Page 93 of Sleeping Redemption
“Love.” Rook bent down, bringing his mouth right up to her ear. “You’re safe. We’re here. We’ve got you.”
He cooed hushing sounds into her ear, though it seemed to be doing little to put her at ease. I wasn’t even sure she realized any of us were here with her.
I looked at Atlas, keeping my voice quiet. “Let’s get her home.”
In response, Atlas nodded. He rolled his shoulders back, and in one fluid motion, his brilliant wings exploded into view behind him.
Reluctantly, Rook eased back from Kin, and I did the same.
Atlas leaned over, his wings protectively shielding her body as his arms scooped up underneath her. Standing to his full height, he cradled her to his chest.
“We need to find her car so we can get her home,” he stated.
This was one of the times when Kinley’s inability to simply be transported worked against us. She was suffering and in pain; we didn’t have time to waste using archaic methods of travel like an automobile.
Stepping over to Atlas while he had Kinley cocooned protectively with his wings, I glanced at Rook. “Go ahead of us; we’ll be there in a minute.”
For once, the trickster listened without argument. It was just shy of a miracle.
After Rook disappeared, I looked over at Atlas, who stood there looking uncertain of what my plan was.
Closing my eyes, I reached out past the barriers of the human realm and called a prayer to Evangeline. She wasn’t my favorite to deal with, and it was no secret that I wasn’t hers, but desperate times called for desperate measures.
Evangeline, it’s Sylas. I have a favor to ask of you, and I need it done quickly. I know you have connections with the higher-ups. Atlas needs to be granted the ability to transport Kinley. If you want him to do his job as her guardian, he needs to do this. I’m aware this isn’t a frivolous ask but it is a necessary one.
As I stood there, I waited for a response and heard nothing back from her.
Do you want to hear that I’m desperate? I am. I don’t ask for much from anybody, but I’m asking this of you from all people. Get someone up there to lift the damn restriction. I’m begging you, Evangeline.
Finally, I received a response to my pleas. It wasn’t so much of a verbal response more than a prickling feeling of agreementwith the condition of wanting a future favor to be determined from me.
Whatever you want, just do it!
I allowed my frustration to feed into my communication with her.
There was a moment of radio silence before the image of a green light flashed behind my eyes, symbolizing that she had successfully gotten Atlas the clearance needed.
Relief overcame me, and I looked at Atlas.
“Go.”
I waited until he vanished with Kin before following close behind.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Atlas arrived, clutching onto Kinley protectively yet delicately. He carried her over to the bed, folding his wings behind him before laying her down on her side.
This was a nightmare. Even Hell wasn’t this cruel. My insides felt like they’d been gutted like a fish. Each whimper she made as she lay there further added to the wreckage.
I tried to crawl into the bed with her, but Sylas appeared at my side and grabbed my arm firmly. There were no words, just a look that told me to hold up. My entire being wanted to wrap around her and make sure she never knew pain again.
“Let Atlas help her first,” he murmured.
It killed me to resist my instincts, but I reluctantly agreed by stepping back. Once it was clear I was willing to give her guardian angel room to work, I watched what unfolded with intrigue.
Atlas stood there, an aura coming from his wings and filtering over his body down into his hands. He gently placed one on her head and the other on her arm, and the shimmering light seemed to flow from him into her.
His forehead creased with intense concentration as he stood there for a few minutes, quietly allowing the energy to pour off of him and into her. Her mewling was incessant as we all waited for something to change in her current condition.
