Darkness Wanes (48 page)

As the smoke cleared, it appeared nothing within the mass of demon bodies moved. Melena stood. “They’re all dead. Good job, everyone.”

Cheers went up all around. It wasn’t every day they had the opportunity to fight off a horde of demons. Lucas was just pleased his bloodlust could finally subside. He grabbed Melena and rolled her underneath him.

“Well done, sensor,” he said, staring down at her.

She smiled. “You, too.”

He lowered his head and melded his lips to hers. There was something to be said about sex after a battle, and he wanted his wife right then and there. Melena squirmed underneath him until her legs were wrapped around his waist. Her lust was rising almost as high as his.

Someone tapped on his shoulder. “Seriously, Lucas?”

He groaned and looked up at Emily. “Yes?”

She put her hands on her hips. “There are dead demon parts everywhere and people walking around you. Do you really need a teenager to tell you this is inappropriate?”

“Someday you’ll understand,” he said, then returned his attention to Melena, planning to kiss her again.

His mate shoved at his shoulders. “She is right and you know it.”

“Very well.” Lucas got up—reluctantly. He made a mental note never to allow the teenager near a battle zone again. And not just because it was dangerous.

Melena leaped to her feet and hugged Emily. After a few seconds, she pulled away and examined the girl closely. “Are you okay?”

“Oh, yeah.” Emily gestured toward her father standing nearby. “Dad made me stay way back from the fighting, and Cori had her rifle ready in case any demons got close.”

“Good,” Melena said, her relief evident.

Lucas hated to interrupt, but now that his battle lust had been thwarted, he remembered the whole purpose of this incursion. “We should find Micah and Ariel.”

“Oh, right.” Melena’s cheeks turned red. “They’re over there in the camp.” She pointed toward the exact spot.

Together, they headed toward a large green tent where Micah had taken the former archangel. When they entered, they found Yerik—who’d suffered so many wounds it was a wonder he still stood—and Lorna already inside. Micah hovered over the cot where Ariel lay, his hands on her head as he worked to heal her. His eyes were squeezed shut, and lines of strain showed on his features.

“We’ll give you some space,” Lorna said, pulling Yerik toward the tent flap. “I need to tend to my husband’s injuries anyway.”

Melena squeezed the older sensor’s hands, addressing her and the daimoun. “Thanks.”

“It was a pleasure.” Yerik nodded.

Lucas moved to stand next to his brother and took in the sight of the former archangel, his gut clenching at what he saw. Micah had healed the wounds on Ariel’s face, but many others on her body were still open, and a few appeared to have become infected. Lucas hadn’t even known that was possible for an immortal.

He could not imagine what the demons had done to her, but the past few months must have been horrendous. If Melena had not insisted on rescuing Ariel, there was no telling what they might have done to her next. Lucas was glad now that they’d taken the risk. Though to be fair, he found it much easier to acknowledge that after the fact.

“Is there something I can do to help?” Melena asked.

Micah pulled up Ariel’s sleeve where patches of her skin were missing. “I am working to get the worst of the wounds healed. If you could clean her face and hands, it might make her more comfortable.”

“Of course.” Melena grabbed a rag off the table and poured some water from her canteen onto it. The tent had been set up to handle any immediate injuries they might have upon their return. It had been Micah’s idea and a rather good one. The sensor crouched down and began washing the dirt and blood from Ariel’s face.

“How long do you think it will take for her to heal?” Melena asked.

Micah’s lips thinned. “Even with my help, it will be at least a few days—perhaps a week. Many of her internal organs are damaged…or worse. I can only heal so much of her at a time. It’s like they almost completely shut off her immune system.”

“Dear God. How could they have allowed her to suffer like this?” Melena’s eyes grew teary.

Lucas came up behind his wife and wrapped his arms around her. As hardened as he was, even he could not stand to see the kind of suffering the former archangel must have faced. It made him want to protect Melena that much more from the horrors of the world—if only she’d let him.

Ariel opened her eyes, revealing they were still golden, though darker than before. At first, they were unfocused, but after a few moments she seemed to get her bearings. Her gaze took in those hovering over her.

“You are all insane,” she said in a voice barely above a whisper. “You should not have risked your lives for me.”

“Melena insisted.” Lucas couldn’t help but admire the fact that Ariel still worried about them after all she’d suffered.

“It’s good to have you back,” Melena smiled.

The former archangel slowly reached over and squeezed the sensor’s hand. “I knew you’d come. I prayed you wouldn’t, but I knew you would never leave me there. It is what got me through each day.” Ariel drew in a gasping breath and used it to say two more words before closing her eyes. “Thank you.”

Chapter Thirty-eight

Melena

The house was quiet as I made my way up the stairs. With Ariel recovering in Micah’s bedroom, no one wanted to risk disturbing her. We were also a little on edge as the day wore on to evening, waiting to see if there’d be any ramifications from freeing the former archangel. Just because they seemed to have allowed us to free Ariel didn’t mean they’d let us keep her.

Patrick and Emily had made a batch of homemade chicken noodle soup to help pass the time and distract them from the mounting tension. I carried a bowl of it on a tray, along with some crackers and fruit for the former archangel. It had been almost a day since we brought her home and she’d been unable to consume anything solid. We hoped soup would do the trick.

Micah met me in the hallway and pulled me over to Patrick’s room. His tone was grave as he spoke in a low voice. “I’ve just finished healing some of her internal injuries. It should help her eat better, but don’t push it if she can’t. Her body may not be ready yet.”

I swallowed a lump in my throat. “That bad?”

“You cannot…” His voice broke off, and it took a moment for him to recover. “You cannot begin to imagine. I’m amazed there’s anything left of the woman we once knew still in there, but it’s possible Ariel’s belief that we’d come for her helped her hold onto her sanity.”

