Shattering Halos Read online

  I wondered if the choice of white against the bright ice had been a terrible attempt at camouflage. Plastered to his body from the movement, his clothes provided a more intriguing overview of his physique than the skimpiest pair of briefs. His gaze fixated on me, and I moved back on to the arena, counter-current.

  Sometimes a song playing at crucial times of my life stuck with me. Gliding toward Gabriel, I noticed the speakers blasting “Just a Dream” by Delerium, the complete opposite of an eighties’ disco tune. Its slow, ethereal vibe made me consider how the music always seemed to mold to his liking.

  As he closed the distance between us, I quit worrying. I stopped caring about what others might think. More important than anything was that he had returned in one piece yet another time.

  I watched his arms open wide, getting ready for me. Our bodies clashed, and he picked me off the ground. He tightened me around him, spinning me in a giddy twirl. Laughing against his throat, I let my eyelids slide shut.

  The final residues of fear for him disintegrated at the feel of his warmth. Gabriel stopped and put me down at the center of the rink, away from the bodies circling the outskirts in a steady flow.

  With quiet urgency, one hand clenched my unbuttoned collar shut. He pulled me so close that no one could spot his other hand slip through an opening in the coat. I inhaled sharply when Gabriel’s palm covered my heart.

  His forehead bent to rest against mine, strands of golden hair veiling us. Too close for me to focus, his stare penetrated me, and his breath fogged my skin.

  For a nanosecond, he pulled away, eyes widening as he concluded the reading of my mind. He frowned, confused at some murky remnant I hadn’t managed to hide.

  “Did Cassiel behave?”

  “Oh yes, uh-huh.”

  Eventually…

  Gabriel lowered his mouth to mine, his hands forming an oval shield around my face. It brushed my lips, making my heart expand.

  The whisper carried to me, lighter than air.

  “Galdhopiggen…don’t worry. We’ll deal with this. I’m meeting with Michael at sunrise.”

  The rulers of three Heavens support us. Now only the archangel remains? Seriously?

  The onslaught of my relief reached Gabriel. Even as he nodded, his smile turned cautious. A hand snuck back under my coat to make sure he didn’t miss any of my thoughts.

  I know we’re not safe yet. I’m just happy, Gabriel.

  Out loud, I cracked, “So I own you until the morning?” I earned myself a smirk and a noncommittal tap on the nose. For now, I enjoyed his presence—his solidity. What more could I ask for? I’d seize the moment and live it. The night couldn’t get any better.

  We had company, I could feel it. I half-turned to find Mom, Dad, Luna, and Vicky in the middle of the ice with us. It was awkward and wonderful at once. Gabriel tucked me to his side, not letting go.

  My father bristled under the polite façade. Like the caricature of a sitcom dad, he seized Gabriel’s hand in a knuckle-whitening bear clasp. He held it while doing his darnedest to execute my beloved by lethal glare.

  “Edwin Gaston Samuelle, Gaia’s father. Pleased to meet you.”

  With eyes narrowed slightly, Dad only seemed to mean the first part. And did I just hear him whip out his detested middle name for emphasis? My fearless Gabriel regarded him levelly and returned the firm handshake.

  “The pleasure is mine, Mr. Samuelle. I’m Gabriel degli Angeli, Gaia’s boyfriend.”

  My dad’s eyebrows shot up. “Quite the name?”

  “Thank you, sir.”

  The girls tittered. When Gabriel shook Luna’s hand, she quipped, “Gaia’s right; you’re nothing like your brother.”

  Strange how my heart did a small, exultant leap as Mom stepped forward. Gabriel took her faery hand in his and bowed a little.

  “Mrs. Samuelle, it’s a pleasure. Your daughter has told me so much about you.”

  She smiled and countered, “Oh, I’ve heard about you too. I was wondering when I’d get to see you. Do come over for dinner tonight, Gabriel.”

  I breathed a sigh of relief when his car waited outside. My parents wouldn’t have appreciated him swooping me up and flying off.

  On the passenger seat sat a banana cream pie, a telltale sign of somebody foreseeing a dinner invitation.

  During dinner, Gabriel plowed through two giant portions of spaghetti and meatballs. Next, he surprised Mom by putting away not one, but two slices of pie.

