by Zoey Ellis
“How did she seem?”
Dani shrugged. “I’ve only been communicating with her by text, Thea, I can’t judge her mood. But she didn’t seem that chatty. She was probably annoyed.”
“Fuck,” Thea whispered. She hadn’t considered that she would still be stuck in this room for more than two human years. Dani had been sending and relaying messages between Amber and Thea, and Thea kept them superficial and light. She didn’t tell Amber she was ill. Instead, she pretended everything was fine and that her and Cam were in a good place. But Amber had to be wondering why Thea hadn’t been to visit. “Six months… How long is that here?”
Dani eyed Thea. “About three weeks.”
Thea sighed. “Tell her I’ll try to come.”
Dani nodded.
“What about…” Thea’s throat closed up at the thought of Cam.
“Nothing,” Dani said, shaking her head. “I haven’t been able to get in to see him or Zak. No one answers Cam’s door, and I can’t seem to ever catch Zak at his office in between my assignments. I don’t even know anyone that would pass a message onto them for me,” Dani said, her eyebrows drawn together. “Thea, you might be able to get some answers if you ask yourself. You worked with them both directly and you spoke to the Dominion League. I’m a nobody. No one would tell me anything, anyway.”
Thea sighed. She was probably right. If she wanted answers, she had to reach out to the Dominion League. “Can you tell Asteroth I’d like to speak to him?”
Dani nodded. “Sure.” She hesitated, chewing her lip in thought before continuing. “Do you really think you’ll be well enough in three weeks to see Amber? Maybe you just tell her you’re sick.”
“I don’t want her to worry, Dani. If she thinks it’s serious, she’ll want to know where I am so she can can fly out to see me.” Thea shook her head. “I’ll speak to Simiel and see what he says, but I don’t want her to know I’m ill. Please just send the messages I give you word for word?”
“Okay,” Dani breathed. Dani hadn’t questioned her too much about her attack. As far as she knew, Thea had been attacked by demons and that was as far as anyone knew. Dani rose from her chair and hugged Thea gingerly. “See you tomorrow.”
Thea spent the rest of the day reading. In the last few days, Simiel had picked up books from the training center common room to help pass the time. She had memorized all of the Angel orders and their functions. She read about angelic energy and demon energy and all the different ways in which they were used and the effects of them. She’d even gotten a better understanding of the Stream and its purpose.
Over the next few days, she read a book about treating demon blood wounds and began to understand the depths of what had happened to her and what Zak had to go through to prevent the blood from reaching her heart. It was quite fascinating and Thea realized she should have researched the potential risks of her new life when she’d first arrived. Interestingly, the book stated that Power angels were not affected by demon blood at all, which explained why Cam was never concerned about getting blood on any of his open wounds. It probably never occurred to him to warn her properly of the full dangers of it because he never had to worry about it himself.
Her heart constricted at the thought of Cam. She couldn’t fight the hurt and disappointment that rocked her to her core. How could he not come to see her? Maybe he felt guilty, or maybe he was giving her more time or… No. She couldn’t keep trying to think up excuses for him. She knew Cam, and if he had wanted to be by her side, nothing would have stopped him from doing so.
Lately, she had been wondering if she would have been better off without him. He had made her so happy most of the time, but if she took away the sexual attraction and the hot sex, what was left? Was the fact that they were natural mates the only thing they had going for them? They couldn’t communicate well, they disagreed on how to deal with his rage, and he hadn’t felt it important to tell her about his previously arranged mate. Annoyingly, she also kept thinking back to when she was looking for her mother. He had been so supportive and caring—she didn’t think she would’ve gotten through it without him. Similarly, he was always very keen to encourage her warrior abilities, and it was clear they were compatible in their fighting style. But was that all they had? Was that enough for a relationship to last a lifetime or eternity?
Thea sighed as she closed the book, resting her head on her pillow and allowing her mind to wander. However, whenever her mind relaxed, it drifted back to the attack: the darkness in Cam’s gaze, the hatred in his expression, his savage actions—
A knock on the door drew her from her thoughts.
“Come in.”
Asteroth entered, stepping slowly into the room. He paused, his dark brown eyes trained on her. “Hello, Thea. How are you doing?” He smiled but there was something strange about it—vulnerability. She had never seen Asteroth look vulnerable before, and it spiked her moderate worry to acute fear.
“What’s going on, Asteroth?” No point in wasting time beating around the bush.
Asteroth stood before her, holding her eyes for a moment. He closed the door and moved to the chair next to her bed. “You look well, Thea.”
“I don’t care about how I look.” Thea fought her frustration and annoyance, trying not to let it effect her tone. “I want to know what’s going on with Cam. And Zak. Why haven’t I seen anyone?”
