Jeremy (Broken Angel #4) (13 page)

H
e didn’t know
how much time had passed. The dark sky lightened, and the rising sun warmed his back.

Naomi had said goodbye. She wanted him to leave.

He shook his head. No. It was not goodbye, not like this, not with her hating him.

He flew back home and headed straight to Lash and Naomi’s mountain cottage.

“Naomi.” He rushed through the rooms, searching for her. It seemed like a lifetime had passed since he’d last been here. Had it really only been yesterday? Yesterday, when he’d been holding on to her pillow, inhaling her scent. Yesterday, when she’d called him brother and begged him not to leave.

Leaving the empty cottage, he flew over the angel living quarters. As he passed the courtyard, he spotted Rachel and Uri. Rachel jumped up and down waving for him to join them.

“You’re back,” she said when he landed in front of her.

“Have you seen, Naomi?”

“She’s with Lash and Rebecca. Over there.” She pointed to the benches under the cherry trees. “I know what happened.”

“Lash told you.”

She nodded. Her tiny, heart-shaped face filled with sadness.

“Naomi still loves you, you know.”

“Not anymore.”

“Yes, she does. Give her some time.”

“My Rachel knows what she’s talking about,” Uri said, slapping his back. “I’m sorry, my friend. I tried to take over for you.”

“Thank you, Uri.” Jeremy sighed. Even if Uri had taken over, he doubted it would’ve helped anything. He would still be back where he’d been before—loving a woman who didn’t love him the way he hoped to be loved. He didn’t know which was worse—being loved as a brother or hated.

Naomi sat on one of the benches with Rebecca. Lash and Raphael stood behind them, quietly talking to each other. Naomi had her head on his mother’s shoulder. Rebecca’s normally gentle smile was gone. The grief on Naomi’s face was reflected in her eyes. She’d watched over Welita for many years. It didn’t surprise him that she’d grieve too.

As Jeremy walked toward them, he saw Gabrielle in the distance, standing on the bridge. Emerald eyes watched the angelic family with longing, a yearning to be with a family she didn’t belong to.

Then it hit him.

He was on the outside looking in too.

“My son,” Raphael said when he spotted him. “Come with us.”

“No, I don’t want him here,” Naomi said, glaring at him.

“My love, this wasn’t Jeremy’s fault,” Lash said.

“He didn’t have to do what he did. You wouldn’t have done it, even if it meant being cast out,” she said.

“Naomi,” Rebecca’s soft voice spoke as she placed a delicate hand over hers. “This is our way of life. We each have our purpose.”

“But we have free will, too. Raphael, you told me we do.”

“That is correct. But—”

“I knew it.” Naomi interrupted before Raphael could finish. Her slender neck arched as she turned to look up at Lash. “You would’ve saved Welita if you could, wouldn’t you? For me?”

There was a beat of silence as Lash looked at Jeremy apologetically.

“Yes, I would,” his voice cracked.

Naomi turned back to Jeremy, her lips pressed into a thin line for a moment before she spoke.

“See, Jeremy? Lash would’ve done it in a heartbeat. You didn’t even try. How can you call yourself my brother?”

Jeremy gazed into cold blue eyes. This was goodbye after all.

“You’re right. I have no right to call myself brother.” With those words, he turned and marched toward the bridge.

Lash and Raphael rushed over to him, speaking to him at the same time.

“Give her time, my son.”

“She’ll come around, bro, really, she will.”

He gazed into their eyes. He loved them so much. He didn’t want to leave them. But he couldn’t be here, either. He couldn’t tell them his plan. If they knew, they would never let him leave.

Plastering his signature grin on his face, he said, “I know. Don’t sweat it. I just need to check in with Gabrielle about something.”

Guilt gnawed in the back of his mind when relief washed over their faces. They slapped him on the back and headed back to Naomi. As much as he longed to be with them a little longer, he knew what he had to do. And he had to do it now, before he changed his mind.

As he headed to Gabrielle, he admonished himself for not sticking to his plan and doing it yesterday. If he’d done it yesterday, he would’ve been leaving with the memory of Naomi’s face loving a brother. Now all he had was the hate in her eyes. There was no way he could live like that. It was too much to take.

“Gabrielle, I’ve made up my mind. I’ve decided to take the leave you’ve offered. But I want more than that. I want permanent status on Earth.”

She looked at him with shock. “That’s not possible.”

“Of course it is. I could ask Michael myself, if you’re uncomfortable asking.”

“I’ve just met with Michael. I told him about Saleos. He’s commanded that all assignments must be done in pairs. He doesn’t want anyone leaving to Earth alone.”

“I can handle myself against Saleos and his brothers. No problem.” He pushed the thought of how he could barely move when Jether and Joab had latched on to him. There was no way he was staying here. He had to get out.