  Even my father adored him. Apparently, from the minute Gabriel introduced himself with that “good, steady handshake” as Dad called it, he’d been sold.

  Gabriel said the perfect things with dead-on timing. He was charming and witty. My mother joined Luna in an embarrassing giggle fest as the night moved on. Every now and then, she would send me approving looks stalked by supposedly furtive nods. Did I mention embarrassing? Gabriel won people over with no effort. It must be a perk of angelhood.

  By the time he said goodbye, the grandfather clock in the living room had struck twelve, and I was crawling with impatience. I followed him to the door and out on the veranda.

  “Where are you going? Are you leaving me?”

  “Sunshine, I don’t want to ruin the first impression by openly staying over.”

  Engrossed in my own, petty longings, I blurted, “But can’t you erase their minds or something?”

  Gabriel actually snorted at me.

  “Shush. I’ll be in your room as soon as I’ve removed the car from the driveway.”

  Oh, thank God Almighty!

  The hasty goodnight I bid my parents might have come off suspicious, but I needed time upstairs. I hopped in the shower and put on a cute, little nightie I’d bought before I moved to Shades Run.

  Heart galloping and squeaky clean, I smelled of hyacinths and vanilla when I got back into my bedroom. Gabriel already lazed on top of the covers. Half way unbuttoned, his chest shimmered perfectly smooth underneath the fabric. The even, golden tone I glimpsed hadn’t been there a few days ago. I dove on him without a word and pulled his shirt off. He laughed softly at my urgency.

  “Are you checking the wounds?”

  Amazing. Not a single trace of the terrible bruising and burns remained. He kissed me slowly, and my hands slid over him, initially to make sure he was as whole as he looked. Then, I just caressed him for my own sake. His glimmering irises surveyed me calmly. It was incredible to touch him again. Had it been days or weeks?

  “You smell delicious. Come here.”

  Gabriel grasped my wrists and pulled me down. A little out of breath, I found myself underneath him. Gently, he pushed my extended arms into the mattress above me before lavishing my face and throat with kisses.

  My chest heaved when he released his hold to trail down my cleavage. I responded by digging into his hair. A small pant puffed from me as I did.

  Hmm, what am I forgetting? Never mind. Oh, your touch…

  Gabriel’s palm found the back side of my thigh and slinked higher by the second. I realized how out of character this was for us. Usually, I’d insist and he’d have qualms until I won him over.

  He lifted my hips, his touch snaking under the thong from behind to where my crevice began. Gabriel pressed hard against me, and I gasped for air. I clung to him for dear life, my legs choking his waist in a death lock.

  All I wanted was for him to lose those pants, ask that single question so I knew he could control us. This time, I’d reply out loud in utter agreement. We’d melt together. Yes, I’d be pleasure incarnate.

  Please…it’s consuming me!

  My fists tangled in his hair. Because he never spoke, I let go to cup his face. I wanted to whisper the words into his mouth myself. Why did he torture me like this?

  I went still under him as I realized the terrible truth. The ecstasy-inducing grasp on my behind loosened, and the tip of his nose ghosted the hollow below my ear as he let me come to terms with reality. I was still trying to control my breathing when he murmured,
“Is there something you need me to ask you?”

  Even his whisper teemed with barely contained mirth.

  “No.” The single word came out throttled.

  “How come, my sun?”

  Oh, you’re pushing me too far.

  I shoved him away and turned my back to him. “You remembered the whole time, didn’t you?”

  An arm around my waist drew me against him. I couldn’t muster the willpower to keep him from leaning his mouth into the nape of my neck.

  “Sun, I figured we’d take turns being responsible.”

  “So…how do you feel about giving me fair warning the next time it’s my turn?”

  His stomach quivered in a quiet laughter against my spine. “I was getting concerned that you might remember too late. Can you imagine?”

  “Gabriel, please—I’m mortified!”

  “Why Gaia? You’re perfect. It’s just that you would have scared the entire neighborhood into an early grave.”

  For an angel, he sure didn’t give me much of a break. I turned and buried my face at his chest, moaning in misery. Still chuckling, he wrapped his arms around me.