Asteroth leaned back in his chair, glancing around the room. “What do you think has happened?”
“If I knew, I wouldn’t be asking you!”
“Then you need to think about it,” Asteroth said pointedly, his eyes boring into hers.
Thea struggled to understand what he meant. The echo of another headache bounced in her mind. She took in a breath to calm her nerves. Being angry wasn’t going to help her. She spoke calmly. “I know you are aware of my relationship with Cam. Has he left me?”
“I cannot discuss anything with you.”
Thea’s eyes flashed. “You can’t do me the kindness of telling me if I’ve been abandoned?”
“You honestly think that would happen?”
“Do you see anyone else here?” Thea snapped, gesturing to the room around her. “This is how it’s been for months!”
Asteroth didn’t answer, though there was a pain in his eyes that she couldn’t read. He wasn’t telling her something, but she couldn’t figure out what. And she couldn’t guess why he would be feeling emotional about it.
An uncomfortable silence crept around them, and as it lengthened, Thea realized he was not going to speak. Her heart dropped. She thought she could trust Asteroth and the Dominion League. Clearly she couldn’t if they couldn’t give her information when she needed it.
“I only asked you here to find out why I haven’t seen Cam,” Thea said finally, her voice almost breaking. “If you won’t tell me, there’s nothing for us to talk about.”
Asteroth stilled in his chair, looking at her. He cleared his throat. “Did you know angels could have children?”
Thea made a face, surprised at the change in subject. She opened her mouth to say that Cam did mention it to her once, but quickly closed it again. What was the point? Cam wasn’t around and he had already said that angels don’t naturally have it in them to want children. Since the Thrones said otherwise, he was clearly talking about himself.
“I had two with my mate,” Asteroth began. “It seems like another lifetime ago now.
Thea relaxed back in her bed and stared at the ceiling. She was fine to let him talk about something else, if he wanted. His voice was soothing, and at least his presence broke the boredom of being alone.
“We had a girl and a boy, and we were happy to give up our duties to have them,” Asteroth continued. “We lived far from the Stream, right over the far side of the Empire where there are numerous gardens, lakes and mini-forests.”
Thea remembered Cam telling her something about an area of the Realm where angel children lived. It felt like ages ago now. A dull pain in t
he back of her head warned her of an oncoming headache.
“The Angel Realm was much bigger then,” Asteroth said, his voice wistful. “All the children played and trained together and discovered all the wonderful things around them. My boy was loyal and dedicated. He dearly loved his mother, sister, and me with a passion that seemed more intense than the other angel children. He adventurous and loved stories about adventurers. He always told us that he would protect us no matter what, even though he was young.” Asteroth smiled. “He learned faster than most of the other Cherubim his age and was stronger. He figured things out quicker and became more accomplished than most of them too. He began to explore his surroundings, to learn that there was an entire Empire just waiting to be discovered. He frequently separated from the groups of Cherubim when he became bored, and went off exploring in the Realm, even though he knew he shouldn’t.”
Asteroth’s jaw hardened and his brown eyes filled with such raw anguish, Thea couldn’t look away.
“He was on the outskirts of the Realm, one day,” Asteroth said, “when the Realm shrunk. A mass area of the human world was in turmoil, instigated by demons, of course, and my boy was destroyed by the forest as it thundered in toward the Empire, shrinking the Realm.” Asteroth paused his gaze low and distant, his body tense, his fingers twitching as he seemingly fought an inner struggle. He got a hold of himself and raised his head to meet Thea’s eyes. “I was never the same after that, and nether was my mate. Within a year she ran into the forest herself, unable to bear the loss of our boy. My daughter became a beautiful, brilliant Cherubim but I was a shade of the father I had once been to her. I waited until she no longer needed me before I left that life behind to become a working Dominion once more.”
Tears stung Thea’s eyes. So tragedy happened in the Angel Realm too. Her voice was hoarse when she spoke. “Why are you telling me this?”
“Are you aware that when angels die we go to Heaven?”
“Yes.”
“While we are there, we exist in a very basic form, scattered as energy—free, unbound, and blissful, mingling and blending with the energy of others, until we make an agreement with the Creator to become form again. Sometimes, if the right components realign in a similar way as before, a being that once existed is recreated. Slightly different, but familiar.” He stood up, his eyes gripping Thea. “My son had chocolate brown hair and gray eyes. His name was Cassiel.”
Thea’s eyes widened, wonder and surprise blooming. Brown hair and gray eyes… like Cam. Cassiel... Camael.
