Zander moved to stand beside Riyon, with Penelope close behind. “Would it be alright if I had a word with Erin alone?” he asked the two Powers.

  They both nodded, and left us alone. Penelope gave me an apologetic look as she walked away with Riyon. I wanted to throttle her for leaving me with Zander, but I stayed put.

  I tried to avoid Zander’s gaze, but I could feel the heat from it all the same. “Erin, will you please look at me?”

  I kept my eyes down at the ground. It felt all too familiar standing with him in the green lush grass. Just like my dreams of him under the willow tree. Only now he had beautiful wings and no rock t-shirt.

  Zander’s warm fingers gripped my chin gently and lifted my head so I was forced to look at him. His touch still excited me after his harsh rejection, and I hated myself for it.

  “I’m sorry for yelling at you. I wanted you to know that I…” he trailed off.

  “That you care? Yeah. I got that.” My words were harsh and snippy.

  He released my chin and his green eyes looked sad as he stepped closer to me. I inhaled his scent, amazed that I could smell him at all after being unable to even touch him for such a long time. He smelled like warm cotton. I wanted to fall into the smell, and I instinctively moved closer to it.

  Zander’s chest rose quicker at my nearness, and he cleared his throat. “What’s wrong with caring?” he asked, keeping his eyes locked to mine.

  I wanted so badly to step away from him, but my body wouldn’t allow it. “Nothing, Zander. I just thought… I don’t know what I thought.”

  He searched my eyes for the truth, but I refused to give it. I refused to tell him how much more I wanted from him than just caring.

  “Erin…” he started to say something but I cut him off, not wanting to hear any more niceties.

  “We should get to my training. I’d like to get back home sooner than later.”

  I moved to step around him, willing myself to breathe steadily and stay strong, but his hand grabbed my arm to stop me before I could make my escape. Without a word, he reached up and stroked my cheek with his fingertips, sliding a loose strand of my dark hair behind my ear.

  My once steady breath caught in my throat and I made a small whimpering sound that I couldn’t control. At the sound, Zander’s eyes dilated and fell to my lips, where the traitorous noise escaped. His fingers slid from my cheek to slide across my bottom lip, and I pulled away from the incredible sensation.

  “Don’t,” I said, turning away from him.

  He didn’t respond, so I stalked to the other end of the field toward Penelope and Riyon, feeling cold without his touch.

  Chapter 12

  * * *

  “So, what exactly does this test entail?” I asked Riyon and Pen, after leaving Zander behind.

  I needed to try my best to ignore Zander. He was a distraction that I didn’t need. I just needed to be done and get back home.

  Riyon and Pen looked at each other questioningly. They likely heard my conversation with Zander due to their super angel ears. I gave them both the “shut up” stare as Zander joined me at my side.

  Riyon clapped his hands together once. “Alright. There will be three tests over the next week to find out your true nature. Test number one will be to discover your abilities.”

  I groaned. “Can’t you guys just tell Morian that I passed without having to do it all?” I gave them a cheesy grin, trying to look very divine.

  Pen laughed and shook her head. “As much as I’d love that, we will have to be under the watch of our talapati, Osca.” She gestured to the edge of the crater, where Osca sat with his arms crossed watching us, before getting up and flying away. “He will be checking in from time to time, but I’m not even worried. You’re good, Erin. You’re not evil.”

  I shrugged. “I don’t know about that. I was born to be a dangerous thing, wasn’t I?”

  “No. You weren’t,” Zander added, matter-of-factly. His words were solid and I wanted to believe him.

  His hard eyes stayed on me and I wanted to squirm, but I tried to stay put. “Let’s get started then,” I said, dreading the day.

  Riyon and Penelope began by giving me the long list of angel abilities that I needed to be tested on. Element manipulation, speed, heightened senses, astral projection, teleportation, self-healing, and of course, flying.