  “Can we go to Shimmer’s Edge?” I mumbled.

  “Sure, and should I fly you back here afterwards when I leave for the Heavens? That way you can be passed out in your room for twenty-four hours while Mr. Samuelle calls the doctor?”

  “Dammit.”

  “Language.”

  “Oh, and guess what,” I had to get back at him somehow. “About your entrance at the skating rink today? A couple of people lay flat on the ice. Obviously, you’ve got to cramp your style big time.”

  “Sunshine, I’ll take care of it, I promise.”

  I was not strong. Who the hell could stay mad at this man? Gabriel had a smile in his voice as he cut to the core of my frustration.

  “Sun, I’m sorry I put you through this. I wasn’t thinking.”

  An angel that doesn’t think? Great.

  “Tease,” I pouted.

  Chapter 27 — Galdhopiggen

  Cassiel

  I watched them sleep. When he rose and sent her a last, sad look, I waited until he vanished before I dove into her bedroom. Gaia’s eyelids fluttered in dream, which gave me the idea. No need for her to wake up as long as I could milk her for information. Odds were that she’d be a better actress like this.

  The energy field shot out dome-shaped, tenting the bed. I snuck under the covers and embraced her, feeling the warm slumber seep into me from her skin. Funny how I’d never found the sensation endearing before.

  Since Gaia was so stubborn about dazzling, I didn’t go there. Rather, I limited my trick bag to an almost human-style, old-fashioned hypnosis.

  To be honest, I enjoyed having her relaxed and obliging in my arms. Her hands moved around my neck, but her head fell away from me.

  “Gaia, it’s me, Cassiel. No need to wake up. Give me the latest news from above. What did Gabriel tell you?”

  I was readying myself to leave when her sister sighed in the room next door. The sound made me want to pop by. Perched on the windowsill, I took in the sight of Luna sprawled out on her bed. The covers were scattered all over the place.

  Like a chocolate explosion, her hair gushed over the pillow. Her pajamas crumpled around that pretty, little body. A whiff of strawberries reached me—strawberries and champagne. The scents they created artificially nowadays could raise even my eyebrows.

  As delicious as she was, I left her there. How noble of me, right? I shrugged off the strangeness of it.

  Gabriel’s impending audience with Michael would interest the Grigori in a big way. I flew off to find my all-time favorite Grigorian, Lilith.

  Logistically, Jotunheimen was a handy pick. The mountain range was close to where they’d snatched the old king from his bed. I laughed to myself; interesting how mortal my reasoning had become. Of course logistics meant nothing to Ramiel.

  Sprinkled with dry layers of white, the highlands bared dark rock through the snow. I preferred scorching temperatures myself, so I was relieved to see the frost perishing and heat breeding from below as I landed on Mount Galdhopiggen.

  Lilith met me at the gate. Galdhopiggen was one of Ramiel’s favorite places on Earth, and I hadn’t had the displeasure of visiting before. The clingy, silk gown Lilith wore left nothing to the imagination, which suited me fine. She wove her arm around my waist and pulled me inside.

  “Cassiel, dearest. Come see the babies!”

  She meandered ahead of me, spiraling downward through granite hallways and chambers. Illuminated by rows of glowing lava in glass sconces, the walls flickered. They reminded me of bedrooms I’d visited in Lilith’s own mansions. I remembered her better from those master suites, though. Holy shit.

  Now, I delighted in the full view of her deliciously swaying tushy as she led me deeper and deeper into Ramiel’s bastion.

  The kids were there all right. Again, her motherly instinct had taken over as she’d gotten them situated. Engrossed in another letter, the dying seven-year-old Rosetta rested on a bed filled with silk cushions, duvets, papers, and pens. A hunch told me the Baby Jesus would be the lucky recipient of this love note as well.

  In the meantime, Mariana the toddler tried to pull a tray with cookies and milk off of a small table.

  “What the hell, Lilith, are you playing house?”

  Okay, fine, so she’d surprised me twice. After all, we were talking about Lilith here.

  Lilith responded by making her eyes big and innocent, baby mammal style. “But they’re adorable! I’m just spoiling them until we kill them, all right? No big deal.”

