“Well, she seemed to think she had you in the bag. And you have been spending a lot of time with her.”
“If I wanted her, I could have had her. I want you. But you are making it so damn hard to be with you,” he said. Hurt lanced his handsome face. There was weariness in his eyes I hadn’t seen before. If ever there was a time I thought I may lose him, it was now.
Tears pricked the corners of my eyes. My voice shook. “Now I’m asking, please don’t leave me.” And hot tears caressed my face. The tightness returned to my chest but this time there was no glowing hands that could heal this. Only his trust, his love and his words could heal the wound opening in my chest.
Rolling on his side, he wiped my tears with the pads of his thumbs. “Tell me you’ll marry me.”
That was the last thing I expected him to say. “We’ve talked about this. And even if I said yes, I’m only seventeen. How can we get married?”
“Just say yes,” he pleaded.
“Luke,” I said. My word was pain filled. “You’re going to college. You’ll probably meet someone else.”
“We’ve gone through this Mercy. There is no one else but you.”
“Why then?” I said, more out of insecurity.
“You’re bonded to Flynn,” he said holding out a hand again to stop me from interrupting. “You’re betrothed to Sebastian. And what do I have?”
“I’ll find a way out of it.” I had to. I picked up a rock and slung it towards the water. “I never asked for any of it. My love for you is freely given.” I hadn’t had a choice with the other two.
“So say yes,” he pleaded. “We can wait until you graduate.”
The ache that was still in my chest at the thought of losing him said why not. It wasn’t like we were getting married tomorrow or that I even had a ring on my finger for anyone to question. What mattered was that I loved him and would do anything to wipe the sorrow from his face. “Yes.”
Chapter Fifty Three
What happened next was a surprise to me and I wondered if it was also a surprise to Luke. He had his phone to his ear. “Flynn, meet Mercy and me at Dewey. Now.”
He hung up and looked at my surprise. “We have things to settle,” he said ominously answering my silent question.
I gave a little headshake and got to my feet. Selfishly, I wanted a few more minutes of possible peace with Luke. I walked towards the water lost in thought. There was just way too much going on. Arms came around me. Having him close again was a welcome respite. When he spoke, his words tickled at my neck. “What’s wrong?”
Pent up frustration leaking out, I said, “I wonder if my life will ever be normal.”
Stepping out of his comforting embrace, I knelt and picked up a stone near the water’s edge. Chucking it, it made an unsatisfying plop into the water.
“This is how it’s done.” I didn’t have time to look back at Luke before something went skipping off the water. Two, three, four times it bounced before disappearing beneath the water.
“How do you do that?” I asked. Grinning, like a kid in a toy store, he stepped over to me. And that what we did for a while, skipped rocks of the water’s surface.
“So, he brought me here because you finally told him,” said a voice from behind us.
Luke and I turn in unison. I didn’t have to see Luke’s expression because I felt his body tense up. Flynn was looking at me. I shook my head slightly and closed my eyes trying to remember Luke’s warmth. He would be cold and distant in less than a minute. He knew about the bonding; he didn’t know about the dreamwalking.
I took a step towards Flynn when Sebastian materialized in front of me. “Lass, are you hurt,” he asked, taking my chin in his hand. His vacant eyes held a rare depth. It was an intimate moment with two other pairs of eyes watching.
Luke stepped behind me and pulled me from Sebastian. With the connection broken, I breathed. “She’s fine. So it was you two years ago,” Luke declared.
Sebastian’s face turned to stone. “Yes, and I should have figured it was you with that fecking light,” Sebastian echoed.
“Your sister nearly killed Mercy,” Luke fumed.
Sebastian stilled. “She’s only a sister in that she was created by my maker. But she is no kin to me.”
“Your sister has a death warrant,” Flynn said stepping over, create a little triangle of testosterone.
“Aye,” Sebastian agreed. “But she will be dispatched in short order.”
