Page 103 of Guardian Angel

Micah led us down an unfamiliar hall to a door flanked by second-order angels, their silver wings out and swords at their hips.

Tension bled into my shoulders and turned my movements robotic as we walked past them. I didn’t know what waited for us on the other side of the door. Maybe this was the part where they locked us up? It sounded logical.

Micah nodded to the guards and reached for the door handle. He pushed the door open and gestured for us to enter ahead of him.

A part of me wanted to grab Sierra and run, but where would we go? There was nowhere I could hide her. So I ignored the panic rising in my chest and stepped through the doorway, keeping Sierra somewhat behind me.

The room was empty and dark, the only light coming from the hallway behind us. I turned back to look at Micah and caught a flash of regret crossing his face before he shut the door, blocking out the light and leaving Sierra and me alone in the dark.

She sucked in an audible breath, and I rubbed my thumb over the back of her hand. I wanted to hold her, but I was afraid to move. I wasn’t used to being blind. Even the darkest nights usually had enough light from the moon or stars that I could still see. But this was true blindness. Anything could come at us, and I wouldn’t see it until it was too late.

Long seconds passed, and I was beginning to wonder if thiswasa holding cell, our punishment, to be trapped in the dark.

Then light pierced through the darkness, sudden and brilliant. I squinted in the abrupt brightness.

I felt my heart stop as fear gripped me, sinking its claws in deep. I grabbed Sierra, tugging her into my chest and holding her face against me with every bit of strength in my tired body.

I heard her gasp of shock, but there wasn’t time to explain. All that mattered was that she not look.

Even I was having a hard time keeping my eyes on the sight appearing before me—a human shape wrapped in heavenly fire. It was impossible to make out a single detail through the intense light. Even the shape was difficult to focus on. Amber skin gleamed, and the aura surrounding the body sparkled and refracted the light into a spectrum of colors like a million diamonds in the sunlight.

The urge to drop to my knees before the glory of God hit me like a punch to the gut, but I couldn’t do that while keeping Sierra’s face hidden. And I couldn’t let her look. She was mortal, and the glory would kill her. So I settled for bowing my head. It was a relief to not be looking directly at the light.

“Father.”

“Nathaniel.” His voice was warm but radiated power.

I was at a loss for words. When Micah said we were coming to Heaven, I’d tried to prepare for anything, but I hadn’t imagined I’d come face-to-face with the Creator. Angels of the sixth order weren’t permitted to come before God themselves. This was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

“You have caused quite a bit of drama, my child.”

I swallowed through a suddenly dry throat. “I’m sorry, Father,” I rasped.

To my utter shock, he chuckled, a low sound full of amusement.

Sierra tried to turn her head, and I pressed her face more firmly against my chest. “Don’t look,” I murmured to her.

“He is right, my love.” God spoke directly to Sierra. “In your mortal form, you are unable to look upon my glory without your body perishing.”

Those were about the least comforting words I’d ever heard, but Sierra relaxed against me and her breathing evened out. “I won’t look.” Her voice was muffled by my chest. “You can let go of my head.”

I didn’t want to. I wanted to keep being a controlling asshole and put her safety above her wishes. But I knew she would tire of that routine, wasalreadytired of it. Slowly I lowered my hands from the back of her head to her hips.

She pulled away to look up at me but kept her back firmly to the light. “It’s okay. I’m fine.”

I nodded, still wanting to wrap my body around her, to keep her away from the blinding light.

“I won’t turn around,” she said as if she could hear my thoughts and fears.

My hands lingered at her hips for a moment longer before I stepped away and approached the glory of God. This time I did kneel, bowing before my Lord.

“My child. What have you done?” He didn’t exactly sound angry. His voice was still warm and full of kindness and grace.

“I—”

“Do not tell me you are sorry. We both know that is not true.”

Right. No lying to the Master of the Universe. “I am sorry for disappointing you, but you’re right. I won’t apologize for loving Sierra. I don’t regret it, and I will accept any and all consequences.”

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