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The chime had been the tool used to give names to almost every Protector that existed, connecting a new soul with their truest name—their destiny, almost. But now it was melted.
Ruined.
“What happened to it?” Gavriel demanded. “Who would have… It was in Mikhail’s workshop.”
“I found it in Precious’s room, stuffed under Shadow’s bed,” Rumple said softly, as Mikhail let out a soft, keening wail and grabbed the lump of metal from his hand.
“Why?” Righteous breathed, as we all stood in shock and horror. “Why would she have done this?”
My heart felt like it was being squeezed in an invisible fist, when Rumple answered, “I think I know. But I don’t want to say.”
CHAPTER3
Seraphiel
As the First of the Celestial Children, I had lived for countless millennia and seen destruction in all its forms. The small, ruined bell that my heart friend Mikhail held and mourned now was nowhere near the worst. But it might be the most painful for the inhabitants of our in-between realm.
Living here in the Limen, sandwiched between the void and the Celestial Realm that was our rightful home, the naming chime had made it possible to create some semblance of comfort. To build the trappings of home around us.
We could still eat, since the energy we consumed came from the upwelling springs in the cloud surfaces nearest the Celestial Realm. But beyond that… I felt the eyes of my family on me as I pressed my lips together, not wanting to share what I’d sensed in the naming chime. The past that I’d read in it.
Righteous broke the silence. “Mikhail? Can you make another one?”
The burly High Angelus folded his bronze wings close, glanced at me, then shook his head. “I wouldn’t want to. The making of a new chime? It’s not worth the sacrifice.”
I agreed immediately. “Great Singer, no. Never again.”
What sacrifice?I heard my small, beautiful mate’s question in my thoughts and slammed every door of my mind shut on the memories of what had gone into the creation of this one. If anyone would try to forge a new one, regardless of the cost, it would be Feather.
She must never learn of this, I sent on narrow threads of thought to Gavriel, then Mikhail, while Righteous distracted Feather with murmured questions.
Agreed, they sent back immediately.
I felt a sharp pain on my shin and looked down. “Little Sacrifice, did you kick me?”
“I know you’re talking about me,” she growled, her green eyes crackling like emeralds on fire. “Or telling secrets. You know that won’t end well for you.”
Gavriel and Mikhail started coughing, while Righteous gulped audibly. “Hey, I wasn’t in on it—”
She cut him off with a glance. “Don’t act like you weren’t already planning to be. Tell me what happened to the chime.”You don’t need to tell me how to fix it, she added mentally, with a shudder.I could never do that.
How did you—?I cursed mentally, then wrapped my arms around her. She grabbed hold of my golden tail and tucked it between us, as she liked to do when she needed comfort.I didn’t want you to see that memory, little one.
I glanced at our other mates, who all reached out to touch Feather, comforting her while I searched for the tendril of her soul that had obviously worked its way past my inner defenses. She was still there, her golden soul shining brighter than my own inner light, staring at the memory from the day Sanctuary was sealed.
“Revel. Brother.” I whispered his true name in my mind.Revelation of Divine Mysteries.“If I do this, I don’t know when I’ll be able to change your form back. This place needs a bridge—”
“Yes,” Revel agreed, his dark eyes shining from his equally dark, gloriously beautiful face. He was smiling, as always.
Revel’s smile was a constant in my universe. Even when his mouth wasn’t visible, an eternal dance of humor, curiosity, and mystery shone in his eyes. As if the entirety of Her creation had been revealed to him, and he was keeping the gleeful secret from all of us.
“Oh, I love that dream,” Revel said, throwing his arms around me. His wings were as ebony-dark as the rest of him, and just as perfect. “That’s exactly what it’s like. Although not always joyful. Mother’s secrets aren’t necessarily dipped in sweetness.” A flash of pain flitted behind his eyes. “I know I’ll be the bridge for a long time. It’s where I need to be.”
I sighed. Revel had embodied his nickname for too long. He was the consummate flirt, exuding divine charisma, and he’d merged with at least half the Celestial Realm. His constant focus on pleasure had resulted in him being perceived as a hedonist, if one of the First Children could be imagined as such. The censure of the others had drained him of some of his joy, and I suspected his desire to commit to becoming the bridge between realms was an effort to change that perception.
“You know those who love you, and know you best, see your heart, Revel. You don’t need to change for anyone.”
His fathomless eyes shone with a holy fervor. “I know. But it’s also where she needs me to be.”
