by Susan Illene
Bartol caressed her forehead. “We aren’t going to let you die. Either she gives you her blood, or I do.”
Lucas cursed under his breath. “If anyone could get away with doing this, it would be Melena. She is also the most likely to succeed in saving Cori, rather than killing her. Let her do it.”
The sensor didn’t waste another moment. She pulled a knife from her pocket and cut her wrist. Pressing the wound to Cori’s mouth a moment later, she ordered, “Drink.”
Blood filled Cori’s mouth. It wasn’t as metallic as she’d expected, and actually had a somewhat sweet taste to it. Did immortals come in different flavors than humans? She was in such a haze that the oddest thoughts came to mind.
Cori continued to drink, feeling the wounds on her body begin to heal. It hurt, but everything was regenerating quickly enough that it wasn’t as bad as the slow process of Micah’s magic. Only when her cheek and wrist began to mend did she struggle against the agony of bones knitting back together. Bartol held her still while Melena kept her wrist pressed to Cori’s mouth.
“She’s taking too much,” Lucas warned. “You didn’t give Emily or Yerik’s wife half this much.”
“Cori needs more with her injuries. I can’t stop now,” Melena insisted.
Micah moved closer. “We don’t know what it will do to her. This is the first non-sensor to consume your blood.”
“Look, she’s healing.” Melena gestured down Cori’s body. “She just needs a little more.”
In fact, there was something else happening. Cori felt a thrum start in her chest, and it started to expand to the rest of her. The dawn sky became brighter and more vivid, and oddly, she was starting to see auras around everyone standing near her. Their voices became louder, and new scents she’d only vaguely picked up before became more distinct. It was as if her body was coming alive for the first time.
She pushed Melena’s wrist away and sat up. “Enough.”
“But you’ve still got…” Melena began, gesturing at Cori’s feet.
The skin remained mottled and half-healed down there.
“It’ll be fine,” Cori said, unworried.
“You can’t know that,” the sensor insisted, offering her wrist again.
Something in her stomach clenched. Cori bowled over as intense pain ran through her, different from what she’d experienced with the burns. This was more like every fiber of her being was shifting and altering into something else. She squeezed her eyes shut, attempting to ride through the discomfort.
“What’s happening?” Bartol asked.
Cori cried out, and he pulled her into his lap.
“I don’t…” Melena began. “I think she’s changing.”
Bartol rocked her slowly in his arms. “To what? How?”
“She’s almost like a nerou,” Tormod replied, coming closer. “It’s very faint, but I can sense her now.”
“She couldn’t have become immortal with one dose. This isn’t like with vampires—and she didn’t die,” Melena argued.
As the pain began to ease, Cori opened her eyes again. She found everyone—including those who’d kept their distance before—were now huddling close together. They all looked at her like she was an alien.
Tormod shook his head. “Feel the vibe on her. She’s not immortal, but she is something more. If I didn’t know better, I’d say she’s part sensor.”
Melena’s eyes rounded. “The genes are recessive. She could have one from a single parent but not the other. It would explain why she’s always had a strong resistance to compulsion if that somehow influenced her genetic makeup despite not being the dominate factor.”
Bartol stilled his arms around her. “Does that mean your blood completed the process and made her a sensor?”
“She doesn’t feel like one.” Melena’s brows knitted. “But it’s like she’s something similar. Sort of like how the nerou aren’t quite the same, either. It’s…new.”
Micah put his hands on Cori’s feet. Unlike before, she could actually feel the tingling magic working over her along with the painful healing process. She pushed back at the first sign of discomfort, but then she forced herself to relax and let him work. In seconds, her feet were as good as new, including freshly grown toenails.
“I couldn’t have done that to a sensor, but she is able to resist magic now,” Micah informed them.
Cori adjusted herself in Bartol’s arms, finally realizing she was completely naked. “Can someone loan me a shirt?”
Lucas flashed away, returning a minute later with one of Melena’s large sweatshirts and a pair of yoga pants. Cori climbed out of Bartol’s arms and took the clothes. Everyone was polite enough to look away while she crouched on the ground pulling everything on.
Feeling a little less vulnerable now that she’d armed herself with cotton, she gazed around at everyone. She had dazedly noticed it before, but now she really took in how people appeared to her. Each person had a light aura around them. For the nephilim, it was gold—no surprise there. With Melena, it was the same shade of blue as her eyes. Tormod was violet and the werewolves brown. Derrick was an odd burnt-orange color, reflecting his werewolf heritage as well as the demon and angel mix he got from Yerik.
Unlike Melena, she couldn’t sense ages or any other specific details. It was just auras. Cori had been changed in some significant way, though she had no idea what that meant.
“I’m good now, guys,” she said, realizing they still had their backs to her.
They all turned, but it was Bartol who moved closest again and pulled her to her feet. “How do you feel?”
“Fine.”
“Just fine?” Melena lifted a brow. “What’s different?”
Cori explained about the auras.
The sensor frowned. “That’s…unexpected. I don’t see auras. It’s more like vibes for me and information flooding my mind.”
“We can discuss that later.” The alpha werewolf stepped forward. “Do you have any idea what that stone was that you threw at us?”
