I kissed his mark and then wrapped my arms around him. As my fingers grazed up his back I gasped.
“Kade?” I exhaled.
“They’re gone,” he answered. “I guess a new body came with the transformation. No more scars.”
I leaned back, laughing and crying at the same time. “I still can’t believe all of this is happening. I – I can’t believe you’re here, and we’re going to be married.”
“I still have to ask Samuel. I know it’s a mortal tradition, but Alaine is half-mortal, so I don’t want to offend.”
“They don’t even know you’re alive.” I said, wondering what they would think when they saw him, raised from the dead.
“No, they don’t,” he grinned. “And I can’t wait to see the looks on all their faces, especially Malachi and Dom.”
My face suddenly dropped, and my heart began to ache.
“Emma? What is it? Are you unwell?”
I shook my head, fighting my emotions.
“You don’t remember?”
“Remember what?” he asked, his brow furrowed.
“I’m so sorry, Kade. Malachi and James are gone, and Alex is barely holding on to life as we speak.”
“What?” His face turned sorrowful, filled with grief.
I nodded, hating to dampen his spirit, but he needed to know.
He closed his eyes for a long time, and when he opened them again, his face brightened.
“They will be missed, but their memories will live on forever.”
“They will never be forgotten. Not in our lifetime,” I said.
“Yes,” he breathed. “Now, you need to rest. Your gifts will be revealed once you’ve healed from the transformation. You’ll be much stronger when you wake in the morning.”
“I’m afraid to close my eyes.”
“Why?” he questioned
“Because if this is a dream, I don’t want it to end.”
His fingers softly grazed the side of my cheek. “This is not a dream. I promise to be here when you wake.”
“Will you stay with me?”
“Forever,” he smiled as he swept me off my feet. Up into his strong arms he carried me to bed. Once I was situated under the covers, he crawled in next to me. We held onto each other tight, and it felt so natural and so unbelievably magical to be in his arms again.
I yawned, starting to feel the effects of the transformation weighing heavy on me.
“Want me to put the sleeper on you?” he asked.
“You can do that?”
“Of course I can. Whatever I did before, I can do now… only much better.” He winked, and my heart melted.
“Assure me you’re real,” I whispered.
“I’m real alright. And once you heal, I’ll show you exactly how real I am.”
My insides twisted. “I can’t wait to be married to you, Mr. Anders. Wait, is Anders your real last name?”
“No,” he chuckled. “Angels don’t have last names. We are just given titles. Like Archangel or Cherubim or—”
“Aren’t Cherubim those cute little angels?” I asked.
His brow raised. “There is no such thing as a cute, little Cherubim. They are actually very offended how the mortal world has painted them to be as such. Cherubim are large, strong, and powerful beings. They are skilled warriors who surround the Creator, and are highly trained to defend him from any contaminations of sin.”
“Wow,” I exhaled. “I guess I still have a lot of learning to do.”
“You have a lifetime, and I will gladly be your instructor. If you’re good, I may even give you some hands-on training,” he said, wiggling his brow.
“I can’t wait to start, professor.” I giggled, then automatically yawned. I could feel my body quickly draining of energy.
“You need to rest,” he said.
I nodded, knowing as much as I wanted to stay awake and talk to him all night, the healing wouldn’t allow it. My eyes were already getting heavy and my body was weakening.
“Don’t leave me, okay?”
“Never again,” he whispered.
“Thank you,” I breathed, closing my eyes.
“Goodnight, my Emma. Sleep sweet.”
“Goodnight,” I whispered, fading into a deep, restful sleep.
I OPENED MY EYES, AND noticed the bed next to me was empty… fear flooded me, my limbs tensing.
“Kade?” I whispered to myself.
The door to the bathroom opened, and he stepped out.
“Don’t worry, I’m still here,” he said with a grin. He’d taken a shower, and I had no idea why he thought he needed one. Steam escaped around him, and the only thing he was wearing was a towel wrapped around his waist. Lucky towel.