The Rose Witch - Chandelle LaVaun Page 0,75

in an instant. From a distance, he looked almost human. His hair was black as night and fell in loose waves down to his shoulders. Black runes covered his body, from the tip of his forehead, down to his toes, and out to each of his fingers. He wore no shirt, and his pants were a golden material that glistened like metal as he moved. Thick muscles wrapped around his entire form. He was the warrior angel, and he looked every bit the part. Even with the wings.

His gaze was piercing. I squirmed and tried to blend into the boulders.

“Stop traumatizing the poor girl, Michael.” Another angel appeared right behind him. “She’s got the necklace on, that’s enough.”

Malachi stepped out to this angel and the two embraced quickly before stepping back.

The angel cleared his throat. He looked to me with silver eyes that flashed. “I am Uriel.”

Uriel looked a lot like Michael except shorter and leaner – but not by much. His long black hair hung straight down to his hips.

Light flashed again but this time a woman appeared. She was beautiful, with long golden hair and a dress made of white. Her entire body seemed to be glowing. When she opened her eyes again they’d changed from blue to white with shiny gold rims. Her hair turned snow white as it whipped through the breeze behind her like a cape. Light flashed and massive wings made of white feathers flapped from her back, standing taller than even she was.

She arched one eyebrow at the group then walked straight up to me and took my hands in hers. “I am Jophiel.”

“I saw you in a painting—” I blurted before I could stop myself.

Angels. I’m surrounded by ANGELS. I was struck stupid, incapable of functioning.

“Yes, you did.” She grinned. “I tried to warn you for what was coming but I don’t think you caught on.”

Bugger me.

Four angels just showed up. I knew that wasn’t a good thing. And one was apparently trying to warn me…of what, I had no idea. I turned to Malachi and my eyes widened. He stood there in his true form, his angel form. With his white feather wings and the full body golden vines, he perfectly fit in with the other angels. The only thing that set him apart from them were the red lines of our soulmate glyph and the big purple crystal. But If I hadn’t known any better, I would have thought he was as old as them.

Jophiel was suddenly right in front of Malachi. She tapped on the crystal heart on his chest and grinned.

Michael growled.

Malachi’s face fell. His skin turned pale and he suddenly would not look at me.

My stomach turned and knotted. My heart was pounding so hard against my chest it drowned out the sound of the waterfall. What’s going on? They’re talking. I know it. Not that I could ask.

Uriel, the angel with hip-length black hair and bright silver eyes, stepped in front of me and gave me a wonky smile. “So, Chloe, you met Michael’s granddaughter. What did you think of her?”

I froze. The smile on Uriel’s face looked friendly but I did not get the impression I could speak freely. Or maybe that was coming from the glaring Michael right behind him. But I had to say something. They were all watching me. I bit my lip and shrugged. “Um…I did? W-who was she?”

“Hope,” Michael growled and crossed his arms over his chest.

Uriel shook his head. “You met her as Bettina.”

My eyes widened. Bettina? Bettina is Michael’s granddaughter? Bloody hell. I cleared my throat. “All I learned of her was that she’s particularly infatuated with my cousin Jackson.”

Uriel, Gabriel, and Jophiel all glanced back at Michael.

He narrowed his eyes and growled, balling his hands into fists.

“She is too preoccupied,” Uriel said with a shake of his head. “My bloodline is never that emotionally charged.”

Jophiel cocked her head to the side and her long hair fell over her shoulder. “Who would have known archangel Michael’s daughter and grandchildren would be so passionate?”

Malachi scoffed.

Michael turned on him, his eyes flaring with rage.

Malachi rocked back on his heels and arched one eyebrow.

Michael glared at him for a long moment, then growled and shrugged. “When their memory is back, you will see. My children will win this war.”

Uriel sighed. “That was my point. The block. Ruth—”

“And Micah,” Michael growled and the whole world trembled.

Angels are arguing. What do I do?

Gabriel appeared between them, shaking his head. He shoved them apart.