A Crown Of Smoke And Ash - Sloane Murphy Page 0,42

if upon meeting the fates, that Ben chose the true death, that our ally is lost to us.

“There could be a way to discover if he chose the true death,” Levi says, running his hands through his hair. “But I’ll need to call in a favor or two.”

“What do you mean?” Roman asks.

“What I say, cannot leave this room. Do you understand?” Levi asks, waiting for each of us to agree. “What is unknown to all of those still living, is that if a Hunter chooses the true death, they do not face oblivion. Depending on their actions in their lives, they are either banished to the Shadow Realm, or they are offered eternal life in Avalon.” I gasp at his words, and Creek’s eyes go wide.

Holy shit.

Avalon.

“How, how is that possible?” I ask him.

“It is because of the Angel blood you possess. Upon entrance to Avalon, you leave your mortal existence, and become an Angel of Avalon. Unless you are banished, and then, your soul goes to the Shadow Realm of the Demons. None who walk there, Angel nor mortal, can return,” he says, something flickers in his eyes, but it disappears before I can tell what it was.

“I can’t believe it,” Kain says softly. “Does that mean, that the fallen of my kind go to the Shadow Realm?”

“I do not know. You were created by Demons, but you are not Demons, and do not possess blood of Demons. You were created by their magic. I’m sorry.”

Roman remains quiet throughout it all, his face unreadable. “So, you could find out if this, Ben, has chosen the true death? And if so, he could give us the information?”

“I cannot. But I know someone who may be able to.”

“Why can you not find out yourself?” Roman asks him, and Levi’s face turns solemn.

“I can’t find out, because I was cast out of Avalon. When I chose to save Remy from the Elder’s decision, it was against orders. I cannot return.”

My heart stops at his words.

He gave up his home, everything, for me.

“You were cast out… because of me?” My hands shake as I ask the question, not wanting to believe it, as the other three clear the room, leaving just Levi and I in the sitting room.

“I do not regret the decision Remy,” he says crouching before me, where I still sit on the sofa. “I would make it again, a thousand times over, if it meant saving you.”

“But you left everything you knew, everyone…” I can barely say the words, the size of the sacrifice he made for me, almost unfathomable. “All of those people, your family.”

“You are my family, Remy,” he says fiercely, cupping my face in his hands. “I chose you a long time ago, and too long have I let the Archangel guild bind my wings, bind me from helping you, for what I thought was the greater good. But when they refused my request to let me go to you while you were locked away in that room beneath the ground, I realized the truth.

They did not care.

At least, not as I did. They did not see the significance of one life. What you could do. Who you are. They did not know and refused to listen to me. And so, I fell. Willingly.”

He lifts me from the seat, and takes me in his arms, sitting back down with me straddling him. He holds my chin so that I can see the truth he shows me with his eyes. “There is still so very much that you do not know Remy, and without unlocking your memories, I cannot tell you. I will not rush your decision, I will not force it, but we made a promise, long ago, that we would find each other, always. I told you I would always catch you, and I will. Stopping them that day, was only a small part of that, only a small part of what I would do for you.”

A shudder runs through me, and I surrender myself to him, kissing him deeply, showing him just how much he means to me, while trying not to let my guilt swallow me whole.

His hand tangles in my hair while the other cups the nape of my neck, his thumb stroking my cheek. He slows the kiss, and lays his forehead against mine. “I will not let you face this, any of this without me. Even if you cast me aside, I will always be there in the shadows. Catching