“You took Emil’s key—in Sheol.” I say in awe. I reach up and touch the charm that shines with an ethereal light.
“Just before I gave you your key when we were in Sheol, I took Emil’s off of his corpse. I couldn’t leave it there. I thought I would return it to Earth with us, but I ascended with it instead.”
“So, you can open a door to Paradise with this whenever you want to?”
“I could, in theory, but there are strict rules regarding how or when I can use it.”
“Which are?” I ask.
“I’m not allowed to tell you.”
“Of course not.”
“But,” Reed grins, “this job comes with some perks.” He tugs me with him as he walks backwards so he can still face me. I follow him.
“What perks?” I ask. “A 401K?”
“No.”
“A retirement plan?”
“Nope.” He brushes up against a huge door. Twisting the handle, he throws it open. Inside the brightly lit room that is similar to the one we just came from, Buns and Brownie are arguing about who has the best destination getaway idea for my binding ceremony. Zephyr is killing Russell at chess. Anya is snuggling a gray kitten in her lap. And Preben is arguing with Phaedrus over what, exactly, a miracle entails.
“The best perk of the job,” Reed says, “is that I get to have a team to help me protect the key.” I stare inside the room, unable to move right away.
Buns and Brownie notice us. They squeal while bouncing up from the elegant sofas they were lounging on. Crossing the room, Brownie leaps at me and hugs me in a death grip. Sparing Reed less than a glance, Buns throws her arms around Brownie and me. “You finally decided to visit us, Sweetie! I’m so happy! I missed you!”
“Me too” Brownie agrees. “Buns has been so hard to live with since you’ve been busy.”
“I was,” Buns admits. “I was super hard to live with, but that’s about to change now that you’re finally here!”
The Reapers let me go, passing me off to Russell who picks me up and gives me a hug. I rest my head on his shoulder, trying not to cry. It doesn’t work, a few tears sneak out of the corners of my eyes. Buns takes Reed by the hand and pulls him inside the room, shutting the door behind them and leaving us alone.
Russell finally lets me go. When I’m back on my feet, he shoves his hands in his pockets. “So, Detroit, huh?” he says with a grimace. “You couldn’t have picked a warmer climate? You know it makes it hard to come back to Earth, knowin’ I might freeze to death when winter rolls around again.”
“You came back,” I whisper, wiping away tears with the sleeve of my shirt.
Russell reaches out and tenderly wipes a tear away with his thumb. “Yeah, I sort of had to, I missed my best friend. Nothin’ is the same without you.”
“Anya didn’t mind coming back?” I ask.
“Anya has to do a rotation on Earth as karmic retribution for disobeyin’ Heaven when she escaped Paradise to be with me—blah, blah blah.” He swipes his hand through his tawny hair. “I didn’t have to come with her, but Reed was offerin’ us this key job and it was a way to be together and see you. I mean, I’ve had worse jobs, right?”
“Oh, for sure,” I agree with a tear-streaked smile. “There’s that time you were a messenger—”
“Do not bring that up!” He laughs. “Anyway, what would I do in Heaven when everyone is here? I’d be bored, Evie. After the lives we’ve lived, I don’t think I could hang there for more than a decade before I’d need to get back into the game. And we don’t have inescapables anymore. No more Emil to ruin our lives.”
“Your inescapable is gone too.”
“Good riddance,” he says harshly, not at all unhappy that his evil counterpart has been destroyed.
“I don’t even know what it will be like not to have Emil around.”
“You still have to deal with demons all the time.”
“Yeah, but at least I know what they are now and I’m not at their mercy anymore.”
“Aren’t you?” he asks with a sad expression.
“No. I’m not. The faeries I’ve been living with aren’t demons anymore.”
“But you have to rescue souls from Sheol. That’s a dangerous job.”
“I can handle it.”
“If anyone can, it’s you,” Russell says. “Anyway, I know Reed’s glad he’s here. He hated Paradise. For a guy who once pined for it, he couldn’t wait to get back here.”
“He’s been in the game too long.”
“So have you.”
“I am the game.”
Russell smiles ruefully. “Truer words were never spoken, Red. I think he also missed you too much. So, when are you movin’ in?”
I’m spared from answering that question when Zephyr throws open the door. He picks me up and hugs me. “What is Sheol like? Reed would not tell me. He said that I had to ask you.”
