Sinful Things

34

“I don’t know yet. The Archangel Council will vote on my sentence at an upcoming meeting. I doubt they’ll do anything too severe, but I wanted you to be aware of it anyway. That’s why I wanted to speak with you. They might send me away for a while, possibly to Penumbra Prison, and then I won’t be able to look after you. As such, I want you to know about the risks.”

“Okay.” I clutch the pillow tighter to my chest. I don't want anything bad to happen to Gabriel, especially now that we're getting to know each other. “Will you be all right?”

“I’ll be fine. You don’t need to worry about that.” He reaches across the couch and pats my leg. “But I want to make sure you’re especially careful over the next few months. If they send me away, no one will stand between you and Azrael. He hates demons, and if it were up to him, we’d restart the war tomorrow. Now that he’s the leader of the Archangel Council, I worry he’ll want to use you, or possibly kill you to make an example.”

“I’ll try to be careful. I think I’m safe here. Uriel won’t let anything happen to me.”

“I hope so.” He sighs and drops his head. I’ve never seen him look so defeated before. “Things would be a lot easier now if I’d taken the leadership position when it was offered to me. Having Azrael in charge can only lead angels down a dark path.”

“Why did you turn it down? You seem like the obvious choice to lead the Archangels.”

"I turned it down to protect you.” He looks up at me with pain in his bright blue eyes. “I couldn’t risk having that level or attention or scrutiny on me at all times, not without it leading people back to you. If I’d taken the job, it would have put you in danger.”

He gave up the highest position an angel can have. Turned down the leadership of the Archangels. For me.

“Do you regret that decision?” I ask.

He reaches over and takes my hand. “Never. I know it doesn’t seem like it, but everything I’ve done has always been to protect you and Jonah. I just wish my decision didn’t put you in greater danger now.”

"Wow. Um, thank you." I stammer through the words, fighting the wave of emotion his confession brings up. He might have been an absent dad, but all along he was doing what he thought was best for me.

He nods and slowly rises to his feet. “Don’t worry. I’m going to make sure you’re well protected.” He bends down and presses a kiss to the top of my hair. “I’ll see you again as soon as I can.”

I stand up, hating that he has to go, and fearing for his future. “Thanks for coming today. Goodbye, Father.”

He gives me one last warm smile, and then disappears in the blink of an eye.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Callan

G

abriel appears in front of me, and I nearly deck the guy. I’ve seen him teleport many times before, but I doubt I’ll ever stop wanting to reach for a sword when it happens.

“Thank you for meeting with me,” the Archangel says, as he glances around the lounge in the bell tower. “Interesting décor.”

“Courtesy of your daughter.” We removed most of the pink sparkly stuff, but Marcus insisted we keep some of the stuffed animals, and we’ll never be able to get all the glitter off the floor.

Gabriel laughs. “She’s full of surprises.”

“Would you like something to drink?” I ask, trying to remember my mother’s lessons in politeness. It still hurts that she cancelled on Family Day at the last minute. I get that her new job at Aerie Industries is important, but I never see her anymore. Not that we’ve ever been super close, but it’d be nice to know she is proud of me, like the other parents were with their kids today.

“No, thank you.” Gabriel sits in Bastien’s armchair like it’s a throne. "I've got a very important task for you."

I sit on the couch, my back stiff and straight. “Yes, sir?”

"Your father and I had our differences, as you know. But the one thing we both agreed was that we wanted peace and unity between demons and angels. Nothing has changed in that regard, even after his death.”

I nod. As much as I hate demons, I don’t want the war to begin again. That’s why I wanted to help the Order get the Staff of Eternity, and why I encouraged Jonah to go to Faerie to get it. If they send the demons back to Hell, another war can be averted. That was my hope, anyway.

Now I’m not so sure I want that anymore. As much as Olivia drives me mad, the thought of sending her to Hell feels wrong. Maybe I’m starting to think she belongs here too, as much as the rest of us.

Damn that woman, I wish she’d get out of my head.

Gabriel leans back in the chair as he continues. “Olivia is a sign that things could change between angels and demons, now that both races are living here on Earth. That also puts her in grave danger at all times. I’ve tried to watch over her as best I can, but I need your help.”

“My help?”

“You are a fearsome warrior, are you not?"

I sit up a little straighter. "I am."

“I would expect no less from Michael’s son. And as the son of Jophiel, you must be honorable as well. That’s why I’ve chosen you for the most important thing I could ask of you—the protection of my daughter.”

Fuck.