where Bethel’s citizens still slept, none the wiser to the army he destroyed mere hours away. The angel swooped down low in front of the church, its stained-glass windows glowing with the light of dawn approaching.
In front of the heavy doors stood a solemn man, dressed for battle in his tactical gear and crossbow. Kais’ expression was unreadable, neutral and blank as Az swept lower and dropped me lightly on my bruised feet.
“You two kids have fun.” He barely touched the ground before he was off again, golden wings propelling him into the air. “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”
Fuck. I looked at Kais, withering under his hard stare. He didn’t look hurt, betrayed, or even surprised. Like he all but expected me to take off running. His emotions clamped down, I couldn’t get a sense of what was brewing underneath.
“Kais, I—”
“Get inside.” He turned to the side with a stiff pivot of his feet, like a soldier.
My breath already shaking from fear and anticipation in equal measure, I ascended the stone steps and slipped through the ajar door of the chapel.
“Walk.”
He barked out the command with the same harshness as a flogger on my back. I took small steps down the aisle, feeling like some kind of dejected bride in my tattered dress as I approached the altar. Behind me, hinges groaned and metal clanked as Kais closed the church doors and locked them shut.
I stopped at the edge of the pulpit, eyes darting over the candles, rosaries, flowers, and statuettes of the saints looking down at me from the altar. Judging me. Kais' heavy booted footsteps followed between the pews after me.
“So you left us.”
He said it flatly. No emotion, just an observation as he strode up to the pulpit and jumped up, looking around at the church relics, but not at me.
I swallowed. “I’m sorry, Kais—”
“Did you hate being here so much?” He picked up a silver chalice, turning it over in his hands for a moment before setting it down.
“No!” The protest came out desperate, weak. “I wanted to protect Bethel! I love being here, Kais. I loved it too much. Az and I are drawing Kimaris and Belial here, putting you all in danger. I thought I could bargain for your safety.”
“Hm.” He said nothing else as he picked up a rosary next. Wrapping both fists around the ends, he pulled it taut. The wooden beads snapped together with a soft clack, then he set it down. When he finally looked at me, his gaze was penetrating. “Take that fucking dress off.”
For once, I wanted to talk this out with Kais, but I shoved the tattered material off my shoulders, shoving it down over my hips then let it shimmy down my legs to pool at my feet.
“We’re going to burn that thing.” He seemed utterly unimpressed with my naked body as he picked up a cross next, a large golden one inlaid with stones and jewels that reflected light at different angles. He slapped it into his palm a few times, testing its weight.
“Yes, Kais,” I said demurely, noting how satisfied he seemed with the crucifix over the other objects.
“Yes, Father,” he corrected me harshly, jumping down from the stage.
“Yes, Father,” I repeated. My thighs snapped together, the desire to feed both an ache and a burn. I was still aching from Gamaeron’s hoof and claw, and I’d started my journey hungry to begin with.
“You so badly wanted to prove to us that you weren’t a hellion.” His voice dripped with disapproval. “You wanted us to trust you, to not judge you for the place you spent centuries in. And the moment we do,” he sat down in the front pew, dark eyes glued to the crucifix in his hands, “you take off back to that place you sought sanctuary from.”
“I’m so sorry, Kai—Father.” My own emotions spilled over, tears blurring my vision and my heart aching from what I’d done to them. These men I loved. “I thought I was protecting you by leaving, but Azariah was right. Hell will come here whether I return or not. If you’re going to fight, I’d rather be with all of you, giving humanity its best possible chance.”
Kais watched impassively as I spoke, spreading his knee and extending his hands along the back of the pew.
“Show me how sorry you are.”
My legs crumpled underneath me like I was a puppet and he controlled my strings. I crawled the short distance to him and he seemed to