Page 40 of Light

He grinned, a dimple forming on his cheek, and her heart nearly burst at the sight of it. He wrapped dirt-streaked arms around her, but as they touched, he was transformed into a clean white shirt and breeches, his wings spreading wide in her foyer.

She let his scent envelop her momentarily before pressing him back. “What magic is this?”

Seraph magic. Accessible if you unlock that side of yourself.

She looked up into his dark, swirling eyes. Something flickered over his face, there and gone in an instant. Fear? Yes, she could feel the moment of panic surge through him. He hadn’t meant to think those words.

“What do you mean?” she asked aloud.

Jophiel cleared her throat, reminding them she was still in the room.

Gabriel released her, stepped back, and pulled his wings close behind him. “I thought there was danger,” he said to Jophiel, stepping forward to clasp arms with her. “I should get back. I’m needed.”

Adalaide let out a little grunt. “I’ve not laid eyes on you in a month, and you’ve come only to depart?”

Gabriel released Jophiel, looking between the two women. “You’re in good hands with Dina.”

Adalaide crossed her arms over her chest. “Why can you not stay?”

Jophiel’s lips twitched up, but she remained silent.

Adalaide tapped her foot against the carpet, staring him down.

“The humans in America are overrun. Only a handful of my brethren were dispatched to handle the horde amassed there. If I remain with you, things may go very badly for the humans.”

“Jophiel can go.” You can stay here with me. She raised an eyebrow at him, daring him to devise a reason to leave her again.

He gave Jophiel an apologetic look as he wrapped an arm around Adalaide and ushered her from the foyer into her kitchen. She grimaced as she entered the room, averting her eyes from the dark scorch mark staining the floor.

Wrapping his fingers over hers, he squeezed gently. “I am stronger than the rest of them. Where I go, the outcome of a battle is decided. Jophiel doesn’t wield my strength in magic or ability.”

Adalaide let the warmth in his hands leech into her, giving her strength. “I understand.”

“I would be here if I weren’t needed so desperately. Even for these moments, countless souls are being lost.”

Something sharp pierced Adalaide’s chest. She was so selfish, asking him to choose one life over the thousands he was defending.

Hearing her thoughts, his brows lowered. “You’re worth ten thousand lives, but—”

“No, I’m not. Go.” She cut him off.

His gaze trailed over her face as if to memorize it.

She stared into his dark eyes, seeing infinity in them. “Go,” she said again. “We will manage.”

He nodded once, bending to press a chaste kiss to her lips. She drank him in, leaning into the kiss and letting her lips part to welcome him. His tongue found her bottom lip, sucking it between his teeth.

The sting, followed by a sharp taste of iron, sent a spasm of heat coursing between her thighs. A dozen thoughts danced through her mind, and she wanted nothing more than to drag him above stairs and have him in all the ways she had imagined.

A cool breeze danced along her neck, ruffling a dark curl. The danger was near; if he stayed much longer, he wouldn’t leave at all. She had to let him go. To save the humans who needed his help.

She stuffed those thoughts deep into a dark corner of her mind, hiding them from him.

He released her flesh from between his teeth, sucking her lip clean, then pressed a finger to her cut as warm light glowed softly, the cut knitting itself together. He stepped back, giving them space. The ember in her chest lurched forward, demanding to go with him, but she dug her heels in, letting him go and plastering a serene smile across her face.

His own dark gaze was slightly unfocused, and she caught the lust-filled emotions he was drowning in. A fire ignited in her belly and burned all the way down to her thighs. She pressed her legs together, heat staining her cheeks.

It was easy to block out the fear of what would come later when her own desires were riding her every movement. Perhaps she could take a moment for herself, give in to the feel of him before he was gone again for some indeterminate amount of time.

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