious, memories of last night poured into her brain. The mall, Agone, the demon and angel dictionaries, Harry.
Oh God! Harry.Tears blurred her vision. She couldn’t see, couldn’t breathe. She doubled over, clutching her chest because her heart broke into a million pieces. Harry was gone!
The bed dipped, and a pair of arms scooped her up. She didn’t fight, hadn’t the will or energy. She clung to the strength surrounding her and bawled.
