Gilded Wings(14)

“Yeah,” I sighed. “Lucky me.”

“Well, we’ll need to keep the demon occupied. No late night strolls in the labyrinth, or any alone time,” Dom warned, beginning to sound like a big brother.

I grinned as the thought of Jeremy crossed my mind. If he knew what was going on, he would have probably said the same thing. “We need to get back in case Lucifer finds out what we’re up to.”

“I am not usually allowed to do this, but will make an exception this once. Come,” Ephraim said, ushering me forward until we stood in front of his desk.

Dom stepped between us and patted Ephraim on the shoulder. “Thanks, Eph. And, don’t worry, you probably won’t be seeing me for a while.”

“That’s considerate of you,” he answered before waving his hand in a circle, speaking a few words in their angelic language. Soon the space before him began swirling and I knew he was opening a portal.

“Where will this take us?” I asked.

“Back to your closet. You can change and get cleaned up without anyone knowing.”

“I’ll know,” Dom said.

“I wasn’t talking to you,” Ephraim answered.

“Thank you, Ephraim,” I said, hugging him.

He hugged me back. “Just stay alive until your transformation.”

“Staying alive is not my greatest worry.”

“Remember, your life is not your own. Your future is connected to people you have not even come into contact with yet. Individuals, whose lives will change, or be saved, because of your actions.”

I nodded. That was a lot to swallow.

Dom grabbed hold of my hand, and we both stepped from Midway, straight into my dark bedroom closet. As I turned back, the portal disappeared.

“I better get out of here. We don’t want the others to think there’s something going on between us, if you know what I mean.”

“Yes, Dom,” I chuckled. I leaned forward and gave him a hug. His strong arms wrapped around me. “Thank you.”

“No problem. And, don’t worry. I’ll do whatever I can to make sure you’re safe, and will make sure Kade knows what’s going on. Now, get out of that suit. It’s making me a bit uncomfortable.”

“Get out of here.” I blushed, pushing him out.

“See ya, Emma,” he said, leaving.

“Bye, Dom.”

Unzipping the suit, I quickly stepped out from it and hung it back up. It had protected me yet again. This magical garment of the angels. Before I pulled a robe around me, I glanced down at my body. They whole right side and middle of my chest was marred in black and blue. Would this ever end? Would there ever come a time when I wouldn’t have to worry about breaking or bruising anything? I mean, how many broken ribs can one girl take?

I pulled a pink, long-sleeved shirt off the hanger, and opened the drawer to get some jeans, then headed toward the bathroom. I needed a bath. There were splatters of dried blood on my hands, and I wanted it gone. After, I’d go check on Kade.

Before I stepped into the bathroom I felt dizzy, and grabbed onto the door knob to steady me. A rapping noise sounded at my window. My insides twisted in knots as I pulled the robe tightly around me and made my way toward it. I pulled back the curtain and let out a small shriek. Ethon was there, hovering right in front of the window. Without thinking, I unlatched it and swung it open.

“What are you doing here? You scared the crap out of me,” I scolded.

He laughed. “I was on the rooftop, waiting for you to get back. I felt you arrive, and had to make sure you were alright,” he noted, his crimson eyes flitting down my length.

“I thought you couldn’t come near the house… you know, the barrier?”

“You were gone so Samuel has been inside the house with Alaine. He hasn’t left yet. I think I have a few more minutes.”

“If that,” I laughed.

“Are you okay?”

“Yes, I’m fine, thank you. But I was just about to take a shower,” I said, hugging my robe tight.

“Hmmm,” he grinned.

“Hmmm, what?” I narrowed my eyes at him.

He jumped onto the sill and sat down, then wrapped his arms around me, pulling me right between his legs. I closed my eyes, trying to fight the bond, holding tightly to my robe. “One day soon, you will be mine. All mine. What I told you in the tower is true. I will do whatever I can to make you happy. We will be happy, and I will make sure you are fulfilled in every way. You are my bonded and my future mate, and one day we will rule the Underworld.”

I looked into his crimson eyes and shook my head. “I don’t want to rule the Underworld. I don’t want to rule anything. I just want to live a normal life. A life where I get to choose my happiness.”