Page 66 of Wings of Valor
A knock on the door interrupts us, but she doesn’t try to leave the bed. I wouldn’t have let her go, anyway.
Raphael and Theo enter the room, and I almost can’t decipher the looks on their faces. Relief maybe? With a hint of pain.
“It’s good to see you, man,” Theo says a little awkwardly.
“Yeah,” Raphael adds. “Never thought I’d be excited to see your face, but here we are.”
I laugh because, shit, are we bonding or something? “Enjoy it while you can. I’m sure the feeling won’t last long.”
There’s an awkward silence as they stand by my bed, watching me. Theo is the first to break it. “Seriously, though. We’re glad to have you back, and not just because our girl was in tatters while you were gone.”
He elbows Raphael, who winces but adds, “Fine. It wasn’t the same without you. You’re part of our little family, and it sucked not knowing if you were alive and shit.”
I grin, unable to believe the words coming out of his mouth. If it were anyone else, I’d give him hell for being all mushy, but for some reason, I can’t with Raphael. Admitting that, after all the crap that’s happened between us, must have cost him a lot, and I don’t want to diminish it with jokes.
“I’m glad to be back home, and that everyone is alright. Auriel, he said some shit, trying to get me to talk, but I never knew if it was true.” My throat tightens as I remember the horrific things he whispered in my ear while I was delirious.
Hayliel sniffles, fresh tears falling from her eyes. “We tried to reach you every day. My parents, too.”
I nod, believing with everything I am that she would have. “They gave me something to keep me weak. Whatever it was, they didn’t give it to your parents. Fallen aren’t taught how to use their abilities, right? So why waste precious product? Luckily for us, they didn’t know you’d been working with them already. You saved us, hummingbird. You all did. Thank you.”
“Your dad was a huge help, actually. He’s been distraught ever since you were taken,” Hayliel says softly.
I can’t find the words to reply. I don’t even want to think about what kind of pain he’s been in and the memories that must have surfaced from my capture. Far too similar to my mother’s death, I’m sure.
“How are you feeling?” Hayliel asks, her voice unsteady.
“Things are a little foggy. The healer said a few things that don’t make sense. He kept talking about miracles and limbs and—”
“She put you back together again, man. Good as new,” Theo says, causing Raphael to roll his eyes playfully.
“Or at least as good as you were before.”
I don’t respond to his joke. My gaze turns to the woman in my arms as I stare at her, unsure if I can believe what they’re all saying. She doesn’t need to hear my question out loud—not when she can read me like a fucking book.
“I don’t know how I did it or if I even really trust it, to be honest, but you have both your wings again. Auriel didn’t take that from you.”
Her words don’t feel real, and yet the ache of my shoulders tells me it’s the truth. “Thank you.” I lean forward, resting my forehead against hers. “And for the record, the only thing I couldn’t live without is you.”
Raphael and Theo grab chairs and move closer, each one finding some way to remain in physical contact with Hayliel. All of us are clustered around my bed with her at the center. It feels right. Like the plates of the world have shifted and we’re finally where we’re supposed to be.
Fuck. Being tortured really did a number on me.
The door opens, slamming against the wall behind it. I’m still drowsy and weak, but I damn near jump into action.
No. They will not take this from me.
But it isn’t Auriel or his horde of demon followers standing in the doorway.
It’s my father.
“I tried to give you some time, but I couldn’t wait any longer,” is all he says, taking me in from a distance.
He looks terrible, and I tell him as much. “Dad. You look like shit.” Worse than I remember him looking when Mom died, but that was a long time ago. Maybe my memories have faded. Archangels know I tried to bury them enough.
He barks a laugh. “Good to see your mental state is as good as it was before, at least.” He takes a step into the room as another figure appears behind him.
Cam and Mari rush through, not bothering to keep their distance like Dad is. I’m not surprised. This is probably a step up from the last few times they saw me. There’s no blood or other shit oozing from my open wounds, and I’m actually coherent.