  I just stood with my mouth agape as they ran through all of the possibilities. I blinked back the anxiety that wanted to strangle me and turned to give Zander a wary look.

  He had a teasing smile on his perfect lips and shrugged. “Hey. Don’t look at me. I’m still a relative newbie.”

  His playfulness lightened the strain on my heart, and I took a deep breath as I looked at the two pro Power angels in front of me. “You guys can do all of these things?” I asked in awe.

  Pen shook her head. “Actually, no. We each have our own strengths just as humans do. All abilities are a possibility to Thrones but I haven’t met one that can master them each. As for Powers, we are more skilled with the strength, speed, and flight side of things.”

  “And what is astral projection?” I asked nobody in particular.

  Riyon answered my question. “Astral projection is a gift that only a Throne angel can possess. It is where they are able to remove their soul, and project it into another place or even another realm. Like teleportation, but only as an image, not a physical being.”

  I tried to imagine what it would be like to send my soul back to my parents to see them and tell them I was okay. “How do we test if I can do that, though? If you guys don’t know how to do it yourselves?”

  Riyon nodded in understanding. “For those tests, Amell has offered his assistance.”

  The reminder of my pending engagement made me glance at Zander. His eyes were forward, but his stubbly jaw ticked in a slow rhythm. Is he angry?

  I ignored him and dipped my head to my trainers. “Alright. Where do we start then?”

  Pen grinned and bowed at the waist. “That is where I come in, hon. We are going to race.”

  “Race? That’s it?”

  Her perfectly pink lips turned up in a wicked smile that I knew all too well. “Yup. That’s it.”

  I felt uneasy at her simple response, but I nodded and moved to stretch my legs, preparing to run. I was always the best runner in high school. I won most of my track races, but I had never raced an angel before.

  Pen stood beside me, practically bouncing with excitement, and pulled her wings into her back. “Ready?” she asked, crouching.

  “Ready.”

  Riyon stood in front of us, and smiled affectionately over at Pen, before turning a much different smile in my direction. “On my count, you will run around the inner circle of the arena, and back to me.”

  The inner circle had to be only a quarter mile around. It felt too easy. Riyon counted down from three and I took off beside Penelope at full speed. I immediately stopped running when I saw Penelope’s blurred shape circle the track and stop with ease beside Zander and Riyon again.

  “What the heck?” I yelled back to them, and all three of the angels laughed, enjoying my shock way too much.

  “Jerks!” I shouted, jogging back to the starting line at my very slow human pace.

  Penelope gave me an apologetic look. “I’m sorry. I couldn’t resist. I just wanted to see the look on your face.”

  I shoved her in the arm. “Did I fail the test then?”

  Riyon shook his head. “It just means you don’t have angel speed yet. But we will have to push you until we can determine if you are capable.” He pointed to the outer track of the field. It was three times the length of the inside one. “I’m going to have you run around the outer circle until you can not breathe. After that, we’re going to test your strength.”

  I growled and turned to Zander. “What’s your part in this, Guardian?”

  He smiled, showing his teeth, and my breathing stopped at the sight. I loved seeing that smile again. “I am going to test you on your senses, teleportation, and healing abilities. Is that alright?”

  I was surprised by his question. “Yeah. Of course.”

  He nodded to me, and then turned his attention back to the Powers who watched our interaction with curiosity.

  “Time to run,” Riyon added, and I took off, running for the next two hours without a break.

  ⬨⬨⬨

  “Clearly I do not have angel strength. Just give up and leave me here to die.” I panted out the words, being overly dramatic, my forehead dripping with sweat.

  Riyon laughed by my side, taking the weights from my hands. He had me lifting various dumbbells for over an hour and I was absolutely not getting the hang of it, or any stronger as the day went on. Penelope and Zander just sat watching with amused eyes as I pathetically lifted sixty pounds over my head.

  I laid back on the ground, ready to pass out from the exercise. “I just don’t understand these tests. How will this prove anything?”

