Archangel's Heart

Mother and son, Elena thought, that’s who they are at this instant, not archangel and Ancient.

Walking around them, Alexander went straight to Valerius and Xander. “Come,” he said. “I need fresh air.”

Elijah was the next to pass. “I assume my consort is in the Gallery?” he said, the power of him shoving against Elena’s senses.

Sometimes, she wondered how Hannah could possibly be with someone so other, then she’d realize Raphael was exactly the same. “You guess right.”

“No, you do not, Eli.” Hannah’s gentle voice from behind them, a smile in her tone. “I was hoping the Cadre would set itself free for a break at midday.” Placing her hands on her consort’s chest, she rose on tiptoe and brushed her lips over his.

They were astonishingly beautiful together, Elijah’s golden hair glinting in the sunlight that came in through the dome and the sharply handsome lines of his face looking down into Hannah’s, her skin glowing with life and her elegance innate, her eyes a luminous dark. What made it even more beautiful were the small smiles on their faces, the smiles of two people who had loved one another so long that they needed to make no big declarations.

“I will paint them,” Aodhan whispered to Elena. “Just like this, with the light from Ophelia’s work scattering a filigree over their bodies and Eli’s wings unfolding unconsciously as if to curve around Hannah.”

“Ah, you must love me then, Hannahbelle.” Elijah’s smile grew deeper, the golden brown of his eyes as luminous as his consort’s. “To have torn yourself away from the art of which you’ve been speaking since the instant we heard of this meeting.”

Hannah’s response was silent, but whatever she said, it made Elijah laugh and slide one hand to her lower back as they walked out, Cristiano joining them at the door.

“Hannahbelle?” she asked her archangel when he came to stand in front of her, Caliane moving past him to meet Tasha, who’d just arrived.

“I have never heard anyone call her that,” Raphael said. But I have never heard anyone else call you Elena-mine either, hbeebti.

You have a point. It delighted her that even after all these centuries, Hannah and Elijah could play with one another. Is your mom okay? She hadn’t looked okay.

Raphael’s expression was difficult to read. Seeing my wings ignited a memory of pain. My father—he died in a blaze of fire.

Yeah, about that. She shot a glance at Tasha. Can you reach Tasha with your mind?

Raphael raised an eyebrow. I am an archangel.

Elena didn’t tease him like she usually did—there was an edginess in his tone that said he was at the end of his patience. Not with her, with whatever had been going on in the meeting chamber. Tell Tasha to make sure she doesn’t take your mother down a particular path if they go to visit the Gallery. Aodhan can give you the exact mental map—there’s a painting of Nadiel’s death there.

Raphael’s features grew hard and cold. If there is, the Luminata should’ve covered it as a mark of respect. His eyes locked with Aodhan’s, then seconds later, he looked toward Tasha.

It was only because Elena was watching her that she noticed the very slight jerk of Tasha’s shoulders. Caliane was facing away from them, her attention on something Tasha was saying, and didn’t seem to notice. Looking back at Elena, Raphael cupped her cheek. Thank you for caring for my mother’s heart, Elena. Even to the extent of asking me to speak with Tasha.

“Come on, Archangel, I think you need some air.”

“Sire, she has only eaten two energy bars today.”

Elena’s jaw fell open. Swiveling to face Aodhan, she said, “Did you just nark on me?”

A small smile, hidden laughter. “It won’t take you long to refuel if you choose high-energy items.”

“Elena.” Hauling her to the table on that growl of sound, Raphael picked up a tray of meat and handed it to her. “Eat.”

“Ugh.” She put the tray down, grabbed a plate, and began to fill it up with her own choices. “If you two are going to stand there and loom, it’ll give me indigestion. Eat something.”

They did, though most of their attention was on making sure her plate was never empty. Feeling as if she’d put on ten pounds by the time she couldn’t take anymore, she groaned and leaned against Raphael as they headed out. “I will definitely need a boost to get into the air.”

“That, hbeebti, is never a hardship.”

They were in the sky soon afterward, Aodhan beside them and Elena’s gown zipped up once again. After releasing Elena, Raphael flew high—and in a direction where there were no other wings. Most of the archangels had to have taken off, but the majority were no longer anywhere in sight, though she could see glints of Alexander’s silver, and Michaela’s bronze.

She, Raphael, and Aodhan aimed for the mountain where she and Raphael had landed the previous night. When she began to tire, she and Aodhan landed on the mountaintop to wait for Raphael to burn off his energy. She couldn’t even see him now, he’d gone so high, but she could feel him. About to ask Aodhan for the miniature—finally!—something made her glance up.

Just in time to go flat on the ground with a yell as Raphael skimmed over her and Aodhan’s heads, having dropped silently at a speed she couldn’t even imagine. “Raphael!” she yelled when she scrambled up, a shocked-appearing Aodhan still seated on the ground in front of her. Come down here right now, Archangel!