Page 55 of Light

“First, you made her a reash without telling me; now you have bound her to another of your ridiculous spells. This will be undone. You will undo it.”

Dina stepped back, her wings hitting the wall. “I… can’t. The magic accepted her sacrifice.”

He roared his fury. “You made a deal with the devil!”

“I didn’t.”

“You may as well have. He is the only one who can release her from this fool’s bargain you made.”

“She wanted this. She gave it willingly.”

“At your behest.”

“Gabriel, I’m—”

“Save your apologies. I will make this right.” He turned on his heel, storming from the room.

He landed hard beside the makeshift tents filled with the dead and dying.

Scanning the shapes moving through the dark, he spied the one he had come to find and landed beside the cot of a dying man just as Astaroth materialized outside his body.

“I wish to speak with the Fallen.”

Astaroth eyed him like a cat, slanting red eyes in his direction before his smokey lips twisted into a dark grin. “Change your mind, angel?”

“It’s my business. Will he entreat?”

Astaroth’s horned brow rose a fraction. “Doesss it pertain to the amulet?”

“He will want to hear what I have to offer.”

Astaroth bobbed his head once and disappeared. In moments, he returned. “He will meet. One week from tonight in the old temple to Zeusss.”

Gabriel nodded and dematerialized, solidifying outside Adalaide’s townhouse. He pushed through the wards, opened the door, and stepped inside.

“I won’t bother asking where you’ve been or how long you’ll stay,” a voice said in the dark.

He opened his mouth, but she continued speaking.

“Jophiel told me you’re upset with my plan. If you’ve come to change my mind, please save your breath. I have made my decision.”

He moved in the dark through the foyer and into the sitting room, where he found her curled up in her blankets on the sofa. She made no move to greet him but he was in no mood to show her kindness either.

“You’re making a mistake. You have so little faith in my ability that you would choose to kill yourself to end her?”

Adalaide snorted. “You told me yourself in three thousand years you’ve never stopped her. Wasn’t it your only mission? Jophiel’s entire line has been killed on your watch, apart from me and your sons.”

The words cut deep, curbing some of his anger. Perhaps her actions weren’t as coerced as he had assumed. Still, it seemed Dina had shared more of the story than was necessary. It was likely neither of them had faith in him.

“And who will care for our sons when you are in Alaxia?”

“I wouldn’t dare ask you.”

“Why are you angry with me? I sought to end her, to give you this mortal life with Henry and John. How am I the villain in this?” The leash he’d been attempting to hold on to his anger snapped, all the rage he’d felt the moment his chest spasmed, telling him of her foolish plan rushing back.

“You promised me you wouldn’t leave me alone again!” she said, sitting up. The blanket slid off her shoulder, revealing bare skin. Even that perfect creamy shoulder wasn’t enough to stop the hurt and terror blazing through him.

If she felt it, she didn’t show it. “You know nothing of what it means to have someone other than yourself to think of, to care for. I cannot race into the night to slay beasts and demons. I must be here to care for the children who cannot care for themselves. When Jophiel told me of a way to keep them safe, I took it. I will not apologize for that.”

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