“So where is she?” Luke asked gravely. “And why did you let her live?”
Sebastian’s brogue became thick. “I couldn’t do what I wanted. I had to take her to Father to answer for her crimes.”
“And we should just trust that she won’t be back?” Luke asked.
“Aye. She won’t. You can believe me when I say so.”
Sebastian reached for me but Flynn stepped in front of me. “What is she really? Has she been doing this to me?” Flynn pointed to the shadows in his eyes.
Sebastian stared at Flynn. “It’s possible. Like me, she has many talents. She feeds off strife and anger. She creates mischief and discord.”
And it all made sense. She was creating problems in all our lives and feeding on it. “If you’d been here, this would have never happened,” I complained, stepping out from behind Flynn and out of Luke’s embrace.
“If I’d been here, demons would have been after you every second of the day. I was doing the best I could to protect you,” Sebastian retorted, his eye sticking on me like glue. There was still the matter of the dagger he’d given me.
“And why? Why are you protecting me if you know that if I were to die, I would be in your clutches.” I couldn’t think about how tense the air got around me. I needed answers.
“Lass, it would be easy to claim what belongs to me. It would be better if you came willingly.”
Luke moved so fast, I had no time to counter his move. “She is not yours to claim.”
“She’s been mine before you even met her. She was promised to me at her birth. I think my claim is far reaching.”
“That’s bullshit,” Flynn said.
I wanted to echo the sentiment.
“You think because the two of you are bonding that your claim outweighs mine,” Sebastian countered.
I wanted to become small at that moment. I thought Valentine’s Day had been the most awkward day in my life, but this was far worse. The ground looked like an appealing place to crawl into until I felt the eyes on me.
“I didn’t ask for this,” I barked pointing between them. “I don’t care what my bio dad promised you, I am a person. And you can’t have me. Even if it means you won’t help protect me.”
Swiveling, I stared at Flynn. “And I’m sorry that I cared enough for you that this is happening. But I don’t love you.”
Flynn held up his hands. “You know the truth, Luke. I didn’t want this. I didn’t ask for this. I’ve been pulled in her direction from the beginning. Remember I was the one that mentioned her to you. I can’t help that we are a match and you two are opposites. I didn’t want to want her, let alone need her. I’m tired of lying about this. I never meant to dreamwalk with her but she didn’t stop it.” I couldn’t see Luke’s reaction. Flynn continued to speak like he hadn’t dropped a bomb. “This is fucked up for all of us. I tried to get away from her, but he brought her to me. Why don’t you ask him why? Maybe he and his sister have strife in common.”
We all shifted to look at Sebastian. He was like stone. No emotion showed; he was a cool facade of coldness. “I do not live off of strife. Yes, I knew what was happening between you two.” He meant Flynn and I. “But you were in danger at that school, my friend. You cannot live off of demon essence. Those female demons would have kept you there and used you until there was nothing left.”
“So why save him? Why help Luke? What is your game?” I demanded.
“For you. It is what you wanted. You want me to keep them safe, so I did. I did everything you asked and asked nothing of you.” H
e spoke as though I should know all of that.
“I never ask you to do any of it,” I declared.
“You didn’t have to. I know what makes you happy.”
Luke hadn’t spoken, I didn’t know if he was still there. Out of fear, I kept my eyes on Sebastian.
“If you want to keep me happy. Leave me alone.”
Sebastian nodded. “As you wish.”
“The dagger,” I began to explain.
“Keep it.” And he was gone.
I looked at Luke, then Flynn and swallowed. I would clear the decks and tell them about the dagger Sebastian had given me.
Flynn, however, looked over my shoulder and then at me. “All we need to do is to stay away from each other and maybe this shit will end.”
I understood and nodded. He started to walk away. “Wait,” Luke commanded.
Flynn took a slow turn. I held my breath afraid of Luke’s next words. “We still have a problem.”
Chapter Fifty Four
A breeze blew by lifting my hair and cooling my skin so that goosebumps rose up and down my arms.
