Page 41 of Wings of Valor
I have no words to give her in response. Nothing I say could even begin to compare to what she’s just given me. All I can muster is a shaky “okay” before pressing my forehead to hers and closing my eyes.
“I love you too, firefly. More than anything else in this world.”
When we pull apart, I find Raphael leaning against the wall with a shit-eating grin plastered on his face. Not that I can really blame him. Even when I doubt myself, he’s never faltered or given up on me.
“You should get going. It’s probably best if you stop at the house first. Don’t need your grandparents questioning why you’ve brought so many clothes over for a quick trip.”
“He makes a good point,” Hayliel says. “I’ll grab my bag, and then we can head out.” She kisses me, then Raphael, and leaves the room.
“Thanks, Raph.”
He shrugs. “You’ve done the same for me. Besides, with everything so chaotic, I think it’s best if we air out all our personal shit. We don’t know what the future holds for any of us.”
We arrive at my grandparents’ house twenty minutes later, and I’m immediately hit by the same feelings I experience whenever I come here. Pain. Regret. Loss.
The house holds too many memories.
It wasn’t where I always lived, though. I had another house before. Before I lost my dad. Before my mother gave up trying and left me on this very doorstep. Before my grandparents felt such dishonor to the family name.
A lot has changed since that first day. The angels who once put immense pressure on me to restore their name have backed off. But the pain in their eyes when they look at me has only diminished, not fully gone away.
I’m the reason their son is dead. I’m the reason they had to play parents when they were more than ready to enjoy not having to raise anyone.
“Theo.”
Hayliel’s voice sounds as if she’s far away, but as I open my eyes and the fog of memories clear, I realize she’s standing right in front of me.
“Are you sure you want to do this? We don’t have to go in there. We can turn around right now and find some place to hang out until it’s time to meet the rune weaver.”
I brush a stray curl from her face and offer a weak smile. “Sorry. I’ll be fine in a minute.” Pulling her into me for a hug, I release a long sigh when I feel her warm body mold to mine. I don’t know how much time passes, but finally, when my heartbeat returns to a normal rhythm and it doesn’t feel like I want to run away screaming, I give her a squeeze and step back.
Pushing the key into the hole, I unlock the door and step into the familiar space. No one rushes to greet us at the door, and for that, I’m grateful. It gives me more time to compose myself.
With everything going on between demon attacks, impending war, and possible death, I feel like a ticking time bomb. When will I go off? Who will I hurt when I do?
Being here only compounds on that feeling.
“Theo, is that you?” my grandmother calls out from deeper in the house.
Knowing we won’t be able to get away without saying hi, I direct us toward the living room, where I know she and my grandfather must be.
“It’s me,” I call back. “I’m only here for a quick visit and to grab a few books for school.”
When I enter the room, I find her. She’s sitting alone on the couch, the convertible coffee table opened into a desk with papers covering the entire surface.
“What on God’s Silver City is all of this?” I ask her with astonishment. I might have a complicated relationship with my grandparents, but I got my love of information from them.
“Oh, you know how we love to research, and with all the rumors flying around about special angels and their powers, we couldn’t resist. It’s great to see you. I wish you would havetold us you were coming. Oh, and who’s this?” My grandmother turns to Hayliel, her eyes taking her in from head to toe.
“This is my girlfriend, Hayliel. Hayliel, I’d like you to meet my grandmother, Lorna.”
“It’s an honor to meet you,” Hayliel says.
“Likewise, dear. Javan will be sad to miss this, our Theo bringing a girl home.”
“Where is he, anyway?” I ask, surprised to find he left her alone with all of this exciting research.
“Off on a secret rendezvous.” She looks between the two of us, clasping her hands in her lap, and whispers, “He swears he’s found information on the Seraphim everyone’s been talking about lately.”
