Angel Of Mercy (Cambions #3) (29 page)

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 searching. 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.

We met, halfway, at the front where a few stairs led up to the ornate podium. And Luke bent down to one knee. Confused, my brows creased.

Taking my hand, Luke said, “I want to do this right.” His voice sounded a bit shaky. “Mercy, I think I started falling in love with you the first time we met.” Air left my lungs as I realized what he was doing. He reached in his jeans pocket. “I’ve had this with me for a while now. I hoped that one day you’d say yes. This isn’t a traditional ring. I didn’t think you would want that. Not right now at least. This is between us. No one has to know other than this priest and God himself. Will you marry me?”

I’d already answered but that didn’t matter, I’d say it a thousand times over. “Yes,” I breathed. Holding out my hand, he slipped on a ring made of three bands, one yellow, one pink, and one silver. They were all gold I was sure. At the top a pearl charm held all three bands together.”

With unsteady hands, Luke pointing to the thin gold band. “This represents my heart. It is pure. This,” he pointed to the pink band, “—represents all my love.” And to the silver band he said, “This is my soul. All three belong to you.” He pointed to the pearl. “You are beauty personified. You are unique and rare, there isn’t another like you. You hold me together. And it is with your love that I exist.”

He slid the ring on my finger and stood. With the pad of his thumb, he brushed away a solitary tear from my cheek. “I will always love you.”

“Forever?” I asked, my word broken with fear for the future.

“Forever.” He stated as if it were fact. And I had no choice but to believe him.

A girl should remember her wedding day, but I’ll be honest. It was a blur. The priest came dressed in fancy robes and spoke words from the Bible. He talked about sacrifice and devotion. And I heard every word and didn’t at the same time. My future wasn’t bright. People were out to kill me. Luke’s dad would not be pleased if he ever found out. What about Flynn? Was I going to kill him by not being with him? And I’d sent Sebastian away with an unknown fate. Should I expect demons to knock at my door the moment I got home? Those questions clouded what should have been my joyous day as a bride.

“What’s going on in that head of yours?” Luke asked, giving me a quick glance before looking back at the road. It was hard to pay attention with the knowledge of what I’d just done so fresh in my mind.

“I’m just happy.” I said while I remembered his joy when the priest said “I now pronounce you man and wife.”

“Where are we headed?” I asked, seeing us drive back into familiar territory.

“My house, if that’s okay?” he asked.

“Will your mom be home?” I asked.

“She’s out of town,” he didn’t exactly look thrilled about that. Had something happened?

I pushed aside that thought because if his mother wasn’t home, would I be staying for the night? Nerves pricked me. I’d wanted this for so long. But somehow everything seemed different, new and scary. I was married. Maybe not by government standards, but if God saw me as one of his, I was.

When we pulled up to his house, Luke clasped my hand and with a look told me he wanted me to wait and not get out of the car on my own. So I did. He opened the door, and held out a hand. Helping me to my feet, he scooped me up before I could truly stand on my own. With a shove, he managed to close the door with a foot. He also managed to open the front door and carry me up the stairs without so much of a hitch of breath.

He held me securely in his strong arms until we got to his room. It was like a fairytale until we reached his bed. When he lay me down I looked at my jeans and tee and reality set in. There wasn’t a white dress. Looking up into his blue eyes, I saw light in them again. “You look beautiful Mrs. Bishop.”

Words had the power to soothe. “And you look absolutely pulchritudinous, Mr. Bishop.” His answering smile told me he didn’t have to know what it meant to understand how I felt about him. I smiled but it faltered a little. Would he be disappointed in my lack of knowledge of what came next? Would my demon try and take over and ruin this moment for both of us?

Kneeling beside the bed so that he was looking at me closer to eye level, he said, “We don’t have to do anything. I didn’t get married to you just so that we could have sex.”

That gave me the courage to move. I rolled on my side and took his face in my hands. I marveled at just how lucky I was that he was mine. “I love you. And I want this.”

Brushing our lips together, I wanted to consume him. And consume we did. Like a beautiful song, we kissed, we touched and explored until we were as we had been the day we were born. This time there was no hesitation. This time it was just the two of us. The darkness that lived within both of us stayed hidden.

His knuckles tenderly brushed my cheek. He stopped. “Are you sure?” I nodded.  The piercing pain that can next made a tiny whimper escape my mouth. As if I were a bottomless pit of water, a tear escape my eye. Poised over me with concern on his face, he said, “I’m sorry. There was no other way. I hate to see you in pain.”

I shook my head, dismissing what had been enviable. The pain dulled slightly with his lack of movement. “It’s okay.”

