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What would it take for his mate to believe him? The sudden need to touch Daniel, to reconnect, hit him hard. He settled on his knees beside his mate. “Daniel,” Theo said, touching his mate’s cheek without care for the blood marring his handsome features, “there is no reason for me to exist greater than you. I will love you to the end, be it here or in Heaven. You are mine, beloved. Say I am yours.”
Daniel’s eyes widened as a shadow fell over them. Theo let forth a thin smile. Skull just made a huge tactical error. As he watched the shadow grow and darken, he cajoled his mate. “Daniel, what do you say? Do you love me?”
“He’ll never have the chance,” Skull roared behind him. Theo ignored Skull’s declaration as he lifted his blade, pointing it backward over his shoulder as he planted his foot on the other side of Daniel and braced for impact.
A hard bump and a choked gurgle preceded a wet slickness cascading down his back. Dual short swords clattered to the mat on either side of him, followed by the demon’s fall, which dragged Theo’s blade down with him.
“Skull? Skull!” Troian bellowed. “You killed him. My most trusted demon.” The rage infecting Troian’s voice had the fighting pausing and everyone staring at him.
Theo had eyes only for one, however.
Daniel’s hand covered Theo’s, pressing the palm to his clammy, bloody cheek. He mouthed something.
“What, my love?” Theo asked, leaning down and putting his ear next to Daniel’s mouth.
Daniel grabbed Theo’s robe, pulling him in closer. “I do,” Daniel whispered, the words barely more than a breathy puff of air. “I do.” His hand dropped to his chest. Theo pulled back far enough to stare at his soulmate. He watched as Daniel’s eyes rolled back and then closed, his entire body going lax.
“Glen?” Theo squeaked.
“He’s fallen unconscious. You and the others need to finish this so we can get him help.”
Theo jerked a nod, then stared at Gabriel and Locke, Ari and Judah’s mates. Lastly, he gazed upward.
Was it enough, Father?
If Adonai responded, Theo didn’t hear because a new shadow blocked the overhead lights. A shadow that grew and grew and grew.
Daniel
Daniel woke to the sound of water falling. Mist covered his face, his chest, his legs. Lifting a hand to wipe at his eyes, he realized it hadn’t hurt. The agony of Skull’s punches, the stomp on his chest that had definitely broken a few ribs… all of it was gone.
He sat up, relishing being pain-free and wondering how. All around him, flowers bloomed, butterflies flew and birds sang in the warm sunshine of the day. Daniel breathed in the scent of trees, fresh-cut grass, and the cloying fragrance of the various blossoms. Over the birdsong, the sound of rushing water behind him registered.Where am I?
Mindful of his injuries, just in case, he carefully turned over and got to his feet. He stood in the middle of a park or garden. The blue sky above reminded him of Theo’s eyes, and he jolted.
Oh, shit… I’m dead.
“Not yet.”
A wizened, gray-haired grandfatherly man crossed the park, walking toward the fountain spraying water in a series of cascades. Daniel’s gaze was drawn to the picturesque statue in the fountain’s center of two men embracing. It appeared as if they were dancing to music only they could hear, and Daniel’s brain conveniently replaced the faceless marble men with himself and Theo.
“Join me. Please,” the older man said, taking a seat on the fountain’s edge and waving Daniel closer.
Daniel shrugged as he gave himself an internal pep talk about talking to hallucinations.Sure. Why not? Maybe I’ll get some answers to how I’m ‘not dead, yet.’Daniel smiled to himself, thinking of his sister and their Monty Python movie spree as he shuffled along the white stone path and took a seat beside the old man when he patted the space beside him.
“How are you feeling?”
“Surprisingly good. I must be dreaming, though, because the last thing I remember is getting my ribs crushed by Skull.”
The old man rolled his eyes. “That demon is a menace. I’m happy to report that Thelial took care of him.”
“You know Theo?”
“I do. I’ve known Thelial for a very long time.”
Daniel thought about how anyone could have known Theo for such a long time as he studied the lush gardens, the white stone paths, the fountain that…Wait a sec. That is me and Theo dancing!“Holy shit, you’re God.” He quickly slapped his hand over his mouth. “Sorry.”
God laughed, the gruff, rumbly sound like the fake Santa Clauses of his childhood, warm and inviting. “Don’t worry about it. Happens every time. My favorite is when they say, ‘Oh my God, you’re God.’”
