Page 47 of Light

Astaroth shrugged, his wispy dark shoulders going solid for a moment. Gabriel swung his sword, but Astaroth turned to smoke, and the sword sailed through air.

Astaroth gave him a dark glare, his red eyes narrowing. “Ssshe hasssn’t much time. Do you agree to hisss bargain?”

Gabriel sheathed his sword, saying nothing as he vanished.

He landed outside Adalaide’s home and materialized inside her foyer. It was dark and unnaturally still. He checked her wards, ensuring they were whole.

“Adalaide,” he called in the dark silence.

Light flared to life above, and he rushed up, taking the stairs two at a time.

She came to the edge of the stairs as he reached the top and folded her arms over her chest, her mouth set in a grim line.

“What are you doing here?” she whispered.

“I came to see you.” What do you mean?

He searched her thoughts, but they were silent. Blocked or hidden.

“Adalaide.” He held out a hand.

She dropped her gaze to his outstretched fingers, then trailed it back up to his face. “You have been gone a long time.”

He fumbled for the right words. It had been a few months. He’d been busy. There was a time when he’d needed two siblings to heal him, and he’d had to go to Alaxia to recover. He should have come; he knew he should, but it hadn’t been that long. Had it?

Twelve months.

He stepped back, the words nearly shouted at him. “No. It was… two, maybe three.”

“It’s been twelve months. It may not seem like much to you, but… for a human, it is a long time.” There was pain in her eyes.

Light. My light. He dropped his hand, feeling foolish for leaving it outstretched so long. “I’m sorry.”

The pain in her eyes sharpened into anger, and she let another thought slip through.

Too late for that.

She turned away from him, but he caught her arm. She spun back, pure outrage painted across her face. “Remove your hand from me, sir.” The venom in her words stung.

He released her, taking another step back.

A sharp wail pierced the air.

He darted a glance toward the sound, then dropped his gaze to her midsection. Their eyes met, and hers were round. He bolted past her, straight for the sound.

“Gabriel, wait.”

He stopped at the edge of the door. The sound came again from a bassinet at the center of the room. His feet moved, bringing him closer. Every nerve was alive as he approached. He peered down, unable to move or speak. In a small pine crib, nestled between crisp white linens, were not one, but two miniature humans.

One, the one who had given them away, opened his mouth and let out another startlingly loud scream. Warmth spread through Gabriel, thawing his limbs. He leaned down and picked up the tiny creature. The baby squirmed in his arms, making pitiful sounds.

He felt her as she moved beside him, gazing at the beings they had made. As if sensing his brother was gone, the other began to sniffle.

Adalaide leaned down, picked him up, and cradled the perfect cherub in her arms.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” he whispered.

She scoffed, twisting away from him and marching across the hall to her room. She laid the baby down gently and slid onto the bed beside him, wrapping her arms around him as she yawned.

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