“Who are you?” She looked up, met the fierce blue eyes. “You are more than a witch. I have sensed it, felt that you are—more. You are protected, by a power I have never touched before.”
“Not—important.” She caught his wrist, her fingers shaking from the pain. Every breath was a victory, and with every breath she regained control, nudged the jagged pieces closer together. “Let go, Zach.”
He obeyed, to her surprise, kneeling beside her while she gathered her scattered strength. “Tell me what happened to you. How did you—leave, without my knowledge? You should not have been able to—”
“Someone more powerful than you.” She took in a deeper breath, the pain nearly gone, the wall nearly intact. For now. “It doesn’t matter. I can help you, Zach—if you tell me what you really want.” He jerked away from her, staring at the wall behind her. “All I ask is that you free my friends. They can’t be of any help to you. I know you figured this out already—you’re hardly stupid.” He turned his head, anger slapping her. “Let them go, Zach. Please. Annie is hurt, and they are all scared—”
“I cannot.” He leaned forward, pulled Claire to her feet. Shorter than Annie, he still topped her barely five foot two by several inches. “I need them. If I am to stand against those who hold me, I must have leverage.”
“They are not pawns, and I won’t let you use them—”
“I have no choice!” Fingers dug into her arms, shaking with the tangle of fear, anger, hopelessness that radiated from him. “I am bound, for all eternity, because I was foolish, because I was proud.” Claire swallowed, understanding too well. “I am to be made an example, and what I ask will never be granted. But if I can bring a trade to the table—”
“And that trade would be our lives.”
Shame flared in those clear blue eyes—just long enough for her to see it, recognize that what he did was as much out of desperation as it was necessity. Something else she understood. “They left me no choice.”
“But I am giving you one now.”
He stared at her, started to shake his head. “How will I know—”
“If I’m lying to get them free of you? I don’t make promises I can’t keep. And yes, you’ll have to take me at my word, unless you have a lie detector hidden in your pocket.” He bit his lip on a smile. It encouraged her. “You have to trust someone, Zach.”
“I want to live—to have your freedoms, your cares, your life.”
“But you already—”
“I haven’t.” He swallowed, lowered his head. “I am not—what you think. I wasn’t an errant mortal, who is doing good to wipe the stain off my soul.” With a deep breath, he met her eyes—and the sorrow, the despair cut into her heart. “My name is Zachariah. I am not mortal. I am an angel, exiled to the wastelands of Between because I wanted more.”
“Heaven above,” she whispered.
“I do not even know if my Father realizes I am gone.” He closed his eyes. “Or if he would care.”
“Zach.” She ached for him, knowing what that exile meant, how her own had torn away all that she was. And she knew what she was about to offer would cost her. “I can help you. But I won’t—until you let my friends go.”
He looked at her, and the ache intensified. Despite all he had done, she couldn’t lay blame. Not completely.
She jumped when a loud snap shot through the room. The door lock. One by one, she heard locks click over. By the time the last one echoed through the house, Zach was sheet white, his hand trembling as he held it out to her. He looked painfully human, vulnerable, trusting. Claire forced herself not to believe it.
“I have opened the way. They will be able to pass. After you help me.”
*
Annie pushed herself off the bed when she heard the series of clicks.
That bastard unlocked the doors.
“Regina—” Using the wall as a crutch, she reached the door just as Regina appeared, Hillary in tow. “Did you hear?”
“Yes. Do you think—”
“Let’s go find out.”
Regina helped her down the short hall; Hillary ran ahead of them.
“Hil—wait for us—”
The girl reached for the door knob just as they caught up to her—and jerked back with a shriek when the bell chimed. Leaving Annie next to the wall, Regina eased her daughter aside and opened the door.
Annie nearly hit the floor when she recognized who stood on the doorstep.
“Good morning.” Theresa smiled, giving Annie a slight nod when their eyes met. Well, damn it— “I’m the local welcome wagon, and I just wanted to drop by and say hi.”