Redeemed In Shadows (27 page)

“One and only love, always Kapua.” His words were the sweetest kiss to her ears. When she would have cried out Gabe covered her mouth with heavy strokes of his tongue. He kissed her deeply until she could barely breathe. She would feel the heat of his kiss until time stopped. No other kiss would compare to the one they shared now. He wanted her to go on and have a life, but how, when he was ensuring no man or woman could ever measure up. Gabe rolled them to their side and this gave him a better angle to penetrate deeper. He pulled one of her legs over his shoulder using his other arm to pull her closer as he began rocking forward, all while never disconnecting their kiss. Xee was feeling so many things on so many levels she couldn’t separate one from the other. It was an overwhelming amount of pleasure and the intimacy this new position gave them, made her need more urgent for him. Tearing her mouth away from his, she took in a lung full of air, releasing it on a strangled moan. She was completely open to him, vulnerable in such a way it left her careening over the edge. As if sensing her fears, Gabe nuzzled her neck, his breath hot on her skin, and his words wanton as he grunted in her ear.

“I’ve got you. There’s no need to worry Xee, I have you. Let go and I’ll be there to catch you.”

His head lifted, their eyes locked, and again they communicated non-verbally. His free hand went to her breast lifting it to his mouth. He toyed with her nipple, licking and biting before drawing it between his lips and sucking. Each stroke of his cock pushed her higher and higher until she sat atop the highest point a woman could achieve and teetered there, waiting to come crashing down. His hand slid between their bodies to stroke her clit. Multiple sensations assaulted her, his mouth, his hand, his cock all working to throw her into climax. A sharp cry fell from her lips, her stomach swooshed, her toes curled, and her back arched off the floor from the force of her orgasm. Her entire body caught fire unleashing her screams of passion as her release burst outward from the center of her core engulfing in her flames doused in kerosene.

Holy Shit!

Holy Shit!

Shit. Shit. Shit.

Her was going to break her in half.

“Gabe… Oh God… Please… Don’t stop!”

He didn’t.

He kept going.

Harder.

Faster.

Deeper.

Until another orgasm followed the first, taking down the last of her walls. Sweat dotted her skin and slid down the curves of her now sated body. Xee thought she would pass out, but her Angel was having none of that.



“Fuuccckk baby, give me one more, just one more, and I promise I’ll let you rest.”

He bit down hard on the underside of her breast, almost drawing blood. Her body was pliant and sweat soaked as he continued to thrust into the softness of Xee’s body.

“Faster, Gabe.” She begged.

“No,” he slowed down his pace. Wanting to drag the feeling on a little bit longer. Once it was over, he would have to leave. The longer he was inside her body, the longer he could fool himself into thinking that everything was going to be all right.

Releasing her leg, he rolled them so he was fully on top. He held her close, leaving no room for separation. Grinding into her gently, he slowly pushed her to the edge and watched as she tried to give him everything he asked for.

“Eyes,” he said harshly. “Give me your eyes Xee. I want to you looking at me when you come.”

Her hazel eyes widened as she looked up at him from beneath her lashes. Her lids were heavy with exhaustion, and still she gave him what he wanted, what he needed. Their gazes locked, he rocked forward repeatedly until finally they both went over the cliff. It was pure and unfiltered. All their wants, their needs dirty and exposed, this was their love. This time when he saw the light inside her, it was blemish free. Clear of the dark spot that marred her conscious. The woman he held in his arms would heal, recover from even this part of her life, and still be all the better for it. He would believe nothing else.

Tangled in his arms, Gabe pulled her tighter where she rested her head on his chest.



Sleep was claiming Xee quickly and before darkness took her under, the arm she rested across Gabe’s stomach tightened, and the words she was too afraid to say, but had to say them where finally whispered in a love soaked voice. “I love you. Take me with you.”

