Don't Read in the Closet: Volume Four (81 page)

don’t make this in any way

happiness. Gagda had spoken but one rule for

about God, Christianity, or

his children; if one of his creations so much as

religion in general, because

bent that sacred rule, they would forever be

I’m agnostic and I can’t deal

with that stuff. Sorry. :)

exiled from their blessed existence, a paradise

Yours,

abundant in pleasure, peace, harmony, and

safety in the kingdom known as Nèamh.

Tia

This story is a testament to Gagda’s gift and

the promise of eternal love.

Anson walked into the apartment he shared

with Gordon in the Aine house, the angel

feeling blissful. He’d passed his final exam with

top marks and was offered a position with the

Feitheoir to help govern the new souls being

admitted into his Gagda’s kingdom. But even

more exciting was that the angel Devon of the

Diancecht house had
finally
asked him on a

Don’t Read in the Closet – volume four 488

date. What more could any angel want from his existence? “He’s my

mate, I know he is.”

“Anson, is that you?”

Out of habit, Anson bowed his head upon seeing his best friend

and mentor walking toward him. He and Gordon had shared rooms for

as long as Anson could remember. “Good day, Gordon. Aye, I’m

home to clean up. I have a date.”

“A date, is it? And who, may I ask, is the lucky angel?”

Anson could not help the warmth spreading over his cheeks,

turning them pink. They’d been flushing at will since the moment

he’d first looked into Devon’s eyes. Eyes of the deepest green he’d

ever seen looked upon him all day, from the start of his testing to the

end, and even after, when Devon asked Anson to meet him for their

evening meal. It was all Anson could do to keep from jumping up and

down, but he calmly and respectfully answered him. As Devon’s

position ranked a few levels above Anson, he was considered an

honored Angel. His kind was touched by Gagda, the creator of all.

Anson peeked up at Gordon of the Druantia house and avoiding

answering the question directly, said, “I trust all is well?” Gordon was

more than a mere teacher; he was Anson’s dluthchara, his best friend.

Gordon had been assigned to Anson by their Gagda, entrusting him

with teaching, training, and caring for Anson since his creation.

“Aye, Anson, very well. Now, what is this chatter about a mate

and a date?”

Anson felt his cheeks heating once again; he smiled, his stomach

feeling fluttery and happy, matching the feelings in his heart. “I met

him today. He was one of the masters on the board testing me on my

ability to communicate with the humans, telepathically. I passed with

flying colors.”

Gordon ruffled Anson’s spiky, black hair, and sat, sinking into the

feather-filled love seat. “His name?”

Don’t Read in the Closet – volume four 489

Anson stood up straight, feeling the pride flow through his body.

“Devon of Diancecht house. He’s absolutely lovely. He’s tall, even

taller than you; his eyes are greener than the forest after a spring rain;

his skin, I’m sure, has been kissed by the sun star. And Gordon, his

square jaw, his high cheekbones, he’s perfection. He wears the
clear

star
. He’s one of Gagda’s special angels.”

Gordon clasped his hands together, as if in prayer, steepling his

index fingers and tapping his chin. “Yes, I know of him. Anson, are

you quite sure you believe him to be your mate?”

Anson nodded. “I’m sure he is. I felt something inside me explode

when he looked at me. For the first time in my life, I felt a thrill rush

through me. I can still hear a faint buzzing noise. I can smell him still.

I do believe with all I am that he is the one for me. What do you know

of him?”

“Sit and I will tell you.” Gordon motioned and Anson sat in his

usual spot, on the floor between Gordon’s legs, his head resting on

Gordon’s thigh. “Comfortable?” He placed his hand on Anson’s head

and played with the soft hair.

“Mmm, yes, Sir.”

“Devon, as you know, is a
touched
healer, gifted by Gagda

himself. However, he was not originally created as one.”

Anson looked up, his black eyes opened wide in surprise. “Not

created as one?”

“No. He came to Gagda by way of a payment from Mider,

Gagda’s brother.”

Anson gasped and sat up straighter, his hands on Gordon’s knees.

“Are you telling me that Devon is from Ifreann?”

Gordon nodded. “Long ago when Mider and Gagda created what

we know now, Mider destroyed someone very dear to Gagda, a lovely

goddess who has remained nameless. In payment for the wrong he

committed, Mider bestowed his first child upon Gagda, Mider’s first

creation. That was Devon and that was a very long time ago.”

Don’t Read in the Closet – volume four 490

“Devon is a…”

“No. No he is not a diabhal. He is anything but a demon. He is the

opposite; however…”

“Why is there always a ‘however’ in every phase of my existence?

I feel he’s my mate, yet he is Mider’s creation. His blood is of the

diabhal, but not? Please, Gordon, please tell me more.”

“I will, my young Angel, but you must allow me the chance to do

that.”

Anson settled in once again, his head on Gordon’s rock hard

thigh. “It would have been easier if you and I were mates. Don’t you

think so?”

“Anson, it is not for us to wish for that. Gagda determined long

ago who your mate would be. Now, back to what I know. Devon

knows of his creation place. He fights daily, the feelings inside him,

both good and bad. His natural instincts tell him he’s an impure angel;

he yearns to do the opposite of the good he does every day. He’s a

strong healer; he’s a gift to us all. He is also extremely stubborn,

strong willed, and every bit the master of his house.”

