“His angel suggested it was the thing to do. Seemed right to your dad in that moment. And it changed that man’s life.”
“So…is it always about that? I mean getting people to believe that there’s good?”
“It’s about keeping people alive long enough for them to suspect there is a God and suspect they need Him.”
“Just suspect?”
“Yes. We take it from there. When anybody gets to the point where they suspect those two things, then it’s a lot easier. But it’s the getting them to that point that can get messy.”
“Messy, huh?”
“As in we don’t interfere much. Unless it’s absolutely necessary to the getting them there plan. We can speed up the process and do many things that often are seen as merciless and cruel, but it’s merely us getting them where we can legally truly help them.”
“And that’s…knowing God.”
He chuckled. “Yeah. It’s kind of a requirement if you want to live in His universe, under His protection.”
“Wow! Just…fascinating.” She glanced at him several times with a worried look. “Are you supposed to be telling me all these secrets?”
“They’re not secrets to those like you.”
“Like me? I’m no saint.”
He took his time looking her over. “You believe?”
“Yeah, so?”
“That’s all that’s required.”
“Oh don’t tell me living right has nothing to do with that.”
“Okay, I won’t. You live by what you believe, that’s called faith and works. Your works match your faith.”
“But I don’t even know a lot of stuff about God.”
“You’re not judged according to what you don’t know, but what you do.”
Brief silence preceded her reply. “Well, whew on that one.”
“You’re so much more righteous than you realize. God is an impartial judge. No two souls are judged the same, every life is a unique fingerprint on the fabric of existence.”
“Oh. You’re damn sexy when you talk all poetic.”
Her scent that was still all over his face became a sudden distraction in his nostrils. “Mmm.” His helpful mercury replayed every single part of what he’d done to her just before they left. Tasting her, pleasuring her, hearing her cry out in that abandon…damn it made his soul sing.
The problem with that was the danger they were in. Those things torturing the cow would lead hell to her door and his damn mercury was too busy playing at something else to seem to care. He had to take control. His mercury never acted in opposition to any plan he’d partaken in, so having to try in any way was bizarre. He’d sent a message to Kassern about what happened and was waiting for the verdict of what to do.
“You’re quiet.” Her words were like heavenly silk.
“Just thinking.”
She seemed to get fidgety, glancing in the mirrors, adjusting her grip on the steering wheel. “About?” She fluttered a laugh. “I’m sure about the end of the world and finding or meeting your couple. Or those hellish animals back there—”
“I’m trying to think of those things.”
“I don’t know how in the world you wouldn’t be.”
“No you don’t.”
“Well…maybe you can tell me, I might be able to help? I mean I've got a good head on my shoulders when it comes to handling difficult situations, I could be useful.”
“I doubt it.” Toren felt the metals in her body slow with a slight depression. “Sorry, I didn’t mean it like it sounded. I just…”
“Think I’m too girly for the tough stuff. I get that all the time.”
“Yes, I think you’re too girly for the tough stuff but not because I think you aren’t strong. I…”
Silence filled the cab for several seconds until her metals began to move in reverse. “Go on,” she said with a harder voice.
“I think I need to protect you.”
She gave a light snort. “You sound like that’s unusual.”
“It is. For me. I’m not a protector, I’m a warrior.”
“Well you’re a warrior that protects something. Might not be a woman but it’s something, what you believe in, same difference.”
He glanced at her unable to hold down a smile. She was beautiful in every way. “Maybe protect is the wrong word. Possess. I can’t stop thinking about making love to you. I need to bind your soul to mine as I bury myself in you.” He looked out the window. “I don’t want to do those things to the other things I’m protecting.”