“There is no problem. Mercy’s made it perfectly clear that you’re the one,” Flynn said to Luke but looked at me.
“I’m talking about the demon hunters. Have you learned anything?” Luke was back to business. He sounded resolved and I hated to think what he would say to me once Flynn left.
“They haven’t sent any communication if that’s what you are asking.” Flynn relaxed his stance. “There hiding in plain sight. They’re human and we have no idea who they are until they make a move.”
“That what I figured. Which means you can’t stay away from Mercy.”
Spinning one eighty, I faced Luke. What was he saying? “She needs protection and I won’t be here.”
“What?” I gasped.
“I have to go take care of something. On top of that, I spoke with my father. He will pull his protection away from you and your mom if we stay together.” He spoke to me this time. His face was void of love. He spoke like I was a relic that needed protecting, and not his girlfriend. Had I lost him? “We have to break up.”
Tears spilled down my face. His hands moved and I thought he would reach for me. But he stuffed them in his pocket. “Officially at least. Tomorrow at school, publicly.”
At a loss for words, I continued to silently cry. “What does this have to do with me?” Flynn asked. He was somewhat off to the side and a little behind me. I couldn’t see him and I didn’t want to.
“My father isn’t going to buy that we broke up. It’s too obvious. We need him to believe that we truly aren’t together anyone.”
A long pause. “Okay. Again I ask what does that have to do with me?”
“Flynn, don’t act stupid. This solves everyone’s problem.” And I knew what his next words were going to be. “You two need to get together.”
“No,” I cried out and I did what I had vowed myself I wouldn’t do anymore. I turned and fled. This wasn’t happening. Luke not only was breaking up with me, he was pushing me into Flynn’s arms.
I moved like the wind. It’s coolness punctuating the wetness on my face. I had no destination but to get away as far as I could. Why did he save me only to crush my heart, whose beating only reminded me of everything I’d just lost? If this was what it felt like to have a broken heart, I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy. I understood my father’s rage if he’d told the truth of having loved my mother. This kind of pain could lead you to do stupid, no dangerous things. I would never love again if it meant not feeling this. That was if I survived.
Caught like a bug in a web, I was surrounded by strong arms. My vision blurred with fat tears. A car roared to life. And I knew I was alone with him. His breath wove through my hair and caressed my neck. “Whatever words I say don’t matter. I will always love you.”
“Please,” I sobbed. “Don’t do this.”
“I want you safe more than I need you in my arms,” he croaked. Wetness hit my shoulder. I didn’t think it was my tears, but anything was possibility.
“I never meant to do it, I,” I stammered, thinking about Flynn’s confession of dreamwalking. There had been enough talk about what Flynn had to do during his confinement while he was healing for Luke to guess what happened between us. There was no need to point it out.
Turning me so I faced him, I stared into his red-rimmed eyes. I opened my mouth to speak but he stopped me. “I don’t want to know. What’s in my head is bad enough. Be really honest, do you love him?”
Biting my lip, I shook my head slowly side to side. He had to see the truth. “So marry me today,” he pleaded.
How he continued to love me astounded me and only made me love him more. I couldn’t lose him no matter what. If this would prove my love, then I would. “Yes.”
Crushing me to him, he murmured “You won’t regret this.”
Hand in hand, he led me to his car. We left my car parked at Dewey and headed to God only knew where. I stared off in the distance watching the scenic views change from suburbia to highway, and then to a two-lane road lined with buildings in all shades of faded red and brown brick. Several had swaging awnings out front. My mind drifted. I wondered what it would be like to be married. Would I feel any different?
We drove for a while longer, passing through a couple of towns until we reached one that seemed to thrive with buildings that looked well cared for. It was almost if he always had a plan. He parked in front of an ancient looking pristine white chapel. The sun, still high in the sky, seemed to spotlight it above all the other buildings nearby. The church was beautiful but it looked like it had withstood the test of time. I blinked at the irony. Weaving his fingers through mine, he pulled me through the double doors. We paused for a second. In front of us stood what I would later learn was a holy water font. He looked at it a second longer and passed it.
