Page 12 of The River of Hatred

Once the Nephilim is gone, silence descends. Feeling awkward after the Fallen's considerate behavior, I lower my gaze to the floor, surprised to find it cleaner than the barkeep's grimy appearance led me to expect.

Sariel scoffs. “You should rest. Think you need it.”

I straighten and throw him a glare. “I do not.”

“Itha, you lost your shit. I’ve never really seen you lose your shit before…”

“Before you fell, leaving Heaven with no warning?” I finish his thought, making him growl in frustration. I return to the topic. “There’s only one bed and the mortal needs it more.”

Sariel smirks. “It’s big enough for both of ya.”

“I don’t–” I sputter, just as the mortal in question strolls back inside the cramped room.

“What are you guys talking about?” she asks, making the Fallen grin evilly.

“I was just telling the angel he should rest; he’s not fully recovered after that fight with how much flying we’ve had to do.”

Jessica looks at me with wide, sympathetic eyes. “Of course, Ithuriel! Take off that armor and lie down.”

Sariel laughs at what must be a thoroughly affronted look on my face. The human just suggested I should disrobe and join her in bed! Time in Hell must have truly corrupted her if she does not know how unseemly that would be.

Jessica looks between us, blushing. “What did I say?”

The Fallen throws an arm around her shoulders. “We’re gonna have a hard time getting Itha to lie down with you with all our swords in between you two, poppet.” Our eyes connect and he bites his bottom lip, his white teeth digging into the plump flesh. My gaze sticks to the action, rapt, when he starts speaking again. “Imagining him naked is the closest we’re going to get to him taking his armor off, I’m afraid.”

What did he just say?

“Oh, stop it, Sariel, you’re making him uncomfortable again!”

“I’m not some object to be fetishized, Fallen!” I grit through clenched teeth as he cackles.

Jessica shakes her head. “Ignore him. He’s doing it on purpose to get a rise out of you. Kindergarten tactics.”

Clearly, I should have paid more attention to humans in preschool.

∞∞∞

Jessica’s light snores vibrate the sensitive membranes of my human form’s ears. I roll around and sigh.

“You’re gonna wake our chick,” Sariel murmurs from the darkened corner where the table lies.

I ignore his implication. “Why do you insist on using the humans’ vernacular?”

The Fallen’s shadow shrugs. “I like spending time there. Why?” He prolongs the question, the sound dancing in the air between us. “Does it bother you? You should hear how the current generation speaks.” A light rustle as he shakes his head. “It’s getting outta hand, TBH.”

“Tee bee… what?”

“Never mind.”

The conversation distracts me from my problem for a couple of minutes, but the issue remains. I’m lying next to another, living, breathing being. Not that I ever lay next to a deceased one.

Where is my mind going with this?

“Ithuriel…”

“What?” I whisper back.

“You have your armor on. She’s sleeping in her leathers just to make it easier on you, for Hell’s sake. Rest.”

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