  Riyon sighed. “Can I tell you what I think?”

  “Of course you can.” I felt close to Riyon, as if he were a big brother. I hoped that he was just as comfortable with me.

  He sat on the grass beside me, crossing his legs and pulling in his wings for the first time since we met. He looked so different without the wings. Like a dark Native American warrior. He was incredibly handsome, but even with that thought, I still wanted to compare him to Zander.

  “I believe that the higher angels do not have a clue of what to do with you. I also believe they are scared of your potential.”

  I sat up and gaped at him. “Me? The girl who collapsed after a few hours of exercise and pathetic weight training? You saw me cry after dropping that ten pound weight on my toe, right?”

  He let out a boisterous laugh and shook his head at me. “Like I said, they are afraid of your potential.”

  I shrugged. “I just feel like a normal girl most of the time. There have to be others like me out there, right? Other half-breeds or whatever.”

  Riyon shook his head again. “You are the first human and Nephilim offspring. It is supposed to be impossible for a soulless angel to mate with another being with a soul.”

  I raised my eyebrows. “It’s clearly possible at least once. Wouldn’t that just make me less powerful, though? Since I’m not purely an angel?”

  “Quite the opposite.” He pointed to me. “You have the blood in you from a Nephilim, while also harboring a soul. That makes you able to access the abilities of your dark father, as well as the abilities of a divine angel. Adding in that Morian believes your father to be an extremely powerful fallen angel, you have a lot of power to access.”

  “What can a Nephilim do that a divine can’t?”

  “They can shapeshift, dreamwalk, and possess humans, as well as sense the good and bad intentions in others.”

  My heart stopped at what he said. “How do they see intentions?” Like auras?

  Riyon tilted his head at me. “I wish I knew. A divine can’t do it, so I’m unsure how it works. Somehow, their senses tell them who is pure and who is not, making it easier for them to bend innocent people to their will.”

  I stared at the grass in front of me. I had my Nephilim father’s ability to see auras, but I didn’t have any divine qualities. What did that mean?

  “May I grab Erin for a moment?” A masculine voice broke into my internal freak out.

  I looked up to see Amell standing above me, his golden wings spread wide on his bare back. Riyon excused himself, leaving the two of us alone. I looked over where Penelope and Zander had been sitting in conversation, and Zander’s narrowed eyes were on Amell.

  Amell reached down to offer his hand and I took it graciously. He pulled me to my feet, but didn’t release my hand. His touch was warm, and I could smell the sweet scent of him. Like a delicious fruit medley.

  I blushed as he continued to hold onto my hand. “Thanks, Amell. Did you need something?”

  He released my hand and bowed his head to me in a polite manner. “Yes. I would like to ask for you to accompany me to the Throne ball tomorrow night. It is a special event to celebrate the changing of seasons.”

  “Angels have balls?” I asked, and a snorting sound came from where Zander sat. I snapped my eyes to him, and he was trying to hold back a smile, ignoring my narrowed glare.

  Was he listening to my conversation?

  Amell seemed to miss the exchange between Zander and I as he continued. “Yes, we do. It is common to have a celebration when the seasons change on earth.”

  I chewed on my bottom lip. “I’m not sure I would be welcomed at a ball. The other angels find me unusual.”

  Amell stepped closer and grabbed my hand in both of his, placing a gentle kiss on the back of it. His kiss tingled against my skin, surprising me. I sucked in a small breath, and his eyes locked onto mine at the sound.

  “You will be more than welcome, Miss Porter. Trust me.” His deep voice was almost a whisper as he responded.

  I nodded. “Okay. I’ll go with you.”

  Amell smiled, and the look was nice on his usually serious face. “Wonderful,” he said, letting go of my hand again.

  A throat cleared behind me and I turned to Zander, glaring daggers at me. My eyes widened at the look on his face, but I didn’t comment on it.

  “We need to move on to my tests for you, Erin.” His voice was clipped as he spoke.

