Page 1 of The Redeemable 4

Chapter One

Ace

I reached for my sword, then realized I was naked. No shirt, no pants and definitely no sword. I screamed in frustration as Azriel plunged his hand into Arcadia’s chest and tore out her soul.

Fuck, fuck, fuck! I jumped toward him but my body was as weak as a fawn’s from decades of stagnation.

“Lucifer!” I yelled, feeling a little ashamed that I had to call for my lover to take care of Azriel.

“Too late now, Acerezeal. It’s over,” his smug voice grated against my nerves. Weak or not, I stumbled toward him, keeping one eye on Arcadia’s soul as it drifted upwards.

“You better get out of here before I gain back enough coordination to kick you where your balls should be!”

He just laughed, and I silently vowed revenge. He must have seen murder on my face, because he quit laughing.

“Lucifer!” I yelled again. “I’d go if I were you; he isn’t going to be happy that you snuffed his Redeemer.” I let out a humorless laugh. “You know what, stay. I’d love to see him pummel the shit out of your smug angel face.”

Azriel narrowed his eyes. “It’s good to have you back, Acerezeal. I look forward to separating your body and your soul again, hopefully permanently this time.”

I grinned as a knife came from behind him and pressed against his throat.

“Threaten her again, Azriel, and the only thing being separated will be your head from your body,” Luc growled. My heart beat faster. I’d forgotten how sexy he was when he was threatening our enemies with decapitation.

Azriel disappeared in a flash, the coward. Luc just stared at me in awe. I wanted to run to him, wrap my arms around his body and feel his touch against my skin. But first…

“Quick, Arcadia’s soul!” I pointed to the luminous soul getting closer to the roof.

Luc shot out a hand and whispered in Latin. Angels like me could do a lot of things, but manipulation of souls was strictly an Archangel thing. And despite his fallen status, Luc had once been an Archangel.

He called it back to his hand, like a puppy to heel.

“Acerezeal, I cannot place this back in her damaged body. She will just die anyway.” I took a moment to watch the humans work as they desperately tried to save Arcadia. I trusted that they would ensure she lived, but I needed to keep her soul safe until they fixed her physical form.

“Put her soul into my body. She shared her body with me for so many years, it’s time I returned the favor.”

Luc raised his eyebrows. “You want to put a human soul in your body?”

“Yes. Now let’s do it before anything else goes wrong.”

He leaned down and kissed me. “I have missed you, my love.” I relished the feel of his lips on mine. I would never take his kisses for granted again. I would appreciate every touch, every embrace. “This might feel a little uncomfortable,” he said as he jammed his hand at my chest and I felt my body’s confusion as another soul settled beside mine. It was like a heart attack, or maybe a panic attack. Living with Arcadia had taught me what both of those sensations felt like. It would adapt. My body was angelic. I could carry Arcadia with me forever, if need be.

As Cady's soul settled in my body, the screeching of the human vitals machines stopped, and they stabilized her body.

Arcadia?

I could feel her confusion. What’s happening? Where am I?

Ugh. I forgot the soul amnesia. We needed to kick start her memory ASAP because this whole thing was going to be way too hard to explain. I walked out of the operating theater, taking Luc’s hand. His strong fingers threaded through mine, and I wanted to weep with joy. But fallen angels don’t weep. Hell, angels don’t weep at all.

Am I naked? Arcadia asked, outraged and a little embarrassed. She must have caught a glimpse of me in the glass windows.

Technically I’m naked. But don’t worry. No one can see us unless I allow them too.

We made it to the waiting room, and there were Arcadia’s Seven, looking like utter shit. Oz was sitting with his head in his hands, his eyes bloodshot red. Ri was beside him, worry and fear fighting for prominence on his face. Lux was standing in the corner, his face a hard mask to keep in the emotion. Sam kept running his hand through nonexistent hair as he paced back and forward. Valery was leaning against a wall, wiping tears on his sleeve. Tolliver was at the nurse's station demanding answers. And Eli looked… devastated. He looked as if his soul was being put through a meat mincer.

Oh. There was such pain in Arcadia’s single, whispered word. Oh, my guys. I’m so sorry. A huge wave of sadness flowed through my body. I remember. Azriel, that motherfucking asshole. Angel or not, I am going to shred him when I see him next. Wait until I tell Lux.

“He’ll have to get in line. Azriel was lucky I didn’t have my sword.”

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