Page 14 of Light

She tasted the truth of his words and another thrill ran down her spine, this time laced with fear.

Squeezing her eyes shut, she found the buttons of her blouse and began undoing them one by one. When she’d unbuttoned enough to slip her blouse over one shoulder, she exposed the long red gash running up her biceps and trailing over her shoulder.

Warm fingers ran lightly over her skin, and she let out a breath, blinking open her eyes as the heat in her chest flared to life.

Swirling eyes of deepest charcoal skimmed over every inch of bare skin, and the fire in them made her squeeze her legs together.

Gabriel brushed a curl over her shoulder, exposing more flesh. A tremor ran through her and she leaned into his touch, giving in to the emotions warring within her.

Could this creature of unfathomable beauty truly be hers? Could she let herself believe for just a moment something good was hers? He cupped his hands over her second injury, warming her skin as he used his gift to heal her.

When his hands remained long after she was healed, she pressed closer, her eyes meeting his as she searched his face for any sign the words he’d said on the stairs were true. Were they meant to be together? Bound by some force of the universe?

Her face was inches from his, and she could taste the sweetness of his breath.

Shuddering, something in his eyes shifted, and he dropped his hands, leaning back. “You must be tired, Adalaide. I’ll stay to keep watch.”

She blinked as his rebuff washed over her. A cold stone settled in her stomach. He had rejected her. Of course he had. He was goodness and light and she was human and everything that entailed.

“Adalaide,” he said gently.

How could she have ever imagined an angel—a perfect being—would want to be saddled with her? Soulmates. He’d said they were soulmates. But what did that matter when she would never be good enough for him?

Gabriel’s brows drew together as he opened his mouth.

Suddenly, she knew hearing his next words would be more terrifying than anything she had encountered this night. She stood, pulling her shirt closed and turned, fleeing.

When she reached her room, she slammed her door and fell against it, sliding to the floor.

She closed her eyes, resting her forehead on her arms, and let the tears fall.

Chapter 13

Gabriel

When Adalaide’s mind settled, the tears long dried and her racing thoughts calmed, he slouched against her bedroom door, listening to her soft breaths slowing until she was truly asleep.

He ran a hand over his face, wincing at the phantom pain in his chest.

It was nearly dawn, and there had been no further disturbances to the wards. He should go. Spending time with her was a mistake. They’d spent only one night together, but already, he couldn’t imagine another moment without her.

Seeing those injuries inflicted by Sanura had made the feral beast inside him wild for vengeance. When he found the necromancer, he would break her.

He stood, backing away from the thin bit of wood separating him from the other half of his soul. His mind ran over her thoughts again. Her pain. She hadn’t understood his actions. But her fragile human mind couldn’t comprehend what it would mean for her. To accept the bond between them. Give in to the feelings pressing both of them to act.

The clock rang the sixth hour, signaling dawn’s approach.

He stepped away from her door, squaring his shoulders. She didn’t deserve that sort of half-life. And he wouldn’t force it upon her.

Gabriel hit the ground, clutching his chest, and Dina appeared on the sidewalk beside him, sliding an arm under his.

“Get your illusion up,” she hissed, glancing up and down the street.

He sucked in a scorching breath around the pain spearing through him and tried to focus on forcing his wings into a tailored coat. They glimmered, but he couldn’t hold the illusion when the Earth rocked beneath his feet and the world threatened to tilt on its axis.

“Help me,” he choked out.

Dina looked around the rapidly lightening streets before transforming and wrapping her arms around him. They landed just inside the gates of Alaxia and Gabriel took his first real breath since she’d opened the door last night.

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