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)
“I broke, Aodhan. Into so many pieces that I wasn’t even a ghost in the world. I wanted only to do violence until the horror of it overwhelmed my anguish. I was a vicious thing bent on destruction and excess, whatever it took to drown out what I had done…and what I had failed to do. It took me centuries to become a whole man again.
“So I won’t tell you it’ll be an easy journey, but you’ll survive. I did so on memories of the love I shared with Ingrede and our children, and the friendship of an angel who fucking wouldn’t let go. I won’t let you go, either.” Dmitri’s grip had been gentle but unrelenting on Aodhan’s fragile bones. “And we both know Illium will follow you into the place the mortals call hell if that’s what it takes to bring you home.”
Aodhan had cried for Dmitri as he couldn’t cry for himself, and Dmitri had held him, allowing him to find surcease in his sorrow for another. They’d spoken many times over the centuries while Aodhan was lost, and each and every time, Dmitri had been unshakable in his faith in Aodhan’s internal strength.
“Not necessary,” he’d said when Aodhan finally walked out of the abyss and apologized to the second for letting him down with how long he’d been lost. “In my lost years, while I appeared present, I was determined to surrender myself to every bad and terrible thing I could. We all heal in our own way.”
Now, that same man gave a crisp nod. “Giulia believes the stalker angel murdered the mortal Marco loved”—a voice that was an unsheathed blade—“and that Marco got caught in the cross-fire.”
“It might have been deliberate,” Aodhan suggested through the gridlock of memory. “If I can’t have you, no one can.”
Hands braced on his hips, Illium hissed out a breath. “You know, there’s a good chance Marco proposed to his girlfriend. A lot of that going around during the war. That could’ve pushed the obsessed angel over the edge.”
“Yes, I can see that.” Dmitri continued to watch the wing, this time without distance in his gaze. “Whatever the truth, we have no proof as yet. All we have is a dead couple in a burned-down building. See what you can do. If you can track down the angel, I’ll take care of the rest.”
I think you should go find Honor, Dmitri, and remind yourself that you beat the one who would’ve caged you.
Dmitri glanced over, eyes narrowed. I’m not spiraling into the dark, Aodhan. I’m just pissed. A pause, his hand flexing open. But I will go find Honor.
“I e-mailed the complete files to you both.” The second turned to Illium. “Not quite the welcome I would’ve wanted for you.”
Illium—who’d wiped the stricken look off his face before Dmitri glimpsed it—shrugged. “This? Pfft, it’s nothing. Did I tell you about the boiling pit of putrid black that opened up under a house in China and just swallowed it? Now it bubbles away, like some primordial soup from which Lijuan will emerge as a fetid slime monster.”
Dmitri’s lips curved. “I hope it’s some distance from Suyin’s citadel?”
“Thank the Havens.” Illium made a face. “But yeah, compared to that, this is roses. I mean, how hard can it be to identify a random angel in a city full of angels—especially in the aftermath of a war that messed up the usual investigative processes and destroyed multiple databases. Easy. We’ll be done by lunch.”
Dmitri’s faint smile turned into a grin. “It’s good to have you home.”
An angel who can bring laughter to the darkest time? Such a being is a gift, Aodhan.
Words Suyin had spoken to Aodhan in China. They held a keen truth.
Illium’s light came from within, and it was a treasure beyond price to those who were lucky enough to be in its radius.
* * *
* * *
As they flew to the site of what was most likely a double murder, Illium tried to trust what Aodhan had said to him about being all right with this—but if he was being honest, it was hard. Really fucking hard.
It took conscious concentration on his part not to blurt out the question, not to attempt to shield Aodhan from that which might dig up the ugly phantoms of the past. The last time Illium had attempted that, it had led to the biggest fight of their friendship.
I’m no longer a broken doll who needs to be protected from those who might play roughly with me.
No, Aodhan wasn’t broken anymore. Not on any level. He was a powerful warrior who was choosing to face the horror of his past head-on—and Illium had promised him that he wouldn’t give in to his overprotective urges where the other man was concerned.
You’re going to explode if you don’t say something soon. Aodhan’s voice, deep and resonant…and affectionate.