Wanted Angel - Sadie Moss Page 0,81
they not redeemed?”
A bit of frustration seizes me, even though I know this is a stupid point for me to argue. A moment ago, I was worried the sins would be redeemed and wink out of existence, and now I’m worried that my heavenly brethren see them as no better than Salinas or Anderson.
“Because if you think they still need redeeming,” I say, shaking my head, “you’re off your rockers. These are the best men that I’ve ever known. They’re loyal and brave and selfless. They put their lives on the line to save all of humanity, and the supernatural world while they were at it. They’ve protected me and cared for me this whole time even though there wasn’t really anything in it for them. They—”
Another angel holds up a hand. She looks like a plump, happy grandmother. “My dear. Your loyalty and defense of others is admirable. But the sins have not been redeemed. You have failed in that task. While we do commend you for the other great tasks you have accomplished…”
“Were you not listening to anything I was saying?” I shoot back. Once, before I fell, I never would’ve dared to talk back to my superiors so openly. I might not have followed all the rules, but I wasn’t outright rude.
The committee member, fortunately, seems to take an indulgent attitude. “Well, here. Let us explain it in this manner.” She looks at the sins. “Beckett, who embodies the sin of Greed. Do you renounce that sin?”
Beckett stares at her like she’s lost her mind. “No.”
“As I thought.” The angel looks at Remi. “Remington, who embodies the sin of Gluttony. Do you renounce that sin?”
Remi shakes his head. “No, ma’am.”
“Phoenix, who embodies the sin of Sloth. Do you renounce that sin?”
Nix snorts. “Ah, nah, I’m having way too much fun with it, you know? But thanks for the offer.”
The angel doesn’t seem amused by Nix’s attitude. “Ford, who embodies the sin of Wrath. Do you renounce your sin?”
Ford growls.
“I’m afraid we’ll need a straight answer.”
“Fuck no.”
“There we are.” The angel moves on. “Sawyer, who embodies the sin of Lust. Do you renounce your sin?”
Sawyer winks at me. “No, I’m good.”
“Knight, who embodies the sin of Envy. Do you renounce your sin?”
Fear fills me. Knight doesn’t actually like his sin. He doesn’t want to feel eaten up all the time. He’s the only one who doesn’t revel in what he can do and who he is. Will he say that he gives it up? But if he does, does that mean he’ll stop existing?
He glances at me, and something passes through his dark brown eyes. It’s like yearning and satisfaction all wrapped into one. I smile at him softly, trying to convey a million things with this small tilt of my lips. I want him to know that even if he sometimes feels like he’s not enough, like he’s not worthy, there are seven other people in this world who know that he is. Who will believe it for him when he can’t.
His eyes turn a little glassy, and he dips his head once, his gaze locked on mine. Then he turns to the angel on the bench and shakes his head, the motion definitive. My stomach unclenches as a rush of relief fills me. I feel like my heart just got ten pounds lighter.
The woman nods, accepting Knight’s response. Then she turns to the imposing man beside me. “Ryland, who embodies the sin of Pride. Do you renounce your sin?”
Even if all the others had renounced their sin, I know that this man never would. He’s far too, well, proud to do it.
“No,” Ryland says, his head held high.
“Well then, I think that settles it.” The grandmotherly angel looks back at me. “Trinity, they are refusing to renounce their sins and stop indulging in them. That means they are not redeemed. A person can do a great many good things while still being impatient, or selfish, or cowardly. These men have done good deeds. We will not argue that point with you. We’re quite pleased to see them doing such good work, and we know that it is thanks to you. But they have not changed their full natures. A few moments of, say, temperance on the part of a glutton does not mean they have renounced gluttony completely.”
Thinking about it that way—it’s true, isn’t it? Nix has had moments where he wasn’t lazy. Remi’s had moments where he isn’t being a glutton. Beck’s had moments where