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Adalaide wriggled out of his embrace and lifted her arms, wrapping them around his neck. You needed this hug more than I did, she said into his mind, squeezing.

Reveling in her touch and her unspoken forgiveness, he vowed to them both he wouldn’t leave her to face life or her afterlife alone again.

Chapter 33

Adalaide

Jophiel appeared just before dark and dropped to the floor in the least graceful manner Adalaide had ever seen the angel comport herself. She smothered a giggle.

“Brother,” Jophiel said, crossing the room to clasp his arm when she had recovered from her momentary shock. He maneuvered Henry into his left arm and wrapped his fingers around her forearm in greeting. “It’s good to see you here,” she said, darting glances between Gabriel and Adalaide.

Adalaide nodded in confirmation of the silent question on her face.

“I am here to watch over them now, sister. You may resume your place in America.”

A wide grin broke over Jophiel’s face. “That’s excellent news.”

She gave Adalaide another look as if to confirm one last time before she dipped her head and vanished.

Adalaide hadn’t known what to expect when Gabriel stayed through the morning and the rest of the day. She hadn’t expected such a doting father. The boys hardly cracked one tiny lid before he was there, picking them up, cooing over them, or rocking them in his arms.

If she hadn’t already forgiven him after seeing his thoughts, she would have done so the first time he picked up a babe and held him close. Who knew an angel could be such a loving parent? His attention had mercifully granted her reprieve from tending to two infants, and she had slept half the day.

Now, she felt restored in a way she could only remember feeling in blurry, distant memories.

She moved John from her left arm to her right and went to the lounge in the back of her home to sit. They’d erected the evening wards early, and now they were left with nothing to do but wait.

Gabriel came into the room carrying Henry and sat across from her. “I need to speak with you. I had put it out of my mind with everything,” he glanced down at the baby cradled in his arms, “but…”

She pulled her thoughts from the buzzing warmth in her chest as she watched him holding their son. “Yes, your news. What is it?”

“Do you have an amulet of some kind? A family heirloom?”

She swallowed as all warmth in her evaporated. As if it had heard, the object pulsed against her breast. “Yes.”

“May I see it?”

She cleared her throat, shifting John to her right arm, and lifted trembling fingers to her neck. She hadn’t thought to remove it before, but there must be some punishment for having a dark object such as this. She should have removed it, burned it, but it had been the only thing she had left of her parents, and it was the one thing they had both agreed on. The amulet was to be protected at all costs. If it ever fell into the wrong hands, it could have dire consequences.

She slid the amulet out from under her clothing. The place where it had touched her skin felt empty and cold.

Something in Gabriel’s eyes flashed. “The Amulet of Endor,” he said, sucking in a breath.

“What?” She ran a finger over the chain absently; it warmed under her touch.

“Adalaide, that necklace is dangerous. Why do you have it?”

There was no judgment or reproach in his voice, only genuine concern. The tension in her shoulders eased a fraction. Perhaps this wasn’t about judgment for her actions after all.

“My family has been charged with guarding it. I am the last.”

“Do you know what that thing houses?”

No, but I know it is evil, she said into his mind.

Why did you keep it?” Again, no judgment.

“No one could keep it as safe as I could.”

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