  “Más! Más!”

  Lilith beamed at the ear-piercing squawks from the baby and hurried over. Smooching her sweetly, she opened her arms wide, and the little one spread chubby hands in a supposedly charming plea to be lifted.

  A serious eye rolling was in order, but Lilith wasn’t paying any attention to me. Goddamn it, nothing was worse than being invisible.

  “So where are we at? How many do we have?” I muttered. With the concentration she put into pouring milk for Mariana, her swift reply surprised me.

  “For now, we’ve got five, and Lahash is flying in the Jamaican coffee worker as we speak. The only one they’re still searching for is the Tibetan monk. Needless to say, the old man knows what’s at stake. Ramiel thinks they’ll find him hidden in the temple. Not very creative that one.”

  Lahash, huh? Ramiel had chosen well for the job. To interfere with divine will was Lahash’s biggest talent. No wonder they’d been excited when he joined their forces.

  “What’s Ramiel’s schedule for the Purest Ones?”

  “The eclipse occurs tomorrow at midnight. By then, we need the lot of them here, evil and ready for a proper sacrifice. I’m dressing all seven of them in matching, bright yellow silk gowns. You’re invited, darling—the munchkins will be too much for words!”

  Impatience began to boil in me. I groaned as she took her time thinking up more insignificant rubbish to share.

  “Oh, yes, and we’ll need music. It’ll be dramatic.”

  Her nonsensical chatter was spiraling out of control, and I seized the moment to cut in with my report on Gabriel’s imminent encounter with Michael.

  I figured it was futile but had to give it a shot. The devil knew I needed her. After pretending to be in bed with Gaia, I had watched her sister before coming to Lilith. What had my existence come to?

  “So, any time for fun?”

  She fired off a single, disdainful glance in my direction. “You. Wish.”

  What was the deal with chicks and kids?

  Chapter 28 — Glittertind

  Gaia

  Gabriel’s body didn’t curve around me when I woke up. The bed was empty, and I hadn’t noticed him leaving. Surprisingly, the pang of loss didn’t consume me. Maybe because he’d returned unharmed this time?

  Not quite ready to open my eyes, I let the beads of last night’s dream trickle i
nto my memory. The stinging sensation under my ring had felt so real while his brother’s voice spoke in my dream.

  “It’s me, Cassiel.”

  Calm and unobtrusive, he’d slid into my sweetheart’s spot next to me. He’d held me while he asked about Gabriel’s visit with the archangel. No pressure, no agenda of seduction, only the implicit need to keep up appearances for an unpredictable audience. Yes, definitely a dream.

  My thoughts drifted to Gabriel. Had he meant sunrise on Earth, or was there a separate one in Heaven? He must have left a while ago. The day already gleamed bright through the curtains. Around my finger, his gift pulsed warm and alive.

  What?

  My eyes shot open. The heart pounded brightly, nudging me. I scanned the surroundings. What if our destiny had already been determined?

  Gabriel’s voice carried up from the kitchen. I heard my mother laugh back at him. The rumble of my father’s dark pitch joined in, and Luna’s cheery warble completed the picture of general amusement.

  I got out of bed and dressed quickly. One minute in the bathroom provided the assistance of a toothbrush, some deodorant, and a hairbrush. By then, I’d lost all interest in beautification.

  “Good morning, sweetie,” Dad called out as I took the stairs in three leaps. “Somebody slept in! Gabriel is telling me you guys have plans for the day?”

  We do? Oh my, is this good or bad?

  “Good morning. Why didn’t I get a wakeup call today?”

  My mom cocked her head, “Well, you looked so peaceful when I checked on you. Gabriel here said you weren’t in a hurry.”

  She poured him another cup of coffee, beaming.

  “Thank you, Mrs. Samuelle.”

  “Oh, please—call me Selene.”

  Gabriel was perched on a barstool by the breakfast counter. I leaned in to stand between his thighs. He gave me a modest kiss in greeting, and I studied his face.

  Yes? No?

  His eyes met mine. They were impenetrable. I couldn’t read happiness or disappointment, concern or…anything! Apprehensive, I turned my back to him and faced my mother who waited behind the kitchen counter.