A tiny hysterical laugh escaped me. I’d always wondered if I would burst into flame if I crossed into a holy sanctuary. It was good to know I wouldn’t.
As we entered, the sunlight that streamed through the colorful stained glass revealed that no one was here. If it weren’t for a faraway rustle of papers, I didn’t know what we would have done. When we moved further into the room, the heavy doors closed, its resonating sound bringing along a sudden silence. Whoever had been moving paper around out of sight, now knew we were too. With a reassuring squeeze of my hand, we continued to walk. About midway down the aisle between the pews, a priest appeared. “Can I help?” His sincerity was palpable.
Luke glided us forward. “Yes, father. I need you to marry us.”
The priest looked taken aback. Looking between us, he said “Are you parishioners?” he asked, but I was sure he knew who attended his church. So it was rather nice of him not to call us out.
Luke straightened up a little and the Priest gasped falling to his knees. “We are all God’s children,” Luke answered. I turned to Luke but nothing seemed to be amiss.
I mouthed, “What did you do?”
Luke looked just as confused and shrugged.
The priest said a few things in a language I did not know. Then looking up at us and said, “Your holiness, I am but a humble servant.”
Luke reached down and took the priest’s hands in his forcing him to rise. “I am nothing but a servant myself. Don’t bow down to me. I don’t deserve it, only the almighty does.”
The father nodded but still looked star struck. How could he tell that Luke was of angel blood?
“It is not our normal practice to marry anyone without proper counseling first. Do you have a marriage license?”
Luke looked at me and then back at the priest. “We do not.”
The priest shook his head. “Then I’m really unable to help you.”
Luke said, “I know it won’t be legal to the state, but I want it to be legal in the eyes of God.”
The priest looked at me. I was sure he saw me as a young girl, though his face remained impassive but search
ing. I didn’t think he saw the demon in me because his eyes were still welcoming. However, he looked as though he really wanted my consent. I nodded hoping that was the answer he sought. “Well,” the priest said looking all around him and then back at Luke. And I wondered if he saw the angel wings we’d all were so engrained to believe angels had.
“I love her with all my heart. And I want to pledge this before God,” Luke said, cutting him off.
“And you young lady,” the priest said.
“I love him with all my… being,” I confessed. I almost said soul, but that was only half of me. And I loved him with all of me.
“This isn’t the order of things, but My Lord for you I will do this. You have to remember this is just a ceremony. Legally, you two won’t be married.”
The priest shifted to move, Luke stopped him with his words. “I would like you to take my confession first.”
I think both the priest and I were taken aback. However, he didn’t comment. Nodding, he headed over to the side where an oversized ornate wooden box sat. I was taking it all in and didn’t see the Priest disappear inside. Luke squeezed my hand but didn’t kiss me before he strode off and entered a side panel.
Left alone, I found the nearest pew and sat. Should I confess too? What would it matter though? I was a demon. I wouldn’t taint the priest in such a way. So I watched, since I couldn’t hear anything. I turned to take in the chapel with its beautiful works of art and stained glass. I was looking to the huge wooden cross behind the preacher’s podium when a bright light exploded from what I later learned was the confessional.
Luckily the wood blocked it from directly shining on me. Instead it haloed out of the cracks seeking escape before it faded. My heart pounded against my chest. Luke’s light hadn’t been that bright in ages. What did it mean?
The priest stumbled out. He hands shook as he looked back at the box in the direction where Luke was. Then he turned and looked at me with bright shining eyes. He crossed himself several times before disappearing down a hall. It was a few minutes before Luke emerged. So long in fact, I was up on my feet walking towards the box to see if he’d somehow totally combusted.
Angel Of Mercy (Cambions #3) Page 26
