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They left, and as soon as they were out of sight of the salon, Sabre grabbed Daniel’s arm. His painful grip meant business. “I’m not happy with you going alone. Mr. Troy won’t be happy when I tell him.”
“So don’t tell him.”
“Do you want Bull to put you in the hospital again?”
Daniel shuddered at the memory, then stared into Sabre’s eyes and held his gaze. “Why are you being nice to me?”
Sabre huffed and let go, and Daniel would have sworn he heard the big guy mutter, “Fucking holiday spirit,” as they split ways.
On the Second Night of Chanukah
Sunday: Sunset
Thelial
Thelial gazed at the spinning globe of Earth on his desk. The eastern seaboard of the United States was still aglow with daylight. Sundown could not come soon enough for him. He was a little afraid to look down at the floor of his heavenly room just in case he’d actually worn a path like in those old wives’ tales.
If all went well between him and Daniel, he’d soon have for himself what he’d only dared to wish for…Someone to call mine.Jealousy was an ugly sin, but knowing that didn’t stop him from wanting what Ari and Judah had. To have Father choose him next… Thelial couldn’t and wouldn’t stop the growing smile on his face or the blooming warmth of happiness in his chest.
A quiet knock pulled his attention. Thelial turned enough to see Yonathan Maccabee—or Nate, as he liked to be called—drifting through his doorway. His robes swished around Thelial’s ankles as he passed. He patted Thelial on the shoulder before sitting on the bed. He didn’t meet Thelial’s surprised gaze when he whispered, “I’m going to miss you.”
“I won’t be far,” Thelial replied to the youngest of the Maccabee brothers. Considering they’d barely spoken over the last year, Thelial’s curiosity was piqued. What had brought about Nate’s decision to speak with him now? “You’ll just have to visit more often. Father provided a place for me right next door to Judah and Ari, so you can see us all at once.” At least, he thought he did. He’d arrived and left Atlantic City way too quickly.
Nate’s wings rustled as he slumped, his head hanging even lower. “I can’t. He already told me to prepare for being sent anywhere but the city, after we take care of this new threat.”
“No…” Thelial sank to his knees in front of Nate, a band tightening around his heart for his friend. Nate and Elijah, Ari and Gabriel’s adopted son, were meant to be. As an Angel of Love, he knew this truth deep in his soul. To let them spend all that time together, their love growing, only to separate them… “Why would Father do that to you?”
Nate shook his head. His voice wobbled as he choked out, “I don’t know.” Moisture glistened in his eyes, and a single tear fell as he raised his chin, blinking owlishly. “It’s not fair.”
Thelial used the side of his thumb to brush away the fallen tear. “It’s not, but He must have His reason or reasons for keeping you apart. Elijah is not yet eighteen… Perhaps that is why.”
“Yeah. I don’t know. Maybe.” Nate’s wings drooped even further. “We haven’t done anything more than sleep together, and I mean actually sleep, like with him in my arms, his head on my chest, and I kissed his hair.”
“But it’s getting harder and harder to keep your distance, though, right?”
Nate nodded, pressing his lips together as another tear tracked down his cheeks.
“Oh, my sweet angel.” Thelial sat beside Nate and pulled his friend into his arms.
Nate’s forehead collided with Thelial’s chest. He loosely wrapped his arms around Thelial, keening faintly, his body shaking.
Thelial hugged Nate tighter against him, rocking as he murmured soothing words, despairing they’d make even a tiny dent in Nate’s anguish. He stroked Nate’s hair and caressed his wings.
One by one, Nate’s brothers swept into the room: Eleazar, Simon, and finally, John. They knelt on the floor, placing their hands on their youngest brother. Inching closer, they also whispered to Nate, offering their support, their mumbled assurances that all would be well in time. That whatever Adonai had done had been for his benefit… and Elijah’s.
“How could that be?”
“He’s still young. Like you,” John said, quickly expanding more when Nate glared at him. “In spirit. You’re young in spirit.”
The quick patter of soft footfalls had Thelial glancing up in time to see the swish of colorful robes enter his room.
“Abba is coming,” Joseph whisper-shouted.
They all felt His presence before He said, “Father is here.”
The Maccabee brothers bowed their heads as Nate and Thelial slipped off the bed to kneel on the floor beside them.
Father’s aura filled the room, suffusing Thelial with a wave of peace only He could provide. “Joseph, you know I don’t like it when you announce my arrival. I enjoy keeping my soldiers on their toes.”
