Page 9 of Death Match

“Will it take long?” I asked, wondering about Kay and Wyatt, Marla, and Simon in the afterlife and when I would be able to see them again. “When will I be able to go back to the afterlife? Like a day or two? A week?”

Michael must have had an idea of what was on my mind because his pleasant demeanor shifted suddenly. He frowned, and the downturn to his mouth made him appear older. Still not like a billion-year-old celestial being or whatever, but older.

“I’m afraid conquering the Trials can take some time… And then after, there will be assignments I need you and Eli to start to prevent more casualties on earth and to ready the others for battle. You’ll both be very busy.”

I didn’t like that answer. Didn’t like it one bit.

“But,” Eli said, trying to sound more positive and upbeat as he came up to Michael’s other side, “it’s what must be done. It’s what’s best. For them all.”

I halted, and they both stopped instantly.

“Wait, you make it sound like it won’t be months, maybe even years, before I can go back.” I stared between the two men. A grimace remained on Michael’s face, but it was Eli’s clenched jaw that made any hope I had to rejoin my friends in the afterlife flatten and die.

With my temper flaring, I stepped closer to Eli. “But you said I could return to my apartment and my friends. You said—”

“And you can,” he replied quickly. “Once the war is over and things are right again.”

Rage whipped through me like a whirlwind. Spinning on my heel, I marched away from them a few paces before turning around and striding back toward them again.

“Jade…” Eli was trying to calm me down. I could see the regret in his gaze, but I wanted nothing of it.

“You knew this, didn’t you?” I shouted at him. “You knew!”

He’d known the truth all along. He’d known I couldn’t go back, like I’d wanted to. He had just told me what I wanted to hear to get me in Heaven.

“Jade, please. Let me explain,” he pleaded.

Furious, I swiped his apology away. “You told me you’d never lie to me.” I couldn’t stop the hurt from leaking into my tone. “You told me this relationship depended on trust.”

“And it does.” Eli reached out for my hand, but I jerked it away.

I had never expected Eli to be a liar. Cole, yeah—he was a natural at it. But Eli? I thought he was better than that.

He glanced at Michael for help.

“Jade,” Michael began gently. “Eli didn’t lie to you.”

“Fine. He withheld the truth,” I snapped and crossed my arms. “Same thing.”

Eli closed his eyes and looked away.

Guilty.

“You can go back to your afterlife, Jade,” Michael continued, seemingly trying to put our discussion back on track. His voice remained calm, despite the tension all around us. “We don’t want to keep you forever, but every day this war and the apocalypse draw nearer. Due to Azrael’s betrayal and secret affairs, we’re behind on preparing. If there’s any way we’re going to win this fight, we’re going to need to jump right into it. With two feet. And do all we can to save those very people you care about, along with every other soul out there. We need all hands on deck. And we need you.”

I stayed locked in place for a few more huffed breaths with my anger still coming off me in waves. Ripping my gaze from Eli, I ground my teeth and turned to Michael fully. “Will I be able to say goodbye to them? Any of them?”

His mouth tugged down again, and my chest squeezed. “I’m afraid there won’t be time. I cannot allow you to return to earth or the afterlife before the Trials,” he replied. “I’m sorry.”

A deadly concoction of fury, pain, and grief wrapped me in a suffocating hold. To never visit Arrogant Bastard again? To never see Marla, Wyatt, or Lisa again? Or Kay? Or Lawrence or Zach? That was some bullshit. But to also not even be able to say goodbye or explain why I had to disappear? They’d worry. Especially since I’d swore I’d be back soon.

But if I refused to do this—if I decided this Archangel gig wasn’t for me and dropped out—all my friends would be in danger with the apocalypse coming, and that wasn’t something I was willing to risk.

I could lose them forever.

Too much was on the line here.

Man, I hadn’t asked for this. Sure, my reaper job had been shitty most of the time and my boss had been a complete lunatic, but I had only wanted my memories back. How the fuck had I ended up here, in Heaven, expected to lead angels into a fight with Hell and save all of existence? I didn’t want this.

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