Page 80 of Seraph's Tears
Eve’s voice drifted past the open door. “It’s all right, Gabriel. Let him in.”
My eyes widened. Eve Lovejoy was sharing a room with this fierce monster? Was she sharing a bed, too? How far had she been forced to pursue the reverend’s mission?
Gabriel sighed, stepping back and opening the door. He wore trousers, thank goodness. I wasn’t sure I’d get used to half-naked men. Castiel’s chest made my mind go blank so I tried to ignore it, but it was difficult.
Castiel angled me inside, then followed.
I scanned the large, stone chamber. One plaster wall was a painted map. A door led to a balcony. Castiel gestured for me to sit in one of the two seats at a small table near a large, empty fireplace. I glanced at the bed and saw Eve sitting there, covered in blankets.
She blushed when she met my gaze. Her brown hair was down and tousled, and I doubted she was dressed under those blankets.
Too many emotions to name whipped through me at the sight. Resentment and shock and censure, yes. Perhaps envy. I glanced through my lashes at the tall, muscular figure of Castiel lounging beside me. He was attractive as sin.
“Captain,” Castiel said, leaning forward, all traces of smirks and smiles gone. “Lilith saw the stained glass windows.”
The captain with the white wings grunted.
“I finished cleaning it the other evening,” Eve put in, frowning in confusion. “The weather has been too poor to see the images created by the darker glass.”
Castiel braced his hands on his knees. “It’s a seraph.”
Silence filled the air.
“A seraph with black wings.”
I glanced between the two seraphim and Eve, wondering what I was missing. The wing color seemed important.
“How old is this manor, Gabriel?” Eve asked. “Was the oriel there when you purchased it?”
Gabriel nodded, staring at Castiel. The look in his green eyes was so intense I shivered. “At least three hundred years.”
“Far before we arrived,” Castiel added. “That means another seraph fell to this earth. If we could find him…”
“He’s likely dead by now,” Gabriel, the captain, cut in.
Castiel nodded patiently, as if being interrupted didn’t bother him. “Yes, but Lilith said she’s seen an image of this stained glass in a book.” He looked at me, eyebrows raised.
It took me a moment to realize he expected me to speak. I was not used to men encouraging me to speak. I was supposed to be pretty as a bouquet in meetings. “I think it was in an old manuscript I saw a few years ago in the reverend’s study.” I cleared my throat. “Why is it so important?”
“We need to search for it.” Gabriel had rested on the edge of the bed, and Eve stretched out a hand to settle on his shoulder. “What if he returned home?”
Castiel nodded. “Maybe he fell through a different rip. Maybe we can return the same way.”
Wait. They wanted to go back? Back where? Did they not come here on purpose? I had been taught my whole life these seraphim would be messengers to Lord Erlik, that they controlled life and death and were worthy of our worship. My mind spun, trying to make sense of everything they said.
“I’ll go,” Castiel said. “If I understand this plot, this church planned to abduct you and force you to live as some sort of god in their midst?”
I opened my mouth to protest his description, but Eve nodded.
“Let me go. You’ve found your mate, and you have both been through a harrowing ordeal.” Castiel’s wings flared a little behind him.
I watched light flicker across them from the corner of my eye. It was too beautiful to ignore.
Slowly, Gabriel nodded. “Make plans. Include Azrael in your planning.” His gaze swung to me.
I emptied my eyes and attempted to charm him with my vapid smile. I’m nothing more than a pretty decoration.
“And you will assist him,” he ordered, the authority in his voice ringing loud.
