The Forsaken(50)

A second knock swiftly followed.

“Nathanael, you may come out.”

Nat thought he must be hallucinating. That voice sounded like it belonged to Isabella. Impossible.

“Nathanael, do come to the door. Unlock it, now.”

He groaned in pain when he complied. Stiffly, he got to his feet and with shaky hands, managed to yank on his clothes. Dizzy from the lack of food and water, he willed his queasy stomach to stop churning and grumbling. A losing battle. Using the key, he unlocked the door.

“What are you doing here?” His voice cracked. She smiled. His heart flew to the heavens.

She pushed a glass of water to his mouth. “I’ve come to take you home.”

Nat’s eyebrows quirked as he downed the blessed liquid. A piece of fresh bread that still felt warm fell into his hand.

“Eat it. And no, I mean back to my place,” she clarified, grasping him under the arms to help steady him when he attempted to take a step out of the room. “Here, I’ve got you. Do you think you’re able to walk on your own, or do you need me to get a stretcher?”

Isabella goaded him on purpose, urging the Sera he longed to be too will the weakness away. “The Mistress did not come yet.”

“That’s okay. She paid me a visit.”

“She paid you a visit?” Nat knew he sounded like an idiot, but he must have heard her wrong.

“It took me getting on my knees and praying to her but yes, she did visit and she knows about the message and…”

Isabella’s cheeks turned pink and she looked down at the concrete floor.

“And what, Isabella?”

Mustering her courage she looked him in the eye. “She knows about us and she’s willing to complete the ceremony.”

“Why do I get the feeling this does not make you happy?” asked Nathanael, slowly chewing the piece of bread that tasted like heaven to his starved body.

“I am afraid, Nathanael, it will not be to your liking.”

“It…you mean you. Trust me I think you’re perfect.”

“I am not perfect and you know that. The Mistress has stated her demands,” said Isabella helping him move up the angled stairs.

“And what are they, Isabella.”

“She will perform the ceremony only if you are willing to stay with us.”

It took Nathanael a full minute to be absorb the ramifications of what Isabella said. “Are you saying she will not allow you back into the heavenly realm?”

“I think it best if she explains things to you, Nathanael. Trust me—this is something we will need to talk about. Things are never easy when dealing with the Mistress. That, I have learned the hard way.”

Nathanael laughed. His vocal chords still sounded rusty. “Good to know we both agree on that. Before I dare present myself to her, I need to eat and drink…and take a bath. Are you willing to take me to your house now, Isabella?”

It gave Nathanael deep satisfaction to see Isabella gulp. She wasn’t comfortable with him still, but he knew she wanted him to come home with her. “By the way…how did you find me?”

Isabella looked at him. “The Mistress told me where you were.”

Of course she did. She’s probably been laughing her head off for the past four days while I’ve been dying of thirst, and almost froze to death. Nat didn’t say any of what he thought. Nodding, Isabella escorted him from the building into the dark of the night. He wondered if his body could withstand the five-block hike back to her building. He highly suspected Isabella did not venture into human vehicles. The compacted space, roar of the engine, and stench of the vehicle’s interior he’d gotten into only once had made Nathanael think only a demon could design something so Hellish. Tonight, his strength further tested, he fought to put one foot in front of another, wishing with all his might he had his heavenly wings for support.

“Lean on me; let me help you.” Isabella’s heavenly voice poured through him. She offered her strength and the power of her voice eased his aching bones and muscles. When he leaned onto her, allowing her to take more of his weight, that unique Cherub fragrance of hers made him wish he’d bathed. He knew for a certainty he didn’t smell as pure as she did.

Who needs wings when your soul mate is by your side? Nat didn’t dare speak those loving words to Isabella. Still tough as nails when she was all Cherub, he’d save those endearments for later.





Chapter Sixteen


Ash watched the human climb the rail leading up to the Cherub’s dwelling. What was he doing? Ash certainly didn’t know what he was doing. He’d bargained everything with his Cherub—one he’d only meant to absorb power from. Something he couldn’t describe and didn’t want to examine too closely had instead sailed through him from the moment he’d come face-to-face with Shea. His father would have a field day with that, probably roast a dozen slaves just to piss Ash off. Really, though this was all the Mistress’s fault. Her taunting words of redemption had teased him to extremes. God, I hate her. Now, he understood his father’s wrath for her.

Elusive, mysterious, and powerful enough to rule if she so desired, the Mistress was not to be dismissed. He’d tried that but her voice always stole into his consciousness, whispering words of warnings he couldn’t ignore. Well he could, but then he’d be obeying his father and Ash had made it his primary goal to never do that.