“I’ll tell you everything you want to know,” I promise.
He sets me on my feet. His ice blue eyes search mine. “Is there any way you’d consider taking me with you on a redemption run to Sheol to rescue souls?”
“Umm, I don’t know. I don’t see why not.”
“Excellent,” he replies with a wicked gleam in his eyes.
Reed takes my hand and leads me into the room. I settle on the sofa next to him. Leaning against his chest, he wraps his arm around my shoulder, teasing strands of my hair between his fingers. Buns, Brownie, Anya and I discuss all the things Reed and I can do for our binding ceremony. Buns get Phaedrus to agree to perform the rites again. We spend hours chatting. I listen to their stories of Paradise.
“Do you want to see the rest of the house?” Reed asks. I nod enthusiastically.
Getting up from the sofa, he takes my hand. He gives me a tour of the house. Much of it I recognize from high school, but he leads me upstairs to a room I’ve never been in. It’s the master suite. The far wall is made entirely of windows. Two doors lead out to a grand stone porch overlooking the water. “Please tell me this is our room.” I grin. He closes the door behind us.
“This is our room,” he says. He walks to me and takes me in his arms and together we make it our own.
* * *
Living with Reed is effortless. He fills a void in me. I’ve been given a second chance at love. I appreciate it so much more than I did before; I take nothing for granted. My obligations, however, have not gone away. I am still the queen to my faeries. There are things that I have to do that I can’t discuss with Reed. He has his own secrets that he’s not allowed to share with me as well, secrets of his key and its gate to Paradise. Because we have mutual respect for one another, we’re able to get past it and accept the things we cannot change.
I glance at my watch again, and then gently move Reed’s arm from my shoulder. As silently as possible, I get up from my seat and I try to creep out of the dark home-theater room so that I don’t disturb the angels as they watch a movie. Reed follows me to the door. I slip out into the hall. Reed murmurs, “You have to leave now?”
“Brennus is coming to pick me up. We have a strategy meeting.” I gesture with my thumb over my shoulder. “He should be here any minute.”
“What’s your meeting about?” Reed asks as he follows me up the stairs and into the foyer.
“I can’t talk about it,” I say awkwardly. “I’ll be back in the morning, though. We can have breakfast together.” I gather a light jacket from the closet and my bag, which contains my battle hammer in it.
“You’ll be gone all night?”
“I’ll stay at the seminary tonight,” I say with a cajoling smile. “We plan to get back late and there’s always that transition from Sheol to Earth that I go through. It’s better if I just stay with the fellas until I’m over it.” He knows what I’m talking about. It’s hard for me to relate to anyone or anything upon my initial return from Sheol. There’s always a period of adjustment, but I’m working through it. I see concern in his eyes. “It will be okay.�
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“I know you will,” he says, but I know he’ll worry about me until I return tomorrow. He can’t guard me when I’m in Sheol and it bothers him.
The doorbell rings. “I love you,” I say, pulling on my jacket. I give him a quick kiss goodbye, and turn away to get the door, but Reed hauls me back to him.
“He can wait,” Reed murmurs and he leans down and kisses me until I’m breathless and wanting more.
The doorbell rings again. “I have to go,” I whisper.
“I love you, Evie,” Reed says against my lips.
“I know.” I smile at him and go to the door. Opening it, I grin at Brennus. “Hi.”
“Ye look grand, Genevieve,” Brennus says. “Are ye ready?”
“Yes,” I say, and then hesitate. “Wait. I forgot! I bought the fellas some paczki. They’re in the kitchen. Can you wait while I get them?”
“I’ll wait for ye,” Brennus replies.
“Come in for a second.” I hold open the door. He steps into the foyer.
Seeing Reed, he nods his head in a stiff greeting, “Aingeal.”
“Faerie,” Reed replies.
I rush to the kitchen and retrieve the boxes of paczki. When I near the foyer, I pause and listen.
“How long do ye tink dis arrangement of ours will last?” Brennus asks.
“As long as it takes for her to realize that you’re still evil.”
“She knows I’m na. But I do worry about ye, aingeal. Ye have a much more dangerous job dan we do. Ye guard da key ta Paradise. Dere are many who would give anyting ta possess such a priceless commodity as dat.”
“I have a team in place, just as you have.”
“Ye’ll need more dan a few aingeals. Na many demons are aching ta get inta Sheol, like dey are Paradise.”