Chapter 23

She was beautiful and he was stupid. Gabe watched Xee while she slept snuggled deep into the crook of his arms and tried not to move. Her pink hair curling at the ends was plastered to her forehead and shoulder. It gave him a chance to really look at her. She was a work of art with all of her tattoos that decorating her body in gorgeous images. She’d taken out most of her hardware, but he found he liked it on her. There was a slight beauty mark just above her upper lip that he hadn’t noticed before and gently he brushed his thumb across the spot. She sighed and squeezed him closer. The seven words she’d whispered to him were on continuous loop in his mind. She loved him, a Death Angel. He was destined to exist for an infinity and more, and still his heart beat faster at the knowledge that she’d given him the words. Plenty of woman over his long life had proclaimed their love and none of them had truly meant it. To have the words fall from her lips and touch his ears meant more to him than his life. He was bound to her for all eternity and he was okay with that.

She’d opened herself to the hurt they both knew was coming, even though they loved each other, there was no future for them.

Fall.

There was that word again. But if he deflected, Isaiah and his asshole brothers would be forced to hunt him down and give him the true death. No, falling wasn’t an option. He’d take with him her taste, her warmth, and her comfort, but above all, he would take her love. Even if he couldn’t leave a piece of himself behind, they’d have this. He wouldn’t subject her to a life with the two of them constantly looking over their shoulders. She’d be punished just because she was in his presence, and he couldn’t live with that.

No.

He wouldn’t fall.

Not that she wasn’t worth it; his love for her was unending. He wouldn’t dishonor her by making her go into hiding with him, because the only place he’d be safe was beneath the fire, in the deepest pits of hell and she’d never survive. He’d do the right thing for once. He’d give her up.

Gabe watched her as she slept. He allowed his wings to materialize and he enfolded their bodies in the warmth of his wings. He’d never imagined he’d have to face this kind of dilemma. Never truly understood humans and their fickle fascination with the opposite or even same sex relationships. So many varieties to choose from, why would anyone want just one person to be tied to? Now he recognized what real love was. It was one soul calling out to another in kind. A connection that could never be severed no matter the distance. Their souls would forever remember the other, he was sure of it. A low growl vibrated deep within his chest at the thought of her moving on with some mortal not fit enough to earn her smile. They were his smiles and he wasn’t giving them back!

Gabe pulled her tighter in his arms. He kissed the top of her head and tried to beat back the craziness he was feeling. He needed to mark her, infuse himself inside her cells.

Fall. Make her yours forever.

For her he’d sacrifice everything, everything but her safety.

Dammit. He just wanted more time with her. There were so many things they didn’t know about each other. Relationships sometimes worked better if talking was involved and the one time they did talk wasn’t enough. He knew there was no relationship; this would be the last time he held her... He’d have to make do with what was given to him. Any minute they’d come for him. Slowly he untangled their limbs, careful not to jostle her awake. Lightly he kissed her lips, a ghost of a touch just so that his breath would mingle with hers one more time before covering her and reaching for his clothes.

Grey appeared out of thin air, and Gabe was glad he’d covered Xee up in a blanket.

“It’s time. The Elite have arrived and you are to stand during Jesminda’s trail. Among other things.”

Gabe turned to take one last look at Xee and slowly walked out of the room. He didn’t want to wake her, and in the end, he didn’t have the heart or the courage to say goodbye.



Jes was carried out into the middle of the arena and tossed onto the dirt floor. Head hurting from all the tears she’d shed at the loss of her child, she didn’t bother to get up off the floor. Instead, she chose to stay curled up in a ball on the ground. She didn’t even bother to lift her head as a voice high above her spoke.

“Jesminda Zealand Stone, you are hereby found guilty on the following charges.”

She didn’t care about their trumped up charges. Her baby was gone.

“Abuse of your powers, giving birth to an abomination, as well as attempting to do the same again. I was told your second child has been removed. How do you plead?”

She didn’t respond.

The voice repeated itself. “How do you plead?”

This time Jes pushed off the ground using her hands while locking her arms in place to hold her upper body off the ground.

“Fuck you!” She spat.

She could see them all now, starring at her absent of emotion. The Elder Council along with three new figures up on the dais. One of them she was sure was the All Seeing Eye.