“He learned faster than most others his age and he was stronger,” Asteroth repeated himself slowly. “He was adventurous and loyal and dedicated. He figured things out quicker and became more accomplished. He felt love more passionately and intensely than the others and he always vowed to protect those he loved, no matter what.”
Oh shit. Was he saying… Was Camael once Asteroth’s son?
Asteroth paused, his eyes flicking away and then returning to Thea’s. “But he didn’t stick to the rules. He went his own way and did not fear danger or death or consequence.”
Thea’s eyes locked onto his and time seemed to fade away as they stared at each other. Asteroth broke their connection, turning slowly to the door.
“So, if you think carefully,” he said firmly, “you will be able to answer your questions on your own.”
He headed to the door and left, as the thudding in Thea’s head became louder.
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Angel Orders and Demon Classes
Angels
There are seven orders of angels:
Seraphim – the order of angels who govern the entry to the ethereal part of the Angel Realm, which leads to Heaven. They exist in the space between energy and material form, and have a close connection with the Creator. They are elusive and tend to be far removed from the concerns of the human world.
Throne – the ruling angels on any and all Angel Realm matters and the oversee the different orders. They communicate the will of the Creator from the Seraphim and organize the angels accordingly. They tend to be cold and analytical.
Dominion – the order of angels who oversee the duties of all angels as they pertain to the human world. Some are also warriors who work alongside Power angels and sometimes they seek to protect important humans from demons. [A select group of Dominion angels called the Dominion League represent the Dominion order and make decisions on important matters.] They tend to be intelligent and charming.
Power – the order of warrior angels whose predominant purpose is to seek out and fight demons in the human world. Ruthless and powerful beings.
Archangel – the order of angels who guide humans in their time of need and encourage them to pursue their hearts desire. They encourage humans to be happy and make positive choices. They empower humans to fight when they are in need of courage. They tend to be warm and encouraging.
Virtue – this order governs and protects the natural elements on earth. They can inspire courage and good-will in humans, as well as manipulate the human landscape with both beautiful and terrifying results.
Angel – oversees human mood and are very close to the concerns and nature of humans. They can pass messages from humans to the Creator and back again through prayer. They are ones all angels speak to when they wish to understand humans.
Demons
There are four levels of demons organized within two classes:
Legion – highest level (higher class) of demon with direct contact to the Destroyer. They are fierce and dedicated, highly passionate about expanding/strengthening their realm. They organize and construct large levels of destruction on an world-wide and international level.
Asmos – second level (higher class) of demons who cause destruction through the negative emotions of humans through wickedness, lust and dishonesty. They usually target large networks and organizations as well as big families. They work their way through these large connections turning motivations and results negative. They also work on the souls of generations of the same family as the negativity they produce can disrupted childhoods and prime humans for their needs.
Furies – third level (lower class) of demons who enjoy spreading general discord and unhappiness. They look for opportunities to heighten the pain and encourage revenge, lies and evil-doing.
Spectra – fourth level (lower class) of demons who create circumstances that cause humans to make poor choices, sowing sparks of discontentment that other demons can capitalize on.
Acknowledgments
I had so much fun writing and producing this book and I’m grateful to continue to have the support of a talented team.
To my brilliant editor Randie Creamer; once again your critical eye has improved my work dramatically and I cringe at what it would be without you! It’s a pleasure working with you and I really appreciate your support of my work.
My lovely beta readers, Lily, Julie, and Randie, it’s been great to get your honest opinions and advice about this book, especially as its longer and more complex than the previous one. Thanks so much for taking the time to read it and give your opinions, its helped me to fine tune the story I want to tell.
Many thanks to cover artist Melody Simmons for the wonderful cover that conveys the mood and feel of the book and series.
To the readers who decided to continue on with Thea and Cam’s story, thank you. I hope you enjoyed delving deeper into the world I’ve created, and if you’re not too mad at me about the cliffhanger, I hope you to continue checking out my work! I also want to thank the lovely ARC readers who were willing to take a chance on my first book and provide honest reviews for others—I really appreciate your time.
Lastly, a massive thanks to all of my
beautiful family and friends, who have been a great support in my writing and publishing efforts.
About Zoey Ellis
Zoey Ellis spends her most of her time thinking up stories that explore how love and romance can be tested by the darker side of our personalities and the heart-wrenching challenges that must be overcome for love to win, even if two people belong together.
Passionate about the fantastical, Zoey loves how intense and vast the challenges can be for couples in the paranormal romance genre. Her goal is to build a body of work depicting thrilling, fantastical romances between demanding alpha heroes and fiery heroines hoping the love they make will scorch ereaders and melt hearts. With a soft spot for angels, dragons and alpha shifters, Zoey blends her love of a Happy Ever After with strangely unique worlds and complex plots.
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