Page 78 of The River of Hatred

“If the Council condones that they do so without punishment, then we will not condone the Council’s punishment for defending ourselves.” I speak up for the first time, drawing my mentor’s fathomless gaze.

Saraqael holds my eyes for long moments and I find the strength to not back down, though I feel nearly disrespectful in doing so. I have always deferred to him as my superior, my elder, my better.

“We should talk privately,” he finally says.

“No, I don’t think you should.”

When Sariel’s voice rings out from behind Nephithar, Saraqael closes his shining eyes. “You were not meant to be on this mission, Sariel,” he says. Turning around, he pins my love with a hard stare. “You left to spare him a thousand years ago but had no such consideration now?”

I blink and get to my feet. “You knew? You knew he fell because he had feelings for me?”

The archangel looks over his shoulder. “Naturally. I know everything you feel.”

“And you let him suffer through his fall alone.” That was Jessica, now standing next to Sariel, allowing him to pull her into his side.

“He was no longer my responsibility once he fell. I had to take care of Ithuriel. And thanks to you, I have failed in that. Failed Ithuriel.”

I can feel shame heating the tips of my ears. I expected to have an unpleasant confrontation with Saraqael, but no matter how much I practiced it in my head in the quiet times when Jessica was sleeping, nothing could have prepared me for the look of desolation and disappointment in his eyes.

“Ithuriel’s just fine with us, he doesn’t need you,” Jessica says, her hands clenched into fists.

The ancient archangel shakes his head, his lips twisted into a bitter grimace. “Child,” he chastises. “You heal your own wounds, fill your lacks and insecurities with Ithuriel’s innate goodness, letting his light shine through the many holes in your soul, then think you provide the same for him? What do you have to offer him but an endless lifetime of depravity and corruption?”

Saraqael’s words are like a sword to the gut and the way Jessica’s face blanches twists it in the wound. Sariel’s anger is palpable and he likely only holds himself back because I speak first.

“Enough,” I hiss, stepping to the archangel’s side, cutting off his view. “You claim to know what we are feeling, but you’re so blind to my feelings for Jessica and Sariel.”

“I do not doubt your feelings, Ithuriel,” the male says quietly. “I doubt that they are worthy of them.”

“Look, you scum sucker,” Sariel says, squaring up against the elder angel. Lana gasps and covers her mouth, rushing closer to intercept the charging Fallen. “Get off your fucking high horse, your head’s clearly spinning.”

Saraqael pinches the bridge of his nose and waves the other hand in Lana’s direction. “What have you done with yourself, mortal?”

“There’s absolutely nothing wrong with her.” Mike comes to his friend’s defense, shuffling up to where we stand.

“Get away from him,” Nephithar growls.

“Saraqael won’t hurt him,” Syrin responds firmly.

“Of course I will not harm the child.” Saraqael sounds aghast that they would even consider it.

“I’m not a child,” Mike says, getting in the archangel’s face – or rather chest. Their height difference is significant. “Come down here, daddy, and I’ll prove how much of a man I am.”

My eyes widen at the young human’s flirtation and Sariel bursts out laughing. “I’d pay any amount of pay-per-view to see that,” he chuckles.

Nephithar looks like he’s tempted to cross himself despite being the son of the devil. But Jessica… those are tears in her eyes.

“Saraqael.”

As my mentor and I lock eyes again, I look past the disappointment in them to the fondness he holds for me.

“What you said to Jessica was hurtful and unnecessary. She completes me as much or more as I do her. And she isn’t the only one.” I gesture at Sariel. “You knew he loved me a thousand years ago. Let me love him now.”

The air is knocked out of my lungs as Sariel grabs me by the front of my shirt and slams his mouth against mine. Before I gather my faculties, Jessica pushes the Fallen away and pulls me down to fuse our mouths in a passionate kiss. I hear Mike loose a wolf whistle. Just as my heart catches up with my body, Jessica lets me go to lick at Sariel’s mouth instead.

“Fuck, that’s hot,” Lana whispers, turning my face red. I cannot believe we just did that in front of my mentor, an archangel.

The three of us are locked in an embrace, forgetting all about the world around us. I see my love reflected in Sariel and Jessica’s eyes, their gratitude for my acceptance of them even in the face of Heaven.

---