His hand slid down my body in reverence. A bit of warmth from his hand took away some more of my discomfort. “I can’t heal it all otherwise—” he said, leaving the sentence dangling with words unsaid. I nodded. I didn’t want him to totally heal me and have experience that pain again.

He kissed my face along the trail the tear had left and then landed on my mouth again. Then he loved me in a way that was so kind, so gentle, so him. He made everything perfect and right to the best of his ability. And I knew I’d made the right choice. I loved the way we fit together. I loved the feel of his skin next to mine.

With our fingers tangled between us, we lay under the covers in peace. Everything in that moment felt right. My world was everything I could have hoped for.

Tightening my fingers around his, I turned to him with a smile on my face. I was so happy that I’d been able to dictate this part of my life despite all the people around me who had tried to take my choice away.

“Mercy.” He wasn’t smiling. I feared his next words. “I still have to go. There is something I must do,” he said. He looked troubled adding to my cause of concern.

“Where are going? What’s so important?” I asked, tossing out questions fast from fear.

Turning on his side, he mirrored me. He drew lines on my face with his fingertips as if he was trying to remember me. Alarms were now ringing. “I have a few places I need to check.” A second later, he added, “And honestly, I don’t want to be here to watch.”

Frowning, I asked, “Watch what?”

“You and Flynn,” he said.

The big O formed on my lips. I fell to my back covering my face with my hands. I’d assumed that nightmare was over. “I don’t want to be with him. What more do I have to do to prove that to you?”

Sliding me over to him, he said, “I know. But my father… We still must convince him that we aren’t together officially.”

He took my hand away from my face so that I would look at him. “He won’t believe either of us. We must convince Nina.”

“Nina?” I cried.

“Yes, Nina. My father will no doubt ask her about it after I tell him. She won’t trust it either if I just break up with you. But if you and Flynn act like you’re together, she will believe.”

Rapidly, I shook my head. “I can’t do that. I won’t do it.”

“Would you rather Sebastian claimed you?”

My mother’s words rushed back at me.
Belial could come for us
. “No,” I answered. Despite my words and actions, I didn’t think Sebastian was a bad guy no matter his stony exterior. But he was subservient to his father.

“Flynn is dying. And as much as I want to kill him for whatever happened between the two of you—”

“It—”

“Don’t. I really don’t want to know. I can guess. It was a dream. I don’t want to think about it or why you might have done it. So let’s drop it.”

I nodded.

“Flynn was right when he said I knew the truth. I think I knew all along but I chose to ignore it. And I think it might be too late to stop it.” That stopped me dead, he was referring to the bond. “He doesn’t need to die for it. I don’t think either one of you set out to do this. And a huge part of me wants to believe because you’re so different from others of your kind that this has happened without you truly being in love with him. And I can’t in good conscious let him die. That’s not the stuff I’m made of. Until we can figure out another way, you need to feed him.”

“I won’t.” Everything about this plan spelled bad news.

“I’m not asking you to have sex with him.” We looked at each other. “Feeding him serves two purposes. It saves him and protects you and your mom.”

“When?” I asked. I hadn’t made up my mind to do this, but it was something I needed to know.

“Tomorrow.”

He laid out his plan. He would break up with me in a spectacular way. “You have to trust me and promise not to believe the things I’ll say or do.” He went on to tell me that he wouldn’t share exactly what he planned to do because he needed my reaction to look as authentic as possible. He would handle Flynn and inform him of what would go down. Of course then, Flynn and I would need to shortly but not necessarily the same day, get together for appearances.

“You are my heart,” Luke began, leaning over me. “You have my heart,” he said and kissed the heart charm on the necklace I wore before kissing me.

“How long?” I asked.

“Forever.”

I nodded but that hadn’t been my question. “How long do I have to pretend to be with Flynn?” I asked again.

“I hope to find something about that too while I’m gone.”

“Prom?” I asked. Would I still be his date?

“I’ll be back by Prom. And you will go with me.”

That meant two weeks. “My mom is planning for us to move.” I told him everything she and I had spoken about.

His fingers stilled on my arms where he’d been following a path to my elbow. “Maybe that’s for the best,” he said.

“No, I don’t want to leave you.” Panic had me gripping his arm.

“So having your mother believe that we’ve broken up and you’re with Flynn will work in our favor with her as well.”

He was right. But could I pretend for two weeks and not succumb to the hibernating feelings that lay in wait like a predator at my heart’s door? I had to be careful and bury deep what must remain dormant. Flynn would not be my undoing.