“Careful how you speak to us Earth Bound.”

“I don’t care, you moronic piece of shit. Bring that motherfucker Enri out here, Cyrian too.”

Enri and Cyrian stepped forward from behind the barrier of Elder Angels.

“I’m here Jes. Are you willing to agree to my terms?” Enri asked.

Agree to his terms? She was going to fuck them up, that’s what she was going to do. She didn’t care how she went about doing it. Jes just knew that when all was said and done, they would think twice before they messed with her or her family again.

Jes got to her knees, finally able to stand. She eyed both Enri and Cyrian with all the hatred she had inside of her and focused it. Her power was starting to tingle down her spine and she knew if she didn’t tamp it down, things wouldn’t go the way she wanted.

“What terms Fallen?”

Enri smiled wide, flashing fangs.

“End Solon’s life.”

“Why?”

Cyrian took a step forward, before jumping over the balcony of the das to land in front of her. She held her anger, looking past him to Enri.

What was so wrong with Solon? Sure, he fought for the wrong side, but so had Draven.

“Because I wish it so. Don’t question my actions, just do what you promised.”

“Draven will be back to normal?” She took a shaky step toward the dais. “He will remember me and his child?”

Odessa stepped forward; she looked so much like Jes it was like looking into a mirror.

“You will turn Faith over to the council, or suffer the consequence.”

Over her dead body, and still she’d fight even in death to protect her little girl.

“You can go suck a dick! I’ll kill all of you before I allow you to touch one hair on my daughter’s head.”

The other council members showed some emotion then. Good. She was just getting started.

The power that was on a slow buzz throughout her vein, sparked to life at the thought of her daughter being in danger. She looked to Enri again and gave the Fallen Angel what he wanted.

“I’ll end his life.” His and two others. If anyone interfered, more blood would be shed.

Enri moved closer, leaping over the dais to approach her, his gait calm and steady. Whispering in her ear, he said. “I can sense your powers, just like the others can. Here in this place, all Angels have use of their full powers, while the others do not. End Solon and I’ll guarantee all will be well.”

“You’re a liar, I don’t believe you.”

Cyrian stepped to her left, to stand guard but she again held him off with her hand.

The Fallen eyed her, smiling tightly and through thin lips said, “I play to win, that’s all you need to trust.”

She watched him as he walked back to where the others stood. There was one Angel in particular that stood out, his penetrating amber gaze assessing her as if she were an insect to be squashed. It was now or never. Her actions were warranted. She dared someone to interfere. Ronin taught her to always come prepared. To be ready for anything, and she was. She didn’t have much time before Solon was escorted to the arena. Jes dropped to a knee in an effort to appear weak. Cyrian hadn’t left her side. He knelt beside her, his hand a heavy weight on her shoulder. She wanted him to suffer, wanted to take her time carving out his insides, but her thirst for vengeance would be short lived. She’d have to settle for a quick end to his life.

The serrated knife in her boot would do.

Grabbing his shoulder for support, her other hand went to her boot where she pulled out the knife and went to work on first his gut, slicing him open and quickly going to work on his neck. She couldn’t sever his head completely, not with what she had, but she’d put him down long enough to detach his head partially. She’d use Ronin’s brute strength to rip it from him completely.

It all happened so fast she couldn’t believe she was able to accomplish things so quickly. Cyrian’s gut emptied to the ground at her feet, she twisted away from him when he slumped forward holding his gut as if that would staunch the blood flow. With a roar, she embedded the knife into his neck while changing into Ronin. She took her bare hands and off flew his head. It wasn’t as easy as she envisioned, but once she separated the neck from his shoulders, it was child’s play. Jes felt a woman’s clawed hand at her throat and she knew it was Odessa. Although she and Cyrian couldn’t be together in life, maybe they could be together in death.

The other woman sunk her claw like hands into Jes’ throat, her blood warming her skin and soaking her shirt. Jes didn’t care; she had more reason to live than Odessa did.

“Your family will be slaughtered! Slaughtered!”