Absolute Surrender (43 page)

He nodded, his gaze studying her face. Those shattered eyes saw everything. She would bet her last dollar on it.

She shifted nervously. “I’m going for a walk.”

“All right, I’ll join you.”

She didn’t want company, but how did you say no to an archangel?

“Just say
no.
”

Her eyes jerked to him as an eerie shiver ran down her spine. “Please don’t read my thoughts.”

“I won’t if you promise to talk.”

They walked in silence while Echo chewed on her lip, trying to figure out how to ask this man—archangel—about what she wanted to know.

Speak to him, like you do with any other, she decided.

He spoke then, his voice soft, compelling. “There are many choices in life, Eshana. The ones you make at this moment will have the greatest impact on your future. You need to think carefully.”

“Yeah? Well, I chose, and mine didn’t turn out so well, did it?”

Michael glanced at her, the wind whipping at the strands of his hair.

“Did Aethan tell you about the Celestial Realm?”

Why was he asking her about Heaven
? “No. Should he?”

“There’s something you should know.”

“What more can there be?” she asked, stopping. She shoved her hands into her pockets and searched for her stones, only to discover she’d left them in her room. Her fists clenched as she stared at the Archangel. “Bring it on, then. Let’s pile it all on the little human.”

Michael ignored her outburst, but something shifted in his wild blue eyes. “As long as you’re mortal and remain on this realm,
demoniis
will always come after you because of what they think you represent: Freedom for them. Your destiny is to journey to the land of the angels.”

“You mean I need to die?” she asked, shock filling her. No matter how much her life sucked, and it did most times, she wasn’t one to give up so easily.

But you did with Aethan.

She pushed that thought aside. Didn’t want to go there again.

“No,” Michael’ said. “You are a descendant of an angel. Your heritage allows you entrance. It’s the only place
demoniis
can’t get to you.”

“Why didn’t Aethan tell me about this?”

“He refuses to let you go. Had you chosen to stay with him, you could have lived your human life here before journeying to the Celestial Realm. But you can’t live unprotected here, and he won’t tolerate another near you.”

“Are you kidding me—what kind of solution is that? Choose to live with Aethan or meet my maker early?” She glared at Michael. But her eyes shifted to the huge sword strapped to his back, her skin growing clammy despite the warmth of her jacket. “I just wanted normal. Instead, I got handed the crappiest deal ever.”

“There’s one advantage or disadvantage to this,” Michael said. “If you choose to go to the Celestial Realm, you won’t retain your mortal memories.”

He hung that incentive over her head like damn bait. It was no longer a choice of stay or go, but remember or forget. With anguish rolling through her like a living entity, his offer was exactly what she needed. But at the thought she’d never remember Aethan, her stomach twisted.

What was the alternative? Could she live here and see him with someone else?

No. She’d never accept him with another woman. God, she was tired. She only wanted a little peace.

***

Aethan walked out onto the terrace as night strolled in, accompanied by icy winds saturated with the salty scent of the sea. But his mind wasn’t on the weather.

Echo slept in the room next to his, but she might as well have been in another wing of the castle. He hadn’t seen her in days, not even a glimpse, and it galled him that he’d had to ask his butler for her whereabouts.

Now she’d gone to spend the day in the city because it was Kira’s birthday. All he could think was she’d use any excuse to avoid him. In frustration he lashed out, punching the stone balustrade bordering the terrace. The pain didn’t register, but the cracks spidering through the concrete drew his attention as dust and bits of rubble rained to the ground.

The agony from his shattered knuckles finally made itself known. He flexed his fingers, warmth surrounding the broken bones as healing took place and the split skin knitted.

He sighed, lifting his eyes to the darkening skies. Gods, he was losing his mind. He needed to do something, keep his mind occupied. Or else he’d go over to the oracle’s and haul Echo back—yeah, the way things stood between them, not a good idea right now.

“The cathedral on East Side,” Blaéz said from behind him.

He pivoted to the Celt. “What about it?”

“Found something there yesterday. You’ll want to see this.”

Blaéz dematerialized.

Perfect. This would give him the distraction he needed. Aethan followed. They took form behind the cathedral, near a small grove of trees. Aethan looked around the place then finally at the stone angel, where he first saw her. Pain unhinged him. He fought to breathe again, forcing his mind back on the job.

Blaéz led the way farther into the copse of trees and through a small gate into a cemetery.

“Why the hell didn’t I think of that?” Aethan looked around the cemetery shrouded by tall trees. It was the perfect hideout.

“Because it’s too obvious,” Blaéz said, leading him to a crypt. “And your head’s not screwed on right.”

“Asshole.”

The Celt’s mouth lifted in a parody of a smile as he willed the heavy door to the tomb open. The thing groaned loud enough to wake the dead. As they entered, the musty smell of decay, merged with stench of sulfur, nailed Aethan full in the face. The crypt door creaked and slowly closed, sealing them in total darkness. It took Aethan only a second to readjust his sight.

Stairs led from the landing down into the bowel of the crypt. Fresh footprints marred the dusty floor. Cobwebs hung in tattered threads overhead.

