Chapter 25
Chapter 25
C J directed Savin to bring the vampiress to headquarters, where she would be contained. The Council would decide what to do with a vampiress who would see fit to bring an end to the world.
He told the reckoner he’d be close behind, but needed to do something first. Rather, he needed to follow the whisper that had not ceased since he’d stepped out of the church. It was a disembodied voice that he suspected only he could hear. And it was close.
Wandering across the street and toward the gated garden behind the grand church, CJ slipped through the thick shrubbery and into the quiet privacy of a small yet groomed garden that saw many tourists during the day. Now he was alone. The whisper lured him toward a bench that faced the back of the church, before a view of the flying buttresses and the massive iron cross that tipped the church.
CJ did not recognize the man who sat on the bench. He was tall, appeared slender and was dressed in a smart brown-and-black pinstriped suit. His palm was propped on the top of a straight black cane, which looked more accessory than necessity. He didn’t look at CJ; his stare seemed fixed on the cross atop the church.
“Give me the book,” the stranger said.
And hearing the voice, which sounded like a mix of all the accents of the world, yet was clear and precise, and so ethereal , CJ knew who the creature was on the bench. Ethan had mentioned who had sent him on this mission.
CJ tugged the book from his waistband and clutched it tightly to his chest. “You didn’t do such a good job holding onto it the first time.”
“Give it.”
“No.”
The book flew into the angel Raphael’s hands. And now he met CJ’s gaze with eyes that were all colors and glowed with a depth that CJ thought surely he could fall into and never land. And that wasn’t a romantic notion; it was a deep and abiding fear that tightened the skin all over his body and closed up his throat.
“I was having a little fun,” the angel admitted. “We do things like that every now and a thousand years or so. Ta.”
And with a massive swoop of wings that lifted the hair around CJ’s face, the angel disappeared.
And CJ dropped to his knees, utterly relieved, pissed, and thankful to be alive.
* * *
This time, Tuesday crossed through security without once looking back. Determination held her head high. Her flight left in forty-five minutes. As she waited for a little boy ahead of her to put on his tennis shoes, she grabbed her coat from the conveyor belt and pulled it on. Slipping into her ankle boots, she frowned at the dusty dried mud from the catacombs on them. It was time to get the hell out of Paris.
With a toss of her hair over a shoulder, she wandered forward. Her gate was to the left, and she—All of a sudden, she stopped at the junction of the turn and stood there, allowing the world to swish by her on all sides as if sped up on a security tape.
Time seemed to stop and voices were muffled. Clothing brushed past her. The stifling inner air ceased to bother. Her heartbeats thudded to recall what Gazariel had said to her.
True love had broken the curse .
But if so, then how had he been capable of holding his ex-wife like that? Was she wrong to think that moment in the catacombs had meant something to Ethan? His love for her had to be true to break the spell. Or had it dissolved as quickly as his ex-wife’s blood had entered his system?
She’d been starting to have fun with Ethan Pierce. And yes, she may have even begun to love him. Or at least, leave a hopeful door open that she’d recognize it if it was love.
But all for nothing, apparently.
And yet... “I really did fall in love.” Her throat tightened. Tears threatened.
So when someone turned her around and pulled her into an embrace to kiss her, Tuesday beat at the man’s shoulder and kicked him on the shin in defense. When she saw it was Ethan, wincing as he bent up his injured leg, she gasped.
“Sorry,” he said. “I shouldn’t have surprised you like that. That was a Richard move. But I love you, Tuesday. You can’t leave me. Not like this.”
She slammed her arms across her chest and lifted her chin. “What about your wife?”
“You mean my ex-wife, who has been taken into custody to stand trial for reckless acts against humankind?”
“But I saw you.” She squeezed a fist, hoping to staunch the tears, but they dropped down her cheeks. “You were holding her so tightly. Caressing her. I saw you stroke her...” She couldn’t say it. It hurt too much to think of right now.
“I was taking her blood, Tuesday. And yes, I experienced a moment of sexual satisfaction. I’m a vampire. Drinking blood turns me on. But ultimately drinking Anyx’s blood was a means to stay alive. Tuesday, please.” He took her hands. “She means nothing to me.”
“She’s the one who saved your life.”
“Not without your help. And your curse.” He pressed his palm to her chest, right over her heart.
Tears spilled down Tuesday’s cheeks as she struggled against throwing herself into his arms. “You’ve taken the curse from me. The sigil is gone.”
“Gazariel said as much. It’s true.” He bowed his head to hers and tilted up her chin with a finger. “I love you, Tuesday. Truly. Deeply. Insanely. Not like the false, surface love you accused Gazariel of experiencing. I love you on a soul level. I can feel it in my blood, my bones and my spirit.”
She gasped.
“And if you get on that plane and leave me I’m not sure what I’ll do.”
“You’d survive,” she said simply. “We all do.”
“But I don’t want to survive without you. I know it’s a lot to ask. And you have a home in Boston. But would you stay with me? Just a while longer? Please, Tuesday.” His breath hushed against her ear. “I love you. I need you to believe me. I. Love. You.”
The words felt true. They were true. Because if they were not, she would not recognize that right now. She’d still bear the curse and they might be standing in a desolate wasteland covered with the ashes of humans and angels alike.
The curse was gone. She could be loved. And...she was.
By the seven sacred witches, she really was.
“This is the second time I’ve come back to this airport intent on leaving.”
“I don’t think you’re meant to leave.” He smiled against her cheek then kissed it. “Not yet, anyway. Not until we’ve talked about us. You helped me to stop the Final Days. We’ve been through a lot. We’ve both literally walked through fire. Don’t walk away from us now.”
Us. Yeah, the word felt right. For now? For maybe a little longer. Together. Sharing their lives. She wanted to embrace that, to own it.
“I love you, too,” she said. “I think I’ve known it for days.”
She hugged him and tilted her head against his shoulder. She was tired and weak and, hell yes, she loved this man. Of course, he’d only been taking blood from Anyx to survive. And his honesty about how it had felt meant a lot to her.
“Take me home,” she said to him. “Your home.”