  “Uh… okay. Sorry.” I turned to apologize to Amell, but he just bowed his head again.

  “Yes. Please get back to your tests. I will get out of the way.” With that, he jumped into the air, flying gracefully away from us.

  I looked for Penelope and Riyon, who were both nowhere to be seen, and gulped nervously.

  Zander’s eyes were dark and angry as he stared at me with his thick arms crossed. “It’s just you and me. Let’s get started.”

  He walked away, motioning for me to follow, and I reluctantly sauntered after him, mumbling under my breath. “Great.”

  Chapter 13

  * * *

  I had to speed walk after Zander to keep up. I didn’t know where he was leading me, but I was getting madder by the second.

  I followed him up stone steps that led out of the training arena and onto the cobblestone streets that led through the city. We passed a few angels that paused what they were doing to gawk at the weird half-Nephilim girl, and I tried to keep my eyes on Zander’s white feathers ahead of me, ignoring the judging eyes.

  He stayed silent as he walked briskly ahead of me, finally stopping at the bottom of a tall tower made of a dark gray stone that looked polished and shone in the angelic sunlight. He stopped so fast that I nearly ran into the back of him, and he spun quickly on me.

  Without a word, he grabbed my waist and jerked my body to his, holding me tight against his bare chest. I gasped at the quick movement and the warmth that twisted in my stomach at his nearness, forgetting my anger from before.

  His eyes were a little softer than before, but still held a hint of anger in them as he looked down at me. “Hold onto me,” he ordered, and I stared at him confused.

  Just as I was about to ask why, he leapt into the air with me in his grasp, and I instinctively threw my arms around his neck, holding onto him for dear life.

  “Zander, what are you doing?” The question was breathy as it left me.

  He didn’t respond, and landed with me onto a small round rooftop balcony at the top of the tower. His eyes found mine again, only inches away, and he loosened his grip on me, setting me onto the floor. His eyes never left mine as his hand slid up my waist, and along my arm until he found my hands still clasped behind his neck.

  I shivered at his touch, enjoying the burning trail that he left with his hands. If I had known how amazing it would feel being touched by him, I would have tried a lot harder to make it happen in my dreams.

  Zander’s hands grasped mine and pulled them away from his neck, backing away as he did so. Cold air took his place, and I wanted to beg him to bring me back to him.

  He looked away from me and pointed out to the city that we sat above. “From this spot, we can see all of the Divine City. I wanted to start my training with you up here. Take a look.”

  I sighed, pushing the thoughts of his touch away and followed his gaze over the balcony ledge. He was right. The whole city was in view, and it was beautiful. Angels roamed about on the streets and flew between the buildings, training to fight in a never ending war, and making friends.

  “What are we starting with?” I asked him, hoping I could learn how to teleport.

  He moved to sit on the floor, pulling his large wings back into his body, and gestured for me to join him. “Come sit. I want to talk with you first.”

  I hesitated, but gave in and joined him. “Okay. What do we need to talk about?”

  “About the abilities you’re hiding from everyone else. The ones you’re afraid of.” His eyes watched me, knowingly.

  I sat straighter. “How do you know I have other abilities? And why would you think I’m afraid of them?”

  Zander sighed and rolled his eyes at me. “Erin. I told you this before. I have known you your whole life. I know you can do things that others can’t, and I also know it bothers you.”

  Such an insightful ex-guardian.

  I closed my eyes, then opened them again to stare down at the brick floor between our crossed legs. I knew there was no hiding who I was with this man. “You’re right. I can see auras. Just like Riyon said the Nephilim can do. I’m scared of what that means for me.”

  I tried not to face the divine being in front of me. No matter how mad he made me, Zander was meant to be in the heavenly city, and I just didn’t belong. It was a few moments of silence before I dared look into his sparkling eyes.

  He watched me with a sad dip to his eyebrows. “Why exactly did you come here?”

  “Uh… you brought me here for training…”