“So what is the ‘but’ about?”

“We do not know if he is capable of giving you what you require

the most.”

Anson looked at him again, his forehead wrinkled in confusion.

“If that is the case why would Gagda have us mated?”

“We are not to question why, Anson. We do as we are told. Gagda

has a lot of faith in you.”

“To do what, exactly?”

“To prove love will conquer all.”

“Me? So, correct me if I’m wrong, but I’m to be mated with

someone who isn’t capable of…what? Loving?”

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“In a nutshell, as they say on Domhan. Gagda does not want to

lose the angel Devon and he believes you’re the only one who can

save him.”

“Oh, right. I’m supposed to love and spend eternity with someone

who can’t love me back. Lucky me. But what is it that I require the

most? What makes my needs so different from any other angel’s?”

Gordon smiled and signaled for Anson to get to his feet. “A firm,

strong hand. You need a reason. You need guidance. You need what

Devon may not be able to give freely to you. We are hoping you can

give Devon the freedom he denies himself. As for the rest, I cannot

give all of Devon to you in a story. You must figure out some things

for yourself. It is part of learning who your mate is, part of learning

who you are. You just follow your instincts and if you need me, I am

always here for you. And, young Anson, please know I will be

watching you every step of the way of your courting journey.”

“Does Devon know me? Of me, and what and who I am?”

“He knows some. I must caution you, though; he has refused to

accept his lot and your journey will be difficult. He does not want a

mate, and the last I heard, he’s sworn never to take one. We believe it

is because of his heritage. However, our Gagda has faith that Devon is

capable of overcoming his biggest fear. Our Gagda has faith that you,

young one, have the power to help him.”

“What is his biggest fear?”

Gordon winked and stood up. “You must find that out on your

own. It will be up to you to show him he need not be afraid.”

Anson stayed on his knees, watching Gordon tinker in the kitchen.

The thick cotton carpet felt good on his knees, and he was thankful for

that. He’d often knelt for long hours, not allowed to rise to his feet

until Gordon permitted him to. Whenever Gordon had something

important to say, he said his piece, then ordered Anson to remain

kneeling to allow what he’d said to sink in; so he could think about it,

analyze it, and understand what the conversation had been about.

Don’t Read in the Closet – volume four 492

In Nèamh, each angel, at the time of their creation, was made with

another angel in mind. Each angel balanced out another. In that, as a

mated couple, they were far stronger and better able to perform their

duties to Gagda and for Him.

“I’m so confused. I truly want to get unconfused so I can prepare

for my date.”

“Anson, you are thinking out loud?”

Anson shook his head a little too fast, for he wobbled a bit on his

knees. “No, Sir. Just thinking,” he murmured distractedly.

Gordon walked back into the room, laughing. “Go then. Get

yourself ready for your date. You’ll have a lot of thinking to do when

you come home.”

Anson jumped to his feet, ruffled his wings, and bounced off to

his room. “Okay, I will!” he shouted behind his closed door.

****

Gordon said, knocking lightly on Anson’s bedroom door.

Anson spun around in front of the looking glass twice more, his

wings brushed and fluffed, his hair re-spiked, his white pants still

white. “Check. Okay, here goes nothing. Off to see if I can fulfill

Gagda’s will.” He walked slowly down the long hallway, trying his

best not to run to where his future mate waited. He didn’t want to

appear overeager. Even if he was. He heard Gordon’s low voice, and

an even lower voice answering, but he couldn’t make out what they

were saying. When he finally made it to the sitting room, his eyes

focused on one individual.

Sitting at the white oak bar was the angel who’d invaded his entire

being since the minute he’d laid eyes on him earlier that day. It was a

strange feeling, consuming him more and more by the second. Even

sitting down, it was easy to see how massive Devon was. Those wide

shoulders almost hid Gordon from Anson’s sight.

Don’t Read in the Closet – volume four 493

Devon stood a good seven inches over his own five-seven frame.

The angel’s hunter green eyes glistened in the sun star’s light; his

square jaw showed a hint of a late day beard, and when he smiled his

brilliant smile, dimples showed on each side of his full, kissable lips.

The angel was one word—heavenly. “You found me,” Anson said,

then gave himself a mental palm-forehead slap for stating the obvious.

Devon’s smile grew wider when he saw Anson blush, and when he

nodded, a tuft of hair fell over his left eye. Anson fought not to reach

out and brush it away from those very addictive eyes.

“I did. Am I interrupting something? You look a little flustered.”

Could angels die of embarrassment? “Oh no, not at all. I actually

forgot how good looking you are, and now I ask myself how I could

commit such a crime as that.” Anson stopped talking, his mouth stuck

open. He held his breath, once again mentally berating himself. The

all too familiar heat in his cheeks rose to a record high. He knew he

looked like a fish out of water, but what could he say? A fire started in

his heart and he loved how it felt. Devon never stopped smiling, but

his eyes told Anson something else was on his mind, plain as day.

And then Anson’s eyes drifted downward and sure enough, something

else was most definitely on the angel’s mind. “I hope it’s me,” he

muttered. “You must have gotten in line twice for that body” Oh, ugh,

did he just say that out loud? His hand flew to his mouth, trying to