Cori nodded. “Griff said it was a Gregorian stone that’s supposed to drain the powers of anyone with angel blood. Apparently, Zoe dug a few of them up in Russia and sent one to him to test for her. He said they were very rare.”
A round of curses went through the group.
Melena threw her hands up. “That damned woman always has someone else doing her dirty work, so she can claim innocence.”
Bartol ran a frustrated hand through his hair. “I didn’t have a problem with her before, but now she’s going to pay for this.”
“Don’t do it because of me,” Cori begged, not wanting to see him go off alone and get hurt.
She’d witnessed what that stone did to her friends and couldn’t stand the idea of him taking on someone as powerful as Zoe without help. Most of the others were still restricted as part of their punishment for freeing the nerou and wouldn’t be able to go with him if he left now. “She’s stuck in Russia for a while longer, so we’ve got time to deal with her later.”
Lucas began to pace. “Zoe will use this time to further her plans. That’s no doubt who Griff called before he decided to let the sun take him.”
“It was a female,” one of the werewolves confirmed.
A brilliant flash of light filled the yard, followed by several explosions.
Everyone jumped back, moving closer to the house. A moment later, a very annoyed archangel with short, auburn hair and fair skin appeared before them, wearing a tattered and scorched robe. He glowed such a gleaming gold color that it was difficult for Cori to look at him, though she recognized his face.
Tormod snickered at the newcomer. “There are mines all over the place, so you might want to watch out.”
“Not anymore,” the glowing man replied, sweeping out a hand. Dozens of small potholes formed in the earth where they must have been before.
“Remiel,” Melena said, putting her hands on her hips. “Don’t you ever get tired of irritating us with your presence?”
The archangel gave her a disapproving look. “Yes, I do. If you would stop getting yourselves into trouble, I would gladly take a sabbatical from seeing any of you for a while.”
The sensor sighed. “What now?”
“I think you know.” Remiel headed toward Cori, moving with surprising grace despite the state of his clothing. Why he didn’t just repair it with magic was anyone’s guess, but maybe he wanted to prove a point that he was untouchable.
Bartol stepped before the archangel. “If you wish to blame someone, blame me.”
“No.” Cori moved around him. “I got myself into this mess, and my friends were just trying to save me. I deserve whatever punishment you want to give.”
Melena raced to the front of the line and put her hands out toward Remiel. “Don’t listen to them. I’m the one who gave her blood even though I knew I wasn’t supposed to do it.”
Cori moved next to the sensor. “You know I’m the guiltiest one here.”
The archangel sighed and flicked a look up at the heavens. “Since when are they volunteering for punishment?”
“Melena and Bartol have suffered enough,” Cori insisted. “I’m the one who deserves it.”
Remiel met her gaze. “You are still mortal—mostly. You do not fall under my jurisdiction for punishment.”
She clenched her fists. “I don’t care. You can’t hold them responsible for my actions.”
“What do you want?” Lucas growled. “Just spit it out already.”
The archangel pasted a blank expression on his face. “I’m not here to punish anyone.”
“You’re not?” Melena gave him a doubtful look. “I thought you liked that sort of thing.”
“No,” he answered, keeping his attention on Cori. “This is one of the few humans you could have gotten away with giving your blood.”
Rumbles of surprise went through the group.
“Is it because I have a sensor gene?” Cori asked, relieved no one was going down for her.
“That is part of the reason,” the archangel replied. “Though Melena must not do it again.”
The sensor glared at him. “What if Cori is dying?”
Remiel turned his attention to Bartol. “Then someone else can save her.”
“What are you trying to say?” Cori squinted at the archangel, finding it very hard to look at him for more than a few seconds at a time. “Can Bartol do it?”
“We heard his confession to Melena recently, and we’ve heard the truth about his previous crimes,” the archangel said, gaze still on the nephilim in question.
The truth about what? Cori wondered, glancing at the sensor.
“I’ll explain later,” Melena mouthed.
Remiel continued, “In light of the fact he did not seduce the former angel, Clarissa, and in recompense for a punishment severer than his actions, we will not interfere in his dealings with his mate, Cori.”
Bartol crossed his arms. “Are you saying I could make her immortal the way Lucas did with Melena?”
The archangel nodded. “If that is your wish, though you should gain your mate’s permission first and allow her time to adjust before giving her a final dose.”
“Wait a second,” Cori interjected. “As great as all this sounds, I’m not exactly chomping at the bit to be turned immortal. I just resigned myself to death not half an hour ago.”
Remiel lifted an imperious brow. “Your lifespan has already been doubled since then, assuming you are not mortally wounded. Are you saying you wish to die?”
“No, I mean I want to live now, but I like the idea that I can still check out someday.” Especially after finding out about how Bartol’s torture went and enduring what she did over the last couple of days. Cori wasn’t sure she could stand to live forever. “So, um, this is as far as it goes. A few extra years is more than enough for me.”
“If that is your wish, but the choice is yours,” Remiel replied, then produced a carved wooden box in his hand and held it out to one of the werewolves, who’d thankfully put on some clothes. “Retrieve the Gregorian stone and put it in here. Bring it back to me after you’re done.”
