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Gabriel put a hand on Suriel s forearm, squeezing. She ll live.
You don t know that. Suriel bowed lower, fingers gentle against Ariel s forehead. She felt so
cold.
I do know, Gabriel replied.
Suriel looked up. Gabriel s eyes shone with an inner light, pure and confident. He had a streak
of black gore on his chest, but his face was calm. Suriel let himself relax minutely. Surely Ariel s
brother wouldn t be so calm if he wasn t certain. And no angel looked like that unless God was close.
I m trusting you.
Gabriel nodded and looked down. Raphael s hands glowed with light. When he sighed and sat
back, Ariel s torso was whole once more. More startlingly, her wings were a midnight blue with
silver tips, the match to his own. Suriel didn t know what to make of that.
Is she breathing? Gabriel asked, voice hushed.
Raphael glanced at him, then put his hand over her heart. Ariel s spine bowed as if she d been
zapped with a current, and she gasped, then coughed as she tried to breathe again. Raphael lifted his
hand away and she settled down, chest rising and falling steadily.
Suriel held her head, so grateful he didn t know what to do with himself. When he got himself
under control, he looked up. Gabriel was holding Raphael. The younger angel was clearly exhausted.
A spark of fear shot through Suriel. Are you okay? he asked his brother.
Raphael nodded. Just tired. And Ariel will be okay, but she lost a lot of blood. She ll need
plenty of rest while her body strengthens.
Gabriel sighed, holding Raphael tighter. I m so grateful we re alive.
Suriel knew how he felt. I ll carry Ariel home.
Gabriel nodded and stood up, half-carrying Raphael.
Suriel smiled at the sheepish look on his brother s face.
I think you re going to have to help me, Raphael said, swaying.
Gabriel smiled. Always.
Before we leave, I need to check the cave, Suriel said. He gently laid Ariel s head on the
floor. Can you stay with her?
Raphael nodded. Sure.
Gabriel helped him sit next to her. I ll go with Suriel.
Suriel stood up and walked slowly down into the dark. Halfway to the point where they d met
the demon, Gabriel stopped him with a hand on his arm.
What are your intentions toward my sister? he asked.
Suriel went still. He wished he could tell Gabriel that he wanted her for his mate, to be by his
side for always, but the power he held was still dangerous. He d rather be alone than see her hurt. I
have no intentions toward her, he finally said.
Gabriel laughed. Sure. He started walking again, but Suriel stopped him.
You don t understand. He took a deep breath and decided to tell Gabriel what he hadn t told
another living soul. My power, it s unstable. Everyone knows that. But what I haven t told my
brother is that it s going to kill me, very soon. One vision of Ariel dying had already come true. God
only knew what else could happen to her. I don t want to take anyone down with me, especially not
your sister.
Gabriel looked at him, eyes glittering in the dark. Ariel is her own person. And she deserves a
mate with the power to meet her on equal terms. Her life is hers to do with as she chooses. Did it
ever occur to you that she might choose you? With those extraordinary words, he shoved past Suriel
and strode into the deep.
Suriel followed more slowly, stunned and confused. Was Gabriel right? Why ever did he think
he could control another living being s free will? No, that didn t make sense. He had never stopped
Ariel from doing anything. He shook his head and put any further questions aside for later. Now was
not the time to question his inner self. Not when there was more work to do.
Chapter Five
Ariel woke up to silence. She was in her room. Morning sunlight streamed across her covers,
lighting the deep blue coverlet with gold. She wasn t alone.
How are you feeling? Suriel said from the chair next to her bed.
She looked over. Everything felt strangely heavy. Tired. Really tired.
He leaned close and put a warm hand on her forehead. You lost a lot of blood.
She remembered. The demon and the dark cave and the horrible feeling of warm blood slipping
between her fingers. She lifted the blanket. There were no bandages beneath her tank top. What
happened?
Raphael healed you. Suriel lifted a mug from a tray set on her nightstand. Do you think you
could drink some broth?
She shook her head. What about the demon? She smoothed the covers over her. Her hand
trembled.
His face tightened. Dead. Your brother and I found a broken portal at the end of the cavern.
The demon destroyed it as she came through.
Ariel shivered. God. She could hardly believe she d lived. Raphael saved me.
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