The Forsaken(21)

Meredith observed the little conversation taking place in the common room. Whenever Shea came near Mike, he got tongue-tied. Charming, but over the coming years Meredith had started to feel sorry for him.

Finishing her glass, Meredith rose. Mike immediately stood up.

“I have to go,” he said, making his way to the door before Meredith.

“Thank you,” said Shea and Meredith in unison, causing both to smile.

Meredith watched Mike leave, recalling all she’d learned from touching him. Mike had witnessed his sister’s murder. But it wasn’t an ordinary killing. It had been a demon who had taken his sister’s life and Meredith wondered if Izzy knew, and if that was why she’d taken his offer of shelter for them all.

“Tell Izzy we can review the account she wanted to go over tomorrow,” said Mike.

“I will,” said Meredith, making a move toward the kitchen, but not before casting a look at Shea.

“Is everything okay, Shea?”

“Oh, yes,” said Shea, but there was a sadness in her eyes Meredith wanted to question.

“Would you like some tea?”

Shea rose from the sofa. “That would be lovely. Let me help you.”

Meredith nodded. “Dare we make some for Izzy?”

Shea didn’t laugh and that’s what Meredith had been going for.

“No. I’m sure she would not appreciate it.”

“She’s going through a rough time.”

“Aren’t we all,” said Shea, cutting in front of Meredith to step into the kitchen. Meredith didn’t say anything more. Whatever demons Shea was fighting, she wasn’t in the mood to share.

A loud knock on the front door caused Meredith to stare at Shea.

“Do you think Mike forgot something?” asked Shea.

“No, I think it’s another visitor,” said Meredith, leaving the kitchen to go back to the common room.

At the door, Meredith paused. “Who is it?”

“Gareth,” said the booming voice on the other side of the solid door.

Meredith’s heart did a little flutter and she tried hard to ignore it. “It’s late, Gareth. Please come back in the morning.” Out of the corner of her eye she watched Shea peek around from the kitchen.

“Meredith, let me in.”

Mouthing “It’s okay” to Shea, Meredith unlocked the door and let Gareth slip inside. He looked like he’d been to Hell and the urge to comfort him soothed her soul. She was Cherub and that’s what she did best.

Gareth bounced on the balls of his feet, his fists clenching and his eyes shifting uneasily to the side to where Shea stood, half in the shadow. He quickly composed himself, straightening his wide shoulders and moving into his at-ease, casual military stance. It was a move Meredith had grown accustomed to seeing when he tried to find his balance and fight the need for the liquid poison that helped ease his misery.

“Izzy told me to talk with you if any of you gave me trouble about seeing her,” he said, his voice dropping an octave.

“Shea, why don’t you take your tea in your room? Gareth would you like a hot drink?” said Meredith, ushering Gareth to the sofa with a hand gesture.

Gareth nodded and sunk into the sofa. Meredith watched Shea leave and then dashed into the kitchen to return with a tray of hot tea for herself and hot chocolate for Gareth. Ever since his war duty he hated tea. Hot chocolate appeased his sweet tooth.

“Thank you,” said Gareth, accepting the hot chocolate with grace for a man with large hands. Hand that she knew he’d used to kill. He never talked to her about what he’d endured but she, like Izzy, had come into enough physical contact with Gareth to read his psyche.

Meredith took a sip of her tea before speaking. “Gareth, Izzy can’t see you tonight but…but I would like to speak with you.”

Gareth’s nervous energy flowed like a swirl of tropical colors around him. Meredith closed her eyes for comfort, feeling his fight. Of all the men who had attempted to breech their sanctuary with charm, money, and muscle, it had been an ex-thief, an ex-military man, who had chiseled down Izzy’s defenses. Meredith knew why. Gareth looked Seraphim. He, more than the rest, with his military swagger and muscular physique had made her friend’s heart beat. Meredith knew it had been a faint beat and that Gareth lusted after Isabella, but she didn’t have the heart to turn him away when obviously he needed soothing.

Meredith knew all about Gareth’s drinking and the promise he’d given Izzy. She watched him take a sip of the sweet drink. He sighed and that pleased her. “Gareth, Izzy is unable to see you tonight. Let me be the one to ease your suffering.” She’d said the words low, using the power of her Cherub voice for once.

“What the f*ck are you talking about?” His eyes widened and his voice filled with anger and hurt.

He reached out to take hold of Meredith’s hand. The scent of him, slightly sweaty, streamed into Meredith. A lot taller than her, he loomed over her even as he sat on the sofa, demanding an answer. Feeling rattled, Meredith did the only thing she could think of.

She reached out, brought her hand to his heart, and fed him the love she felt for him, allowing him to see her truly. Her wings unfurled, the feathers arching high toward the heavens as they breathed in the stillness of the night.

He jumped up from the sofa, nearly stumbling as he scrambled away like her touch burned. His rejection, a reminder she wasn’t as holy or deserving as Isabella, almost brought tears to her eyes.