Wings of the Wicked - By Courtney Allison Moulton Page 0,55
you transform into this fearless thing of wonder, like a true avenging archangel. After watching what you did last night, I respect you, Gabriel.”
I studied her carefully, waiting for her gaze to falter, but it stayed true. “Everyone keeps calling me that, but it’s not me.”
“Why do you deny who you truly are?” she asked. “You are Gabriel.”
“I’m human,” I said sadly, my hands tightening on my knees, desperate to keep myself from becoming too emotional in front of Ava. “In this world, I’m human, not some flawless archangel. That’s something I can’t even wrap my head around. I’m reckless and passionate and imperfect. I die. I’m born human, I live human, and I die human. My body isn’t as strong as yours, but my power comes from inside me and I’m as strong as I need to be. But don’t call me Gabriel, because that’s not who I am, not right now. I’m just Ellie.”
She was silent and her expression remained still as stone, but slightly curious. Then she softened, her lips relaxing from the tight line she’d drawn them into, and the color of her eyes dimmed to normal. “All right,” she said at last. “Ellie.”
Will and Nathaniel returned, and relief washed over me. Nathaniel tossed a book onto the desk and plopped down heavily.
“I’ve got nothing,” he said dismally. “The book I was looking for is gone from my collection, and I don’t know where it is. I have another book of angelic magic, but this volume has nothing on what’s contained within the grimoire. The author probably doesn’t know any more than we do about Enochian spells.”
Will frowned apologetically at me. “It doesn’t mention a spell to give an angel or one of the Fallen corporeal form, so we still don’t know if it’s even possible.”
“We need to find this grimoire,” I said. “Or at least the copy.” Inside, I tried not to be angry for not remembering any of the spells myself. Gabriel would know what to do. Ellie, on the other hand…
“Ava,” Will said, “can you and Sabina look into this? You keep in contact with more relic guardians than I’m able to. Someone has to have heard something.”
“The reaper we met at Zane’s?” Her mouth twitched into a brief grimace before all emotion washed from her expression. “Why not Marcus?”
“I don’t trust Marcus with something like this,” Will admitted. “He’s a great fighter and I’d feel confident that he’s got my back, but on a mission for something like this, he would get … distracted.”
Ava’s lips tightened. “All right. Sabina would be a wise choice for a partner.”
I pulled out my phone to check the time, but it was dead. I’d completely forgotten to charge it when I got home from the party. I searched the walls in the office for a clock and spotted it behind me. It was almost ten. My eyes bulged. I would be able to conceal myself within the Grim, but hiding my car in broad daylight would prove impossible. “I really have to go. I have to sleep and somehow get back into my house without my parents noticing.”
Will laid a hand on my arm. “I’ll walk you out.”
I smiled to the others as I rose from my chair. “See you later. Thank you, Ava.”
She gave me a shallow nod of solidarity.
Will followed close behind me as we left the library and headed out to my car. The sun was bright, but there was a bitter chill in the air. The snow last night had left a light dusting on the parking lot pavement. I dug my keys out of my bag, and they slipped right through my fingers and hit the ground. I groaned as I reached for them, but Will had already swept low and picked them up for me.
“Are you too tired to drive?” he asked gently, watching me carefully as I unlocked my car and opened the door.
“I’m fine,” I said. “Really. It’s not a far drive and it’s Sunday, so there won’t be too much traffic.”
He studied my face for a few moments and lifted a hand to stroke my cheek. “I meant it when I said you were amazing last night.”
“Thanks. So were you.”
His eyes fell to my lips briefly. Then he stepped back and pulled the car door open wider. “Get some rest.”
I sat down, threw my bag in the passenger seat, and slid my seat belt over me. I looked up at him. “You too. I mean it.”