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48

Summer

“ N ice shower?” Farrah asks, giving us a knowing smile as we sit down at the table for breakfast. I blush and look away, silently cursing myself for not taking the time to dry my hair before we came down.

Connor smiles brightly at his mom and shakes his head, splashing her with water from his wet hair. “Yup!”

Farrah yelps, swatting at him. “Crazy boy.”

Uriel laughs, coming up behind his wife and wrapping his arms around her waist. “Don’t let your mother fool you. We haven’t taken a separate bath or shower in almost two hundred years.”

Connor grimaces, and I smile, enjoying how in love they are.

Luke blushes. “Dad, please.”

Farrah walks to Luke and kisses the top of his head. “Showering with your lover is good for the soul, Lukey! It makes it glow!”

Luke groans, looking like he wants to die. “Mom, please.”

“You’d all be complaining if we were like Matthew’s parents. They hate each other.”

Zach comes downstairs, kissing his mom’s cheek as he passes. “That’s because they had an arranged marriage.” Zach sits down and serves himself eggs and bacon from the plates on the table.

I smile at Farrah. “I think it’s nice that you’re both so in love after all this time. And five kids.”

Farrah looks at Uriel lovingly, and he immediately moves toward her, like one magnet attracted to another. “Do you want to know the secret?”

I nod.

Farrah slips into Uriel’s arms, looking up at him. “We choose each other every single day.”

Uriel nuzzles his cheek against hers. “No matter what, good or bad.”

“And it doesn’t hurt that he’s easy on the eyes,” Farrah quips, smiling up at him.

Uriel laughs. “I snatched you with my rugged good looks, and you captivated me with your incredible beauty.”

I smile at them and lean against Connor. He, like the rest of his brothers, is engrossed in eating and completely ignoring his sappy parents. Farrah kisses Uriel, and he dips her over his arm.

“Please, can we have one meal without the public display of grossness? I’m begging you.” Zach groans.

Farrah pulls back from Uriel and walks over to Zach. She grabs his ears and smothers his face in kisses.

I laugh and lightly elbow Connor. “Ah, so this is where you get it?”

Zach’s expression is mutinous, but his eyes sparkle, revealing his enjoyment as his mom showers him with affection.

Connor puts down his fork and shifts in his chair. He grabs my head in his massive hands and starts kissing all over my face. I squeal and swat at him, not trying very hard to push him away. He laughs and pulls me onto his lap before going back to eating.

Farrah pulls Zach into a hug. “Trouble number one.”

I glance at Uriel. He is staring at his wife with nothing short of awe. “Con mentioned he wanted to train with you a bit today if you have the time.”

Uriel raises a brow, glancing at Connor before looking at me. He has the same blue eyes as his sons, but they’re sharp with wisdom. “Would you like to train with me? I noticed a holy dagger on your thigh.”

I touch the dagger Connor had insisted I wear everywhere I go, even here, and the small bubble of denial about the events that drove us to Eden pops.

“It’s for protection, Dad,” Connor says, covering my hand with his.

Uriel nods. “Well, she should know how to use it then.”

“I’d be very out of my depth with an archangel.” Who am I kidding? I am still very out of my depth in combat class. It is the one class I do not excel in.

Uriel shrugs. “Unless you know how to wield it, that weapon won’t offer much protection.” He looks at Connor, his eyes harder than I have ever seen them. Here is the archangel. “You haven’t told her what that is, have you?”

Connor looks away, sipping his coffee.

Uriel sighs and holds out his hand. “May I see the dagger, Summer?”

I pull the dagger from the sheath, offering it to Uriel hilt first. He wraps his hand around it and lifts the knife from my palm. The second it leaves my skin, bright white flames surround the blade.

“Holy daggers are not manufactured, Summer. They are not created as you would expect. They appear to an angel in times of need. As we grow older and stronger, more holy weapons will appear to us.” Uriel tilts the blade, studying it, and the flames slowly die. “It is a part of an angel’s essence. This is a part of Connor, and it is one of the few weapons that can actually cause us harm.”

My gaze snaps to Connor, who is sheepishly watching me. Fear swamps me, but it quickly morphs into anger. Why did he give me this? It is not just a weapon capable of devastating damage, but it is meant to protect him, and he gave it to me. I don’t even know what to do with it.

Uriel flips the blade expertly, holding the hilt out toward me. “It became yours the second he gave it to you. However, you won’t be able to summon holy flames without some practice. Holy flames are lethal to most species, but you will require training for this weapon to provide the most protection.”

I nod. “Do you have time to train me?”

Uriel nods and grabs a piece of bacon and a pancake from the table. He tenderly kisses Farrah’s lips and says, “Let’s go, boys.”

I slip off Connor’s lap and say goodbye to Farrah and Luke before walking toward the door. Zach and Zane jump up, chatting excitedly as they follow me. They burst past me and into the morning sunlight. Connor catches up to me, and I see the wariness in his eyes as he tries to figure out how pissed I am with him. I follow Uriel out, ignoring Connor. When we enter the elevator, I navigate through the big men, ensuring I am as far as I can get from Connor.

Connor shoves Zach and Zane out of his way and crowds me against the wall. “Why are you mad?”

“Even I know the answer to that.” Zane snorts.

I don’t look at Connor.