“This has to be one of the fuckers’ hide-outs. We need to find out who’s using this place. Where does it lead?” he asked Blaéz.

“Beneath the foundation of the cathedral. Through there.” Blaéz nodded at a point on the wall that was now broken. “I’ve been keeping an eye on it, but nothing so far.”

Aethan’s mind raced. “Think it’s him? The one after Echo?”

“Hard to say. Let’s go.” Blaéz turned back toward the door. “We don’t want him picking up our scent here.”

They materialized back at the castle. The winds howled around them as they stood on the portico.

“She can smell them,” he told Blaéz. “Says each has an underlying scent that’s different. That’s how she knew the one at the bar the other night wasn’t the same one who tried to take her through the portal, even though they looked the same. The one at the bar was who killed her friend.”

If he took Echo back to the crypt, she’d know if that hiding place belonged to the
demonii
they searched for.

But thoughts of her widened the chasm in his chest. He couldn’t move. The weight of his despair crashed through his walled barriers. He sat on the balustrade, his head slumped to his chest, his eyes squeezed shut.

How the hell was he to go on without her?

“You could try,” Blaéz said, sitting beside him. “I don’t normally interfere when visions are involved, unless a life is at stake or harm to an innocent. But if you don’t claim her, you will lose her,” Blaéz told him. “And I don’t mean that metaphorically.”

Aethan’s eyes snapped open.

“Ask her about tomorrow night.”

Blaéz’s words made little sense to him. What the hell was going on tomorrow night? Aethan pinched the bridge of his nose and exhaled roughly.

Fuck all this. If Fate chose Echo for him, then they’d better make damn sure nothing happened to her. Because if it did, there’d be hell to pay.

***

Echo shivered, tucking her hands into the pockets of her cashmere coat, an extravagant present Damon had given her last winter. She still hadn’t been able to reach him. Calls to his cell went unanswered, and now she was running out of time. She’d go to the loft tomorrow. She had to see him.

Uneasy, she glanced up then down the street. The sensation of being watched persisted but she couldn’t see anything.

Please, just this one night, so Kira could enjoy her birthday.
So she could say goodbye to her friend in her way. She’d given Michael a letter for Kira after she left this realm and asked him not to say anything to Aethan about her decision either, insisting on his promise. Michael hadn’t been happy about that. As an archangel, once given, his promise bound him.

“This is so exciting!” Kira hooked their arms, hazel eyes glowing gold in anticipation.

Echo turned to her friend, an affectionate smile on her face. She didn’t have the heart to remind Kira what else liked this place, too, especially on the prowl for human souls. These were her last moments with her friend and she didn’t want to take away her enjoyment of the evening.

Kira had changed her hair to a deep chestnut brown and had woven the length into multiple braids. A gleam of gold flickered through the strands at her excitement.

“So, how does it feel to be twenty-four?”

“Not a day older than sixteen.” Kira laughed. “Gran still thinks I’m a kid. Good thing she didn’t see the outfit.”

“You mean you’re lucky she was out for the night?”

“Yep.”

Jessie walked up the street toward them, her spiked heels clicking on the concrete. When she reached them, she hooked her arm through Echo’s other one.

“So spill. Who is he and where can I get one? The one who smashed up Neal yesterday.”

“What are you talking about?” Echo asked.

Kira sighed. “Let it go, Jess.”

Jess snorted. “Oh sure. The most exciting thing to happen at the ’Cock and I’m supposed to let it go? Echo, you should’ve seen it. After you left the bar, that guy, the gorgeous one with blue hair, strode over to Neal, picked him up like an insect, and slammed him against the shelves. Bottles fell on top of him like an avalanche.

“Man, what a sight! He said something to Neal, and by the look on Neal’s face, I was sure he’d piss himself,” she said, laughing. “Can’t know for sure since the broken liquor bottles wet him first.”

The blood drained from Echo’s face. So that was what Kira meant and what Aethan wouldn’t talk about. The chagrined expression on Kira’s face confirmed it.

“It was the most entertaining thing I’d ever seen,” Jess said. “Though Brian was pissed.” She sighed, a dreamy expression on her face. “So, who is he?”

“Echo’s b—”

“Let it go, please?” Echo said, squeezing Kira’s hand.

Kira scowled then said, “He’s a friend.”

“Girls, you ready to go?” Jon asked, as he jogged across the street to join them.

Echo inhaled deeply, taking in the chilly air and stink of the alley as she followed the others to the entrance. While they waited to be carded and allowed admittance, she glanced around and smiled when she saw the bouncer. “Hey, Tagg.”

Extremely tall and well-built, Tagg was a regular at the gym.

“Echo. Good to see you.” His crooked smile revealed lean masculine dimples in his bronze face. “You’re staying awhile tonight?”

It surprised her that he was aware she never stayed long. Couldn’t help that when she’d been following
demoniis.
“Yeah. It’s Kira’s birthday.”

“Echo? The others are waiting,” Jon said, coming to join her.

She nodded to Tagg and moved back into line. She shut her eyes when she felt Jon’s hand slide to her waist.

“You okay?” he asked her.

No, I’m not.
She looked at him and smiled. “Yes, I’m fine.”

***