“I control two armies—Tau’s and Xavier’s.”
“Ye’ll need dem. Ye put Genevieve in danger jus by her being around ye and dat key.”
“I’ll protect her. She’s agreed to be my aspire again.”
“Have I ever told ye da story of da Faerie queen, Reed?”
“I’m not sure, Brennus. You’ve told me a lot of stories.”
“Did ye know dat once upon a time, dere was a faerie queen? She was da heart of her realm until one day when an aingeal came ta her world from Paradise. He warned her dat her world was destined ta be destroyed—dat a time would come when da Faerie realm would be overrun by its enemies and dere would be no peace.
Da queen, caring only for da welfare of her subjects, begged da aingeal for mercy for dem. Da aingeal relented, tellin’ her dere was only one way for her subjects ta be reborn after its destruction. Da aingeal told her dat if she agreed ta be human, she could one day save da human world from da evil dat is jus a thin veneer away. She listened ta him when he said she would face terrible danger and suffer greatly, but one day, a Faerie king would return from da grave ta save her. He said dat once da queen was finished wi’ her mission ta help da humans, she would again be da queen of da faeries and da savior of her race. Have ye heard of dis tale, Reed?”
“No, I haven’t heard that bit of fiction.”
“Och, maybe ye should look inta it.”
“Maybe it’s a story for another day.”
“I hope ta tell da whole ting ta ye soon, aingeal.”
I rush back into the foyer. Giving Reed a quick kiss on the cheek, I turn to Brennus. “I’m ready,” I murmur.
“So am I, mo chroí.”
God, all things are possible through You. Thank you for Your infinite blessings and for allowing me to do what I love: write.
To my readers and bloggers: Thank you! The outpouring of love that I receive from all of you is incredible. Your generosity toward me is humbling. You make me want to write a thousand books.
Gloria Lutz, your unwavering support and unconditional love are a guiding light in my life.
Tom Bartol, you’re my best friend. I cannot imagine my world without you in it. I love you.
Max and Jack Bartol, I count myself as the most fortunate person in the world to have you both in my life. Thank you for knowing when to let me write and when to rescue me from my computer.
Tamar Rydzinski, one of the best days of my life was when you agreed to be my agent. Thank you for always having my back.
Janet Wallace, you’re inspirational. I love seeing what you create. Thank you for all of you help marketing Iniquity. I’m grateful.
Regina Wamba, you’re an artist. Thank you for sharing your marketing genius with me.
Vilma Gonzalez, your support of this series has been mind-blowing. Thank you for being part of this journey.
Trish Brinkley, thank you for always including me in your circle!
Amber McLelland, thank you for your friendship.
Aingeal – angel (Gaelic/Irish)
Aspire – angel significant other, similar to a human husband or wife (Angel)
Banjax – destroy (Gaelic/Irish)
Máistir – master (Gaelic/Irish)
Mo chroí –my heart (Gaelic/Irish)
Mo shíorghrá – my eternal love (Gaelic/Irish)
Reconnoître – black-winged nocturnal demon from Sheol who scouts and hunts prey – a messenger (Faerie)
Sclábhaí – slave (Gaelic/Irish)
Síorghrá - eternal love (Gaelic/Irish)
Sláinte – cheers (Gaelic/Irish)
Tristitiae – sorrow (Latin)
Wans – human women (Gaelic/Irish)
Werree – demons who steal body parts of other creatures to wear over their own shadowy figures (Faerie)
Wo gehst du hin? – Where are you going? (German)
I live in Michigan with my husband and our two sons. My family is very supportive of my writing. When I’m writing, they often bring me the take-out menu so that I can call and order them dinner. They listen patiently when I talk about my characters like they’re real. They rarely roll their eyes when I tell them I’ll only be a second while I finish writing a chapter…and then they take off their coats. They ask me how the story is going when I surface after living for hours in a world of my own making. They have learned to accept my “writing uniform” consisting of a slightly unflattering pink fleece jacket, t-shirt, and black yoga pants. And they smile at my nerdy bookishness whenever I try to explain urban fantasy to them. In short, they get me, so they are perfect and I am blessed.
@Amy_A_Bartol
authoramyabartol
www.amyabartol.com
[email protected]
Iniquity (The Premonition Series Book 5) Page 33
