Page 102 of Grave Revelations (Prophecies of Angels and Demons #3)

Chapter 101

Gabriel

Gabriel leaned forward, letting his lips rest gently against Rebecca’s as he squeezed his eyes shut.

He wanted nothing more than to bring her back to his room and keep her there forever, but if they lost, she would blame herself, and some desperate part of him wanted to be the one to end it, to know he’d saved her.

He lifted his lips, opened his eyes, and drank her in one more time.

“I’ll end this and return quickly.” His grip loosened on her, and he raised a hand, running his fingers through her curls before turning.

“Wait.”

He twisted back to her.

“You promised me we would bond when I reached Alaxia,” she said. “I don’t want to let you go again, never having had the chance to complete our bond.”

Warmth raced through him, chased by a nervous thrill. He had waited millennia for this day, and it had arrived on the heels of the revelation. He scanned the empty distance.

“There is no one to bear witness.”

“Who’s that?”

He spun, and a wide grin broke over his face upon spying Aniel. “That’s my brother. ”

Aniel reached them, clasping arms with Gabriel. He faced Rebecca and dipped his chin.

“Hello,” she said, looking hesitantly at Gabriel.

He doesn’t speak, Light.

Oh.

Aniel held out his hand.

Rebecca took it, following him to the ancient ash tree beside the gates. She stopped under its sweeping boughs, glancing up.

Now what?

Gabriel met her, turning to face her. We clasp hands.

She took his hands, meeting his gaze. Her eyes sparkled like sapphires, glinting in the opalescent light of Alaxia, and Gabriel longed to fall to his knees and beg her to forgive every mistake he’d ever made, to allow him to spend eternity attempting to make it up to her.

“Then?” she asked aloud.

Then we bow our heads and touch, promising to share every piece of ourselves from now until the end.

Rebecca swallowed and leaned her head forward. I promise, she whispered into his mind. Forever.

Gabriel’s head dipped until his forehead met hers. I am yours, body and soul, from this day until the end. Forever.

He closed his eyes, a single tear sliding down his cheek as their soul joined in holy bliss, washing through them until they two were one, and every memory, every dark thought and secret was laid bare, and each knew one another as they knew themselves.

His eyes slid open, and he gasped as a faint glowing outline formed above her head.

“What is it?” she asked.

“You have a halo.”

She released his hands, tapping the top of her head.

He chuckled. “A halo isn’t felt there.” He touched her breastbone. “You feel it here.”

“I do feel… different.”

He nodded, and they said together: Complete.