Total pages in book: 131
Estimated words: 121854 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 609(@200wpm)___ 487(@250wpm)___ 406(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 121854 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 609(@200wpm)___ 487(@250wpm)___ 406(@300wpm)
Illium chuckled before reaching up to run his fingers along the underside of Aodhan’s wing. The soft feathers there weren’t anywhere near as sensitive as the ones at the arches, but a small shiver rolled over Aodhan nonetheless. Because it wasn’t just about biology—it was about Illium touching him.
“As long as you do one for me of you shirtless and barefoot while you scowl at the easel. I love that intense look you get.” His eyes glowed without warning, a thing impossible for anyone but an archangel.
Aodhan forced himself to maintain his composed expression. Ascension continued to be an unwanted shadow that loomed over Illium. Telling him of the fleeting energy surge would only ruin his day—and Aodhan didn’t want to do anything to erase his smile.
All he could do was hope that the violent power of the Cadre wouldn’t abuse the heart of the boy who’d been his best friend, a heart that had matured in the powerful man he’d become, but never lost its gentle, kind core. “I’m going to go before I surrender to your wiles and end up late for my meeting.”
Illium’s shoulders moved as he laughed. “I do have good wiles.”
But he rose with Aodhan when Aodhan lifted himself back to his full height. And he got out of bed to walk Aodhan to the door. Smoke, who he’d put on the floor, stretched luxuriously, back arched and tail curling upward, before she padded happily at their side. “What’s the meeting about?”
“Cleaning up the city. Lot of crime got ignored or obfuscated by the war.” The aftermath had also been chaotic. “The mortals are dealing with the mortal-on-mortal crimes, while the Tower is handling anything that might involve an immortal or almost immortal. Dmitri’s got a cold case he wants me to look at.”
Illium’s eyes had grown sharper, more alert since the instant he woke, and now they lit up. “That sounds interesting.”
Aodhan pointed a stern finger his way. “No. Get that look off your face.” He scowled, once again confronted with how much weight Illium had lost, his bones pushing too hard against his cheeks. “You’ve earned a serious vacation. No one’s going to expect you to do any work for at least a month.”
“What I’ve earned is the chance to work in my own city,” Illium muttered with as dark a scowl. “I’ll see you up there—I’m going to horn in on your case and you can’t stop me.”
Throwing up his hands, Aodhan nonetheless couldn’t squelch his pleasure at the idea of having Illium so close after their separation. “Smoke’s welcome at tech command. Vivek and the others enjoy her company, and there’s always someone there so she won’t be lonely.” He glanced at the clock on the wall. “I’d better go. Meeting’s at eight thirty.”
“I promised Mother I’d call her the morning after I reached home, so I’ll be a little late, but don’t leave the Tower without me.”
“Tell Eh-ma I send my love.” Aodhan couldn’t help reaching out to brush his fingers over Illium’s jaw, the tactile contact making his body clench…and Illium suck in a breath.
8
Illium’s heart exhaled after Aodhan left, his muscles turning liquid—not in relief, but in sheer besottedness. You’d think he’d be over that stage after knowing Aodhan for five hundred years, give or take, but no, it looked like he was going to go through the whole besotted phase before he settled down into being a mature partner in love.
Grinning, he crouched down to give Smoke the scritches she loved. “Do you think he has any idea how soft it makes me to know he looked after you so well while I wasn’t here?” He’d known Adi would, of course he had, but to have his faith evidenced in Aodhan’s concern that Smoke not be lonely, well, it melted things inside him.
Smoke butted at his hand in demand.
“I have no idea where your food is, sweetheart.” Aodhan had taken care of it yesterday. “I’ll just ask—”
But Smoke was already bounding out of the living room into the small kitchen that was part of the suite. As always, Illium’s was pristine. He never used it except maybe to heat up a snack—he’d much rather eat with other people, and there was so much good food in the city.
Smoke sat with her paw on a lower cupboard door.
“Of course you’d know.” He bopped her on the nose. “And of course he’d put some in here.” Because that was Aodhan, thinking ahead, doing small, thoughtful acts.
His heart sighed again. “What am I going to do, Smoke?” he murmured as he opened the cupboard. It had a latch that meant Smoke couldn’t get into it on her own, but otherwise swung wide with smooth ease. “I have an image to maintain. Making heart eyes at Aodhan doesn’t quite fit my battle commander status.”