Page 19 of Uriel
Uriel is quiet for so long I wonder if he’s going to answer. When he finally speaks, his voice is thoughtful. “I enjoy music,” he says. “Classical, mostly. There’s a purity to it, a mathematical precision that I find... soothing.”
I turn back to him, intrigued. “Really? I wouldn’t have pegged you for a music lover.”
He raises an eyebrow. “No? And what did you peg me for?”
“I don’t know,” I admit. “Spreadsheets? Corporate law? Professional chess?”
To my surprise, Uriel laughs. It’s a full, rich sound that transforms his entire face. “I’ll have you know I’m terrible at chess,” he says, his eyes twinkling with amusement. “Raphael beats me every time.”
The mention of his brother reminds me of how little I actually know about Uriel’s life. “What’s that like?” I ask softly. “Having siblings who’ve been with you since... well, the beginning of time, I guess?”
Uriel’s expression turns contemplative. “It’s... complicated,” he says finally. “We love each other, of course. But we’ve also seen each other at our worst. Made mistakes. Fought wars.” His voice drops so low I have to lean in to hear him. “Sometimes I think they know me too well.”
The vulnerability in his admission catches me off guard. This is a side of Uriel I’ve never seen before—uncertain, almost... human. Without thinking, I reach out and place my hand on his arm.
“That sounds lonely,” I say quietly.
Uriel looks down at my hand, then back up to my face. Something shifts in his eyes, a warmth that wasn’t there before. “It can be,” he admits. “But it has its moments of beauty, too. Watching humanity grow, evolve. Seeing the best of what you can be.”
The intensity of his gaze makes my breath catch. We’re so close now, I can see the flecks of silver in his blue eyes. Time seems to slow, the patter of rain fading into the background.
Uriel leans in slightly, and for a wild moment, I think he might kiss me. My heart thunders in my chest, torn between anticipation and dread. Do I want this? Do I want him?
His hand reaches up, and I hold my breath as his fingers gently brush my cheek. With exquisite care, he tucks a stray lock of hair behind my ear, his touch lingering for a heartbeat longer than necessary. The warmth of his skin against mine sends a shiver down my spine.
Time seems to stretch, elastic and surreal. Every detail etches itself into my consciousness—the soft patter of rain on the roof, the faint scent of Uriel’s cologne, the way his eyes have darkened to a stormy blue. He’s so close now that I can see the faint stubble on his jaw, a humanizing detail that makes my heart flutter.
His gaze drops to my lips, and I find myself leaning in, drawn by some invisible force. The air between us feels charged, electric. I’m trembling, though whether from nervousness or excitement, I couldn’t say.
But before our lips can meet, before I can decide if this is what I truly want, a loud crack of thunder shatters the moment. We both jump, the spell broken.
The abruptness of it leaves me breathless, my skin tingling where Uriel’s fingers had been moments before. I blink rapidly, trying to process what just almost happened—what I hadwantedto happen, I realize with a jolt of surprise.
Uriel pulls back, his features etched with regret and something else I can’t quite decipher. The loss of his proximity leaves me feeling oddly bereft, and I have to resist the urge to reach out for him again.
I pull my hand back quickly, suddenly aware of how inappropriate this all is. We’re supposed to be averting the apocalypse, not... whatever this is.
“The rain’s letting up,” Uriel says, his voice slightly rough. He clears his throat. “We should be able to head back soon.”
I nod, not trusting myself to speak. As Uriel starts the engine, I can’t help but wonder what might have happened if that thunder hadn’t interrupted us. Would he have kissed me? Would I have let him?
And why does a small part of me wish he had?
As we make our way carefully back up the driveway, I steal glances at Uriel’s profile. His jaw is set, his eyes focused on the road ahead. But there’s a tension in his shoulders that wasn’t there before.
I lean my head against the cool glass of the window, watching raindrops race down the pane. This situation is already complicated enough without adding... feelings to the mix. And yet, I can’t deny the spark between us. The way my heart races when he’s near. The comfort I find in his presence, despite our rocky history.
Maybe it’s the apocalypse talking. Maybe it’s just proximity and adrenaline. Or maybe... maybe it’s something more.
As we pull up to the mansion, I make a decision. I’m going to figure out exactly what’s going on between Uriel and me. And I’m going to do it before the world ends.
Assuming, of course, we can stop that from happening first.
CHAPTER 12
Uriel
The tiresof the Audi Q8 crunch over gravel as we make our way back up the winding driveway. The rain, which had begun to let up during our drive, now pelts the windshield with renewed fury. I lean forward, squinting through the blur of water and wildly swinging wipers.