“Can you?”

“Of course. You doubt my strength?”

“Yes.”

He blinked, stunned. His strength had never been challenged.

“If you’re referring to what happened with Joab and Jether, I won’t let that happen again. I was caught off guard. I’ll keep an eye out for them.”

“It’s not your physical strength I’m worried about. It’s the temptation.”

At that moment, he thought of how Saleos, with a mere whisper in his ear, had taken away the crushing pain in his chest, bringing him blissful peace.

“The temptation to give in to what he has to offer is too strong.” Her eyes flicked to Naomi and the others huddled around her. “Especially now.”

“You’re wrong.”

“I don’t think I am. Don’t forget, I’ve been in your place.”

He thought of the longing he’d seen on her face. She’d felt the temptation too. He sensed it.

“I can control myself,” he said.

“If that’s true, then you’ll stay. Those are Michael’s orders. Saleos is taking over Lucifer’s place, and he’s using different tactics. He’s taking the fallen over to his side by promising them their heart’s desires. He’s shown you yours, hasn’t he?”

A vision of Naomi wearing a sheer gown flashed through his mind.

“I won’t fall for his tactics. You don’t have to worry about that.”

“The answer is still no. We can pair you with Rachel or Uri when you go on assignments, if you want. That’ll make things easier for you.”

He frowned. He was an archangel. All his life, he’d listened to what others had told him to do. He’d done his duty. Now he was being treated like a newly trained seraph.

“No.”

Gabrielle’s eyes widened with disbelief. Even he couldn’t believe he’d told her no.

“Excuse me?”

“I’m leaving . . . and I don’t know when I’ll be returning.” He drew out his wings to their full length, showing her their strength and power. “I’m the archangel of death. I’m a highly ranked angel. I’m one of the most powerful angels in Heaven. I’m leaving.”

Taking one last look at her astonished face, he leapt up, propelling himself into the sky. He fought the urge to look down at his family. If he did, he knew he wouldn’t be able to leave.

He flew down to Earth, pushing away warning voices, knowing this was the best choice for him. Lash had walked the line of morality, pushing the edges until boundaries blurred. He’d defied his superiors, bending the rules until they shattered.

Now he would do the same.

R
ocks crunched
underneath Jeremy’s crocodile boots as he walked down the dirt road. The sun beat relentlessly down on his head. He felt like he was walking inside a giant oven. How many miles had he walked? Two? Twenty?

He paused, wiping sweat from his brow. He peered out into the vast desert, searching for any familiar landmark. The horizon flickered in a wave as he adjusted his eyes. Everything looked different from the ground. For the hundredth time, he wished he could fly.

Squinting, he finally spotted the building in the distance. He’d made it. This was the place. This was his salvation. This was where he’d get back everything he’d lost.

He hurried his pace, wishing he could go faster. He hated how slow his body was and how he tired quickly. He hated that he could barely see or hear. Most of all he hated that he couldn’t take to the sky.

When he finally made it to the entrance, he paused to catch his breath. He felt like he was dying. He leaned against the glass door, waiting for the ground to stop spinning. It was worth coming here, worth the blisters on his feet and the angry red sunburn covering his arms and face. Soon he wouldn’t ever have to deal with this pathetic body anymore.

He placed his hand on the door handle, ready to begin his new life. This was it. If he did this, there was no going back.

Then again, what did he have to go back to?

He flung the door open. Cool air hit against his sweat-drenched face as he stepped in.

“Jeremiel, it’s great to see you again. Back for another round of poker?”

Joab’s black eyes danced as he approached Jeremy, holding out his hand in welcome. Jeremy gazed down at it. Chills crawled up his back.

What was he thinking coming here? Even though Joab was in his human form, Jeremy could feel power radiating from him. There was no way he could take on Joab or any of his brothers if something went wrong.

Joab’s lips curled into a slow smile. “Come now, Jeremiel. We’re all friends here. There’s no need to worry.”

Shoving his panic aside, he placed his hand in Joab’s and shook it. He was tired of feeling scared, tired of feeling helpless. He was here to gain back what was rightfully his.

“Take me to Saleos.”

“Ah, so you’re taking him up on his offer.”

Silence.

Sweaty palms.

A frantic heartbeat.

Warning whispers.

He ignored them all.

Then he uttered the one word he never thought he’d say to the dark angel.

“Yes.”

T
his books wouldn’t have come
to life if not for some help from a wonderful group of friends. Thank you, Jolanda Gelissen, for sharing your surfing expertise. Thank you, Nicole Vardi, for helping with Hebrew translations.

A special thank you to Broken Angel Series super fans who messaged and emailed me wondering if Jeremy would get his own story. Your enthusiasm and encouragement brought his story to life.