Cori was fairly certain he’d addressed the same guy who’d carried it away earlier. The werewolf took the box, keeping his gaze averted from the archangel, and ran in the direction he’d taken the stone.
“What are you going to do with it?” Melena asked Remiel.
“Destroy it.”
Lucas glared at the archangel. “And the others Zoe may also have?”
“She is not my jurisdiction,” Remiel replied, sounding as imperious as ever. “But one of my brethren will handle it.”
Derrick crossed his arms. “How can we be sure?”
Remiel pierced the alpha with his golden gaze. “You will have to trust that we will handle it.”
“Oh, sure,” Melena groused. “Because you guys have such a great track record with Zoe so far.”
The werewolf came back a moment later with the box in his hand. Everyone tensed. It took a moment for them to relax and mumble their relief that the stone no longer affected them. It appeared the container had some sort of mystical blocking power.
“Why hasn’t anyone heard about these stones before?” Cori asked.
“They were the work of a demon that once inhabited the Earth long ago,” Remiel replied, taking the box. It disappeared from his hand a moment later. “We thought we’d destroyed them all after eradicating him.”
“Leave it to Zoe to find the few he hid,” Melena said, then lifted a brow. “Are you going to punish her for this?”
“That is not your concern. For now, try to concentrate on keeping yourself out of trouble.” Remiel gave her a pointed look and flashed away.
The sensor stared at the spot where the archangel had just disappeared. “Dammit, he never sticks around to answer all my questions.”
Bartol rounded on Cori. “Why would you reject immortality if I offered it to you? It would keep you safer.”
She was surprised by how upset he seemed. They’d grown closer over these past few weeks, but it was like he took her choice personally.
“Come on,” she said, attempting to lighten his mood. “You can’t really want me around forever, can you?”
His expression turned intense, and he took a step closer. “What if I do?”
Cori swallowed, not liking where this was heading. “This isn’t the time or the place.”
“I don’t care.” Bartol gently took hold of her arms. “Tell me why?”
She pulled away from him. “Because I’m not ready for that kind of commitment. Not after all of this.” Cori gestured toward the house and Griff’s pile of ashes. “And if you were being honest with yourself, you’d know you aren’t ready, either.”
He flinched. “That is how you feel?”
“Yes.” She hated seeing the pain she was causing him, but it would be so much worse if they tried to force anything right now. “I need time to figure out what comes next. I’ve lost my home, my truck, most of my belongings, and probably half my customers. Never mind that it only took a matter of hours for Griff to reduce me to a suicidal state. I’m not…I’m not the woman you deserve right now.”
He backed away from her like a wounded animal. “How is it that you can come after me when I am at my most vulnerable, but you are unwilling to allow me to help you after all you’ve gone through? We are mates now.”
Cori could feel everyone’s attention on them. She hated having to discuss this while so many people watched, but it also told her Bartol’s state of mind to bring it up with an audience there. She had to make her feelings clear to him even if it hurt them both.
“I didn’t ask to be your mate,” she whispered. “I’m not ready for that.”
Bartol’s expression hardened. “Then I won’t bother you anymore.”
“But that’s not…”
He flashed away before she could finish, leaving a cold chill in his wake.
Cori crumpled to the ground
. It had taken everything she had to keep a brave face for this long, but she couldn’t hold herself together a moment more. By pushing him away, she’d given up the last precious thing she possessed, even if it had been the right thing to do.
Epilogue
Cori
Cori sat on Melena’s front porch, staring up at a bright blue sky. She’d become one more stray for the sensor to add to her collection at her halfway house. On her second day there, Ariel had come out from her RV camper. The former archangel looked at Cori and welcomed her with a sigh before heading out on a long walk. Kerbasi clucked his tongue when he first learned the news, and said something about how they’d give angel blood to anyone these days. Emily and the others just liked having someone around who could make edible meals. There was a lot of cooking and baking going on since that was how Cori dealt with her problems.
It had been two weeks since she last saw Bartol at the house where she’d almost died. He’d arranged for Lucas to pick up her things from his place, making it clear he wanted nothing to do with her. She’d tried calling a few times and going to his house, but Bartol didn’t answer the phone or the door.
Cori was surprised by how much it continued to hurt. She could still feel the tendrils of the mate bond between them, and it ached like an open wound. Melena said it would stay that way until they worked things out—which she apparently knew from vast experience. Cori didn’t know if that would ever happen when the man in question avoided her. If she’d been given more time to explain, she could have told him she didn’t want their friendship to end. She just wasn’t ready for a serious commitment. Now she wondered if she’d ever get that chance, or if he’d find a way to disappear from her life forever.
The front door opened. Melena stepped outside with two mugs of coffee in her hands and took a seat on the steps next to Cori. She passed over one of the mugs.
“Thanks,” Cori said, sipping on the hot brew.
The sensor smiled. “You are aware it’s cold outside, right?”
“A little.” In fact, Cori had hardly noticed. She should have figured it out, considering it was early November now and it was always freezing in Alaska during that time.
