Descent - Tara Fuller Page 0,78

shiver to run down my spine. “You don’t deserve her.”

Easton swallowed hard, but didn’t back down. “I know. But that doesn’t mean I’m not going to try. She makes me better. She could make the world better just by existing in it if you’d let her. You want me to stay away from her? Then end me. Do it now, because I don’t know any other way. Trust me. I’ve tried.”

I linked my arm through his, wondering how I could ever love him more than I did in that moment. When Easton looked at me, he didn’t see a naive, innocent angel. He looked at me and saw the girl I wanted to be. If Father wanted to tear us apart, he’d have to do it literally. I wasn’t letting go. I wasn’t letting him send Easton back to that house of horrors. Father shook his head and paced along the cloud wall, thinking. His emotions were too jumbled to read. Then again, maybe he was doing that on purpose. He always hated it when I read him, the way he was feeling.

He finally came to a stop in front of us, his eyes cold and disapproving when they landed on our hands clasped together.

“You’re an angel, Gwen,” he said, simply. “You can’t be with a Hell’s reaper. It won’t be accepted. And whether you want to acknowledge it or not, there are more hurdles to cross than just my approval.”

“Then I won’t be an angel anymore,” I said.

Easton’s eyes went wide and he released me. “Jesus, Gwen…no. Absolutely not. It’s who you are. It’s who you were meant to be. You can’t, you won’t do that for me.”

Electricity crackled around us, forcing our attention to Father. He looked over Easton, eyes glowing.

“You want to give up what the Almighty has given to you…for him?” Disgust curled his lip. “So be it, Gwendolyn. Your wings in exchange for your reaper.”

I didn’t have time to register what he’d said before the pain began. It wasn’t just pain, it was a piece of myself being ripped away. I screamed out in horror and fell forward as the right half of my back began to tear. He was actually doing it…he was taking my wings. Betrayal delivered a swift blow to my heart, shattering everything I knew of love.

“Is he worth this?” Father shouted, voice trembling. “Vow to stay away from him, and this all can stop, daughter. Vow it!”

Another tear, and I screamed out again. “No!”

I was vaguely aware of Easton’s hands on me. His voice. I reached up blindly, searching for his face, and felt his fingers close around my wrist.

“Tell him, Gwen,” he cried. “Tell him you’ll stay away. I’ll stay away, you bastard! Just stop! Send me to Hell, annihilate me, anything! I’ll do anything!”

All at once the tearing stopped, but the pain still throbbed inside me. I blinked at the stars swimming beneath me, trying to right the world around me. I closed my eyes and sensed them. My wings…they were still there. Wounded, but whole. Easton slipped his arms around me and pulled my limp body into his lap.

“Gwen, talk to me,” he pleaded, brushing the hair back from my face.

I looked up to find Father staring down at us, absolute horror making his eyes look hollow. He fell to his knees and reached for me. I flinched and he winced.

“Gwendolyn…” he whispered. “You love him? You see good in him?”

I nodded and clutched Easton’s arm, unable to speak.

“I told you I’d leave her alone,” Easton said, voice broken. “Send me away, but Jesus…don’t hurt her anymore. She’s your daughter. Just…end me. I’m ready.”

Father watched Easton intently. “She can’t be with a Hell’s reaper. It’s too dangerous.”

“I know,” Easton whispered.

“You said you’d do anything to protect her,” Father said, staring off at the forever half-set sun in the distance. “To be with her.”

“Anything,” Easton said without hesitation.

Father turned and met Easton’s determined gaze. “Then I have a better idea.”

Chapter 29

Easton

I stood on the empty balcony of the crowded auditorium, a ghost among the living below. Gwen sat on the ledge, dangling her feet over the side. I leaned against the railing, searching for my best friend in the crowd. Gwen leaned down and planted a soft kiss to the corner of my mouth. I pulled her over and spun her around so she was trapped against my chest.

“That was a tease.”

She grinned and pressed her nose against mine, basking in the glow created between us. “Did you