Page 47 of Seraph's Tears
Eve sighed and rubbed the bridge of her nose, glancing away from me. “She likely didn’t have a choice.”
I cocked my head. “Is she from a noble bloodline, then?”
Eve snorted. “No, we’re as common as a penny. Both our families. Our church has a strict hierarchy, I suppose. The reverend is Erlik’s voice and is considered a saint in waiting. When we obey the reverend, we obey Erlik, our god of death and beyond, and thereby open ourselves to his love and to the love of his divine saints.”
I snorted. “That sounds like an excellent system for an evil man to create and then abuse.”
She muttered something under her breath, low enough that even I couldn't make it out.
“That is how it would be in Aerie,” I amended. “Is it not the same here? Do you worship differently? Is the power that flows through this world only accessed through perfect obedience?”
“They told us magic doesn’t exist anymore.”
“Who is this reverend?” I demanded. “If his actions are causing you distress, I will confront him.” My wings flared behind me.
Her eyes widened and panic spread across her face. “No! Oh, lands, no, please don’t!” Her arms reached toward me, as if she could hold me in place, as if I was threatening to fly out the door right now.
I hadn’t expected Eve to agree wholeheartedly, but the vehemence surprised me. I stared at her, wondering what was happening. She hadn’t told me much about her life in this religious community, this, this cult. Why had she told me so little, when they’d allowed her to leave and she was free from their grip?
Was she free?
Had she been lying to me?
I brushed the thought aside as soon as it entered my mind. This was Eve. She was all that was bright and pure in this strange, common world of humans. We had shared so much together. I trusted her.
“You must still tell me this man’s name,” I insisted. “So I know if I ever cross his path.”
Eve’s eyes flared with fear. “He’s not important. You shouldn’t ever meet him.” She paused. “His name…is Zorababel Grimshaw.”
Anger simmered inside me. “Why do you not want me to know this information?”
She blinked. “I–I don’t. I mean, it’s not a secret. Zorababel Grimshaw. Reverend of the church, just north of Lownden City. I left and came here. To you.” She smiled, and a happy light shone in her eyes.
I relented. I didn’t want to think of blustering human men when I had her still naked in my bed. My heart burned hot as a coal, but this time it spread warmth throughout my body instead of pain.
As if my ayim was reacting to her presence. As if… no, it couldn’t be.
To distract myself from too many thoughts, I surged forward and stood at the edge of my bed, pulling her into my arms.
“Eve,” I rumbled against her hair.
“Mmm?”
“Will you tell me about your necklace? Will you tell me why it’s so important?”
She stiffened in my arms, and my heart began to sink. She wouldn’t tell me. But then, oh then, she did.
“I found it a long time ago when I was having a bad day,” she said quietly. “This is silly, but keys represent freedom or deliverance. I kept it to remind me that one day I’d be free. When I found my happiness, I’d take it off and tuck it away.”
The little she told me of her background troubled me. “Eve, do you feel trapped?”
“Not when I’m in your arms,” she whispered, and her tone made it clear the topic was closed.
So I spread my wings around her, since she seemed to like it so much. It was a novelty—something I couldn’t do with another seraph. We could touch and tangle our wings, but embracing with them—I could only do that with a human. With Eve.
I hadn’t known I could be this happy.
Chapter Seventeen