I took a deep breath. “Hope can defeat armies if it’s strong enough.”

Micah managed a smile. “This is true, sensor. Now go in there and sit with her for a while. I’m certain she will enjoy your company.”

“Make sure Bartol gets some of this soup.” I nodded at the tray I held. “Kerbasi has been around a lot, so he’s been hiding in his room all day.”

“I’ll do that,” Micah promised.

After he walked away, I headed down the hall to his room where Ariel lay on his bed. Micah had chosen to sleep in the den for the moment so she could have some privacy while recovering. I didn’t know how long she’d need, but Lucas and I decided we’d let her stay as long as necessary. Our home was already full of outcasts and misfits—what was one more? We’d have to build a guest house if this kept up, though.

Ariel had her gaze directed toward the nearby window where someone had opened it up. There was a tree within close view. A bird sat on one of the branches, singing its little heart out. I could have sworn the creature was performing for the former archangel.

“It’s beautiful, is it not?” she said, still watching it. Her voice remained weak, but it was clearer than when we’d found her the night before.

“Yeah, it is.” I set the tray down on the nightstand. “How are you doing?”

Ariel turned to look at me. “I’ve certainly been better, but I’m also grateful.”

“That you’re back?” I asked.

“That is one good reason.” She struggled to sit up higher against her mound of pillows, waving me off when I tried to help. “But also because I’ve got you and the others. After everything that has happened…I’m thankful I’m not alone anymore.”

Ariel had changed during her stint in Hell. I remembered her as kind and generous, but also haughty and a little overbearing. Her methods for handling things caused us to clash more than once, especially when she made me swear an oath to keep secrets from Lucas.

Now she seemed more humble, and she treated me as an equal, rather than some lesser being. For the first time in her very long existence, she’d experienced what it was like to be vulnerable and helpless—to have one’s fate in the hands of others. I wouldn’t wish that experience on anyone, but if she had to change somehow, then I was glad that at least it was for the better. I only regretted that she’d had to learn that lesson in such a horrible and cruel way.

“I’ve got some soup here for you,” I said, gesturing at the tray.

She stared at it longingly. “It smells good, but I’m not certain if I can eat.”

“It can’t hurt to try.”

Ariel nodded. “Put it on my lap.”

I carefully set the tray on her legs, leaving the glass of apple juice I’d brought on the nightstand. With a shaky hand, she brought the first spoonful of soup to her lips. I wanted to help her, but she seemed rather insistent on trying to care for herself. In her shoes, I would have been the same way.

“This is good,” Ariel said, surprised.

“Patrick made it with Emily’s help. They’re better cooks than I am.”

Ariel took another sip. She held it in her mouth for a moment before managing to swallow. The simple act was clearly a struggle for her. Micah had warned she might not be ready yet, but I’d hoped she could get a little more down.

Ariel set the spoon back in the bowl. “Patrick is a good man. I’m certain you are a little suspicious of him, but I assure you he’s harmless.”

“How do you know?” I asked, knitting my brows.

A smile played at her lips. “You weren’t the only sensor I looked after. I knew he’d find out about his daughter someday, but it wasn’t my place to interfere.”

I settled in a chair next to the bed and scooted it closer. It gave me some measure of comfort to hear Ariel confirm what I’d begun to believe. Patrick might have arrived at a bad time, but he’d worked to prove himself every day since we’d come to our understanding. Emily’s life had been rough, and I really wanted her to have something good.

“Thanks for telling me that.”

Ariel tested a slice of banana and chewed it slowly. From the looks of it, she wanted to enjoy it, but the food wasn’t settling well. Micah had given her some vitamin injections earlier, so at least her body was getting some of the nutrition it needed.

The former archangel stared at her tray of food mournfully. “I’m afraid I can eat no more.”

“It’s okay.” I removed it from her lap and set it back on the nightstand. “We’ll try again in the morning.”

“How is your leg?” she asked.

I was surprised she’d even noticed the injury last night and even more that she worried about it, considering her own condition. “It’s all healed.”

“Good. I didn’t want to think you were suffering on my account.” Her eyelids started to droop. “I’m glad you’re better.”

Ariel was fading fast. The latest healing session with Micah and the little bit of food she managed to eat must have worn her out. She had once been a powerful archangel. Now, her strength was a tiny fraction of what it had been before. I had no idea how much she’d regain—only time would tell.

She didn’t resist when I helped her to lie flat on the bed again. “Sleep,” I whispered. “We’ll watch over you. Don’t worry.”

Ariel shut her eyes and relaxed. I knew from recent experience that having people who cared about you nearby while you were weak and recovering made it a lot easier to rest. It had been hard for me to feel safe here at first, and I’d only been in Purgatory. Ariel had been in a much worse place.

I stayed by her side as she fell into a deep sleep. Nearly an hour had passed when I sensed Remiel arrive outside. I braced myself, expecting him to appear in the bedroom next. Several long minutes dragged by, but he didn’t move from his position. I got up from my chair and headed across the hall to my room, which had a window facing the front yard.

The archangel stood out there unmoving, except where his robe fluttered in the breeze. Even from fifty feet away, I could sense the anguish coming from him. If I’d thought he looked bad the last few times I saw him, he appeared even worse now.

Kerbasi walked onto the lawn, heading straight for Remiel. The guardian started berating him and gesturing wildly. The archangel stood there, listening without responding. I supposed I needed to go down there and find out what had brought him.

Lucas met me in the foyer. His expression was hard and his fury a living thing, pulsing in waves out of him with every breath. He didn’t appear to appreciate the archangel’s arrival any more than I did. Without needing to exchange a word, we headed outside together. If Remiel planned to do anything to Ariel, he’d have to go through us first.