“Would you have taken it if you knew?” he asks.

I cross my arms, ignoring him.

Connor shifts so he’s in my line of sight. “Would you have?”

I just growl.

He sighs. “I want to protect you.”

I duck around him and move to the other side of the elevator, leaning against the wall. The other Morningstars are doing their best to ignore Connor and me. Of course, it is impossible. The space is not small, but it’s definitely not big enough for a fight or any sort of privacy. Connor follows me and places his hands on either side of my head, caging me in.

“Look at me.”

I meet his gaze with a glare so seething it would have destroyed a lesser man. Connor doesn’t shrink from it. He leans down, kissing me hard, and I silently curse myself when I kiss him back. My body always wants him. It doesn’t care if I am mad. It is as easy as breathing. “I needed to give you the best chance of coming back to me.” He presses his forehead to mine. “All right?”

“You tell me next time,” I growl softly.

“We’re here,” Uriel says a moment before the elevator pings and the door opens. Connor kisses me again before stepping back and leading me onto the field. As we step onto the grass, their clothes change to golden armor. The armor is truly striking, and each piece is perfectly tailored to the wearer. The breastplates are covered in intricate, swirling designs with a stylized sun at the center. My eyes linger on Connor, and my core heats with the way the metal molds to his large muscles. Everything about the armor screams strength, respect, and safety.

Uriel nods to several angels already training on the field, and they either nod or salute.

We stop in a marked patch of ground. “Zane, since you need the most practice, why don’t you show Summer how to wield?”

“Did you have to call me out like that?” Zane grumbles.

I shake out my limbs, trying to loosen them like they do in the movies. “Okay, Zane. Show me what to do.”

Uriel crosses his arms, ready to observe. “Summer, the dagger,” he reminds me to arm myself.

“Oh, yeah.” I nod and pull the dagger from its sheath strapped to my thigh. Zane smirks, and with a wave of his hand, he summons his holy sword. It’s huge, with an iridescent blade and a silver handle.

My mouth drops open, my eyes pinging between the two weapons. What the fuck? This small dagger against that huge ass sword?

Zane laughs, the sound reminding me why we are here. I focus as Uriel walks around the marked circle, analyzing us.

“What are the advantages of having a dagger over a sword?” Uriel asks.

“Lighter?” I reply uncertainly.

Uriel nods. “Also faster and easier to conceal. Can you think of any disadvantages?”

“You need to be closer to your enemy to strike,” I say, more confident after getting the last answer right.

“That’s right. Good. Zane, take a typical stance. Summer, I want you to show me how you would get close enough to use that dagger.”

Zane widens his stance, winking at me. “Bring it on.”

I simply step forward, and Zane shifts, blocking me easily. “With a shorter weapon, you need to move faster and think smarter,” Uriel says, watching.

I frown and step back. Zane moves quickly, shifting on his feet and lunging toward me. I feel a slight twinge from deep within, some dormant part of me stirring, but I stumble and fall to the ground, cursing.

“What the fuck, Zane?” Connor yells.

Zane quirks a brow and smiles at me cockily. “At least stand your ground.”

Uriel hits Zane across the back of the head. “What did that prove?”

“That I was not built to be a warrior.” I stand, dusting myself off.

“Let me show her, Dad,” Connor says.

He walks into the ring, and I adjust my grip on the dagger, thinking he is going to take up a stance across from me. Instead, Connor kisses my forehead and gently ushers me out of the ring. Disappointment and shame writhe through me. I know he only wants to protect me, but he truly doesn’t believe I can learn how to fight. I feel breakable and weak, but maybe he is right. Connor’s obvious lack of confidence in me adds a layer of vulnerability when I already feel so exposed.

With my eyes on the ground, I find a spot out of the way and sit down. When I came here, I knew I had no chance. I knew I would be useless, but I don’t like the feeling of defencelessness, and I like Connor taking over for me even less. I force my gaze up, determined to at least pick up anything I can by watching.

Zane smirks at Connor and takes up his fighting stance again. Connor summons his own holy sword, which is much more impressive and intricate than Zane’s. I watch the way they square up, assessing each other. Zane swings, but Connor moves at the last possible second, and Zane’s sword misses him by a breath. Connor brings the hilt of his sword up and hits Zane in the chin. Zane drops to the ground. Uriel snaps his fingers, and Zach jumps in to take Zane’s place, facing off with Connor. Zach feigns a swing toward Connor’s neck but drops his strike, slicing at his legs. Connor is forced off balance, and Zach takes advantage. Connor anticipates Zach’s rush, and the second Zach commits to his course, Connor sweeps his legs out from under him, using the momentum to push him down. Zach hits the ground hard, and Connor lays his holy sword against his neck.

Zach and Zane switch out another few times, but neither of them can take down Connor, even with Uriel calling out instructions.

“Enough,” Uriel commands after a few rounds.

Connor releases his brother, winking at him.

Uriel looks between the three of them, nodding. “You have combat classes. Make sure to take them seriously. Summer, I expect you to keep training with that dagger. Go home and say goodbye to your mother before heading back to Avalon.”

We all say goodbye to Uriel since he plans to stay and do additional training with his Legion. I slide my hand into Connor’s as we step back into the elevator, and I once again consider my weakness. Perhaps it’s time to try harder in combat classes.