Page 10 of Gargoyle Reaper

“The wings, yes. The halo... well, that's a bit of artistic license humans have taken over the centuries,” Ezekiel replied with a wry smile.

“Come on," Ezekiel said, placing a hand on Archer's shoulder, his touch now more than welcome. "We're meeting at the bottom of the library steps. That’s where the Slayer, who was tortured by the rogue demons, was taken last night. It means the relic is nearby.”

Archer’s gut tightened more, his heart racing as soon as Ezekiel mentioned the relic. Suddenly, he couldn’t wait to get to the bank to see what was inside the safe deposit box. Archer found himself glancing around the area, suspicious of anyone approaching them. Deep down, he’d accepted the truth of Ezekiel’s story. Something in his spirit told him this was all too terrifyingly real.

Right as they reached the bottom of the steps, a man materialized from behind a weeping willow, like a guardian angel who’d traded in his halo for leather and attitude.

“Hello Archer, Ezekiel.” He turned to Ezekiel. "The distraction is set. Slayers will keep any unwanted company at bay while you retrieve the relic."

Archer cleared his throat, not sure how he should greet an archangel. The strange pull returned with a vengeance, an intuition gnawing at his gut when Uriel had spoken. He moved closer to Ezekiel.

“Uh, hi.” Uriel fixed him with his gaze, the gray eyes seeming to pierce right through him. This time he did clasp Ezekiel’s hand. “And the relic is there for sure?”

“It knows you're coming," Uriel’s expression remained unreadable. “Trust your instincts.”

His usual snark and cranky repartee failed him in the face of something much bigger than himself or the life he’d once inhabited. Archer finally understood there was no going back.

“Yes, sir.”

Ezekiel squeezed his hand and Uriel stared at Archer a beat longer before turning to Ezekiel again. “After you have the relic in your safekeeping, return to the lair. Malachi will meet you there, and once it is safe, so will Darius and Cassiel. As Sentinel, Malachi will travel with you to the council gathering for the official transfer of the relic.”

While Archer had been comfortable grilling Ezekiel, he didn’t have it in him to smack-talk an archangel. Once they were out of the celestial being’s presence, he’d ask for more clarification about lairs, council gatherings, and other people - or gargoyles - that were mentioned.

“Understood,” said Ezekiel. “Thank you for your help.”

As they made their way toward the bank the next block over, Archer whispered to Ezekiel, “Why did he have to come down from the heavens? Couldn’t your friends have simply telepathically told you all that?”

“You don’t have to whisper.”

“Uh, right.” Now that he’d met the austere angel, he couldn’t shake the feeling that Uriel was listening in. Clearly, he was going to need some time to adjust to everything. “I guess I’m wondering why such a powerful angel would waste his time coming to Boston to share two sentences.”

“I counted three.”

Archer gaped at Ezekiel, then caught the side eye and barely concealed quirk of a smile.

“Ah, so youdohave a sense of humor after all.” Archer chuckled. “I was getting worried about you there.”

“I have my moments. To answer your question, Uriel needed to ensure all aspects of the plan are in place.” Ezekielglanced sideways at him again. “I also suspect he wanted to see you in the flesh.”

Archer furrowed his brow. "See me? Why would I matter to an archangel?"

Ezekiel's gripped his hand tighter. "I told you, Archer. You’re special, more than you realize. Your Nephilim heritage makes you a key player in this battle.”

As they approached the bank, the strange pull intensified. His skin tingled, and the urge to race inside the concrete building was almost impossible to resist. If Ezekiel weren’t by his side, he would burst into the lobby and probably get himself arrested.

“Something odd is happening to me,” Archer muttered, his free hand unconsciously moving to his chest. "It's like there's a magnet inside me, trying to draw me in."

Ezekiel nodded solemnly. "That's the relic calling to you. It recognizes your bloodline."

They paused at the bank's entrance, and Ezekiel turned to face Archer fully. His

Ezekiel turned to face Archer fully, his eyes filled with a mix of concern and determination. “Are you ready for this? Once we retrieve the relic, there's no turning back. The dark forces will always know who you are. Your life will never be the same.”

Archer took a deep breath, the weight of the moment settling like a brick house on his shoulders. The pull from inside the bank was almost unbearable now, like an invisible cord tugging at his very soul. He glanced at their joined hands, marveling at how natural it felt, then back up at Ezekiel's face.

"Honestly? I'm scared out of my mind," Archer admitted with a wry chuckle. "But I think I passed the point of no return the moment you crashed into my life this morning. So let's do this."

Ezekiel's features softened. "I’m amazed by your courage. You’ll be an incredible partner by my side.”

---