Page 64 of When Monsters Rise
Helooks up and rolls his eyes. “Ithought we were opening up here.Beinghonest.Playthe damn game,Shem.”
Fuck.WhatamIdoing?Allowingmy emotions to cloud this interaction with an ally. “Wewere doing fine until…until we weren’t.Youarrived just in time.YousavedRue, andIam more grateful than you could know.”Fuck, it hurt to say it.Butit was true.She’dbe dead without his intervention.Twicenow he’d saved her.
“Thankyou for the acknowledgement,” he says. “And, in the spirit of being honest, you should know thatI’vedeveloped an attraction toRue.”Alow growl vibrates in my chest, and he holds up his hand. “OnethatIwill resist, even thoughI’mcertain it’s reciprocated.”
Ican’t argue becauseIbelieve it’s reciprocated too, and based on what he’s said to me so far, there’s somethingIneed to know. “Willyou use the bond to take her?”
Isthat disgust on his face?
“Idon’t take what’s not freely given,” he says.
Mywords thrown back at me, but he couldn’t have known that.There’sno guile or deception in his tone.
HewantsRue, but he’s willingnotto act on his wants. “Why?Whynot take what you want?Youcould do it without using the bond.”Ihate to say it, but my gut tells me it’s true. “Youcould romance her.”
Helets out a breathless laugh. “Romance…Wehave bigger issues to deal with like fixing this world.Romancecan wait.”Hearches a brow my way, as if to intimate thatIshould have been more careful not to fall into the romance trap.
“Youhave no idea how hard it is to resistRue.”
Thecorner of his mouth lifts. “Isthat a challenge?”
“No.It’ssimply a fact.”
Helooks me in the eyes, locking gazes with me. “I’mnot here to winRue’saffections.I’mhere to help keep both you and her safe.Erelim, his reapers, andIare at your disposal.Wewon’t rest until the relic is restored and the balance between the heavens and earth is put to rights, but you should know that theDominionare planning something big.Michael’sbetrayal and my incarceration are all a part of it.”
Backto business.Ilike this celestial. “Oncewe get to the church, we can have a meeting and swap information.”
“Andthis church…Howdo you know it will be safe?”
“Trustme.Oncewe’re there, you’ll see for yourself…or maybe you won’t.”Thecelestials had bypassed the building as if they didn’t see it, so willGabrielbe able to see it?Iam interested to know.
“Ilove a good enigma,”Gabrielsays. “Inthe meantime, why don’t you and your watchers get some rest.Thereapers andIcan patrol.It’sbeen a while since we looked upon a free sky.”
Iwon’t argue.Mymen could benefit from a reprieve, and these reapers have weapons that can incinerate the monsters. “Howlong before you run out of celestial power?”
“Don’tworry, we have that under control.”
“How?”
“Serum.”
“Serum?”
“Yes, we have a bag of vials to keep us operational for several months.It’snot a huge boost, but enough to stave off devolution so that we can help you.”
Itwill have to do for now. “Youand the reapers can take first watch.We’lltake second.”
“Worksfor us.”Gabrielgives me a jaunty salute and launches himself off the roof and into the air, whereErelimhovers above the front lawn.
HavingGabrieland the reapers on our team will be a huge advantage, and yet, despite his assertion to the contrary,Ican’t help but feel that his presence might cause a rift betweenRueand me.Sharingher withBastianis easy because he’s human, because like all humans, he will die.Bastianis temporary, butGabriel…Therewill be no ridding myself of him.
Thereis only one way forward.
Oneway to prevent an inevitable rift betweenRueand me.
Acceptance.
Chapter30
