Page 121 of Baking and Angels

It didn’t.

Chapter 45

Acceptance

of Myself

“What is wrong with her?” Rafferty demanded. He crouched next to where Helena lay on a queen-sized bed, her wings hanging off to the opposite side. They had returned to Honey’s apartment, carrying her inside. The whole time she still hadn’t woken, nor did she feel any warmer, even as he pulled the quilt thereover her.

“She has expended too much of the gift given to her,” Honey said gravely. “When it is fully expended, she will return to the other side.”

“No!” Rafferty cried, grabbing her hand as if that would keepher there.

“It is not something sad, corn muffin. She may return here again,” Honey assured. “If she wishes to.”

“She may?”

“That is not the whole of it,” Éliott said. He stood on the other side of the bed, his arms crossed as he leaned against the wall. “She will not return within your lifetime. Time is different on the other side”—then he blinked and cleared his throat—“as you probably know.”

“But I can’t…” a weak voice said.

Rafferty’s whole being leapt, refocusing on Helena. She remained lying on her side, her eyes closed, but her tongue licked her lips before speaking again.

“If I go… Rafferty, I’m so sor—” Her voice failed her.

“No, no, please, don’t be sorry. I’m here, I’m here,” he kissed her fingers. “I’msorry that I left you all alone…”

“No, no”—her head shook weakly—“That’s not… Your life…” She tried to open her eyes, but they fluttered shut immediately.

Honey reached out a hand, but Éliott stopped her. “What are you doing?”he hissed.

“She needs help,” Honey stated.

“What is she doing?” Rafferty demanded, looking from her hand reaching for Helena to the tension between them and backto Helena.

“She’s going to give a part of her energy to strengthen her, but she shouldn’t do that,” he said, directing the last as a warningto Honey.

“Why not? If you can help her…”

“We are limited here,” Éliott shot back. “It’s not any different than you demons. The power to keep us here has a price, but we pay it from ourselves. Sharing our power lessens our time here, which is what she did.” He nodded to Helena. “She spent that energy working miracles, which means she has to return sooner.”

“She helped people,” Rafferty snarled, standing up.

“Yes, I’m not arguing that,” Éliott agreed, not at all intimidated.

“It is something we all have to learn our first time here,” Honey explained, withdrawing her arm from her fellow angel’s grip. “What we do with our energy is our choice.”

“So it’s wiser to make it count,” Éliott continued. “Do what you can when it will make the most impact. Don’t interfere too much, don’t inhibit the mortal’s choices. That’s what demons do. We try to lessen the damage the demons do against people who do not make a choice to be involved with them. We all want to save everyone, but that isn’t the point of allof this.”

Rafferty furrowed his brow. “What is the point?”

The angels both stood quietly, unable or unwillingto answer.

Instead, the answer floated up withinRafferty.

To live.

It was as good a reason as any and betterthan most.

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