He laughed softly in his chest. “No, I mean the City. Why did you leave earth?”

  An instant blush crept up my neck and I threatened it to stay put. “Some of the Power angels came to get me and Penelope. I didn’t have a choice.”

  Zander shook his head. “You’re not one to do something you don’t want to, without putting up a fight.”

  I shrugged. “I figured it would be good to go.”

  “Why?”

  To see you…

  “To rescue you. I thought you might be in trouble.” It wasn’t a lie, but not the full truth.

  Zander raised a single eyebrow at my words. “You’re not my rescuer, Erin.”

  I gave him a fake glare. “Someone had to be.”

  The corners of his lips rose, but he didn’t speak. He just watched me watch him back, but the look faded and he shook his head like he was trying to erase a thought.

  “The reason I brought you here was to figure out your abilities, and talk about that light you exude from your hands, and sometimes all over your body.”

  The same light that made it so I could touch Zander when he was my Guardian. I nodded. “Okay. Do you know what it means?”

  “I think it’s your defense mechanism. When you feel threatened or scared, the glow burns the things that mean you harm.”

  “Okay. That’s not one of the angel abilities that Riyon listed, though.”

  Zander shrugged. “The gifts an angel is given are specific to the angel's purpose. Powers have the strength and speed to fight.” He ticks the list off on his fingers. “Thrones have the mental stamina and astral projection to be everywhere at once in order to lead an army. Guardians are adept at teleportation and healing in order to protect their charge.”

  “And me?” I asked weakly, not fitting into any category.

  His eyes softened. “You are a creation of dark and light, the perfect balance,” he said with something like admiration. I watched his tongue dart out to lick his lips as he spoke. “You have the ability to draw creatures to you, sense the intentions of others, and emit a pure divine light to protect from the darkness that wants to take control.”

  The way he talked about my “abilities” made me feel special and important, if only for a moment. I smiled, accepting myself for the first time. Maybe I wasn’t too bad after all.

  “I also believe that you can do more. I’d like to test your potential to transport yourself to the balcony over there.” He pointed to a veranda off the side of a mirroring building below us.

  I gulped down the sudden fear that came over me. “This sounds like a great way for me to miss the target and fall to my death.”

  Zander laughed. “I have wings, remember? You’re not going to die.”

  “How do I do it?”

  He reached his hands out, palm up, for me to take. I hesitated, but finally laid my hands upon his. The heat that his skin radiated seeped into me, and I felt it down into the pit of my stomach. I tried not to react to his touch and embarrass myself by jumping on his lap.

  Sit, Erin. Stay.

  “Alright,” Zander said with a low tone. “Now close your eyes and imagine yourself standing on that balcony.” I did. “Completely relax your entire body, fully aware of each spot that touches the bricks underneath you, and separate from those points until you’re disconnected from this spot here and now.”

  How could I tell Zander that complete relaxation was impossible with him touching me? I tried to pinpoint where my body connected to the brick, and separated myself from it until I felt like I was floating.

  “Good,” Zander said warmly. “Now disconnect yourself from my hands and place yourself at the intended destination.”

  All I could feel was Zander’s hands steadying me, and instead of disconnecting myself from the feeling, I instinctively moved toward it in my mind. It was too inviting to escape.

  Zander cleared his throat, and I froze. That sounded so close. The throaty sound was directly in my ear, and it took me a moment to open my eyes and face the truth.

  I was sitting in Zander Reid’s lap…

  “Oh my…” My cheeks flushed with a hot red warmth and I hurried off of his lap.

  I threw my hands over my face and groaned. “I’m so sorry. I guess I can’t teleport.”

  I chanced a peek through my fingers to see a completely cocky smile on the Guardian’s face as he watched me with way too much enjoyment. “Oh, you absolutely teleported, but your intended destination was a little off…” He raised a single eyebrow and I dropped my chin.

  “I did it?” I shouted the question, unbelieving.

  “It seems you can teleport. That’s a great sign. But maybe next time you should be picturing the balcony and not my lap.”

  “Oh my gosh, Zander!” I yelled at him and shoved his arm. “Don’t flatter yourself.”

  He just shrugged and kept that goofy grin on his handsome face. “Too late,” he added and pulled me to my feet. “Now let’s go back to the arena. Day one is over.”

  With that, his wings shot from his back and he swept me up easily in his arms to fly me over the city and back to reality.

  Chapter 14

  * * *

  “Hello, my angel.” A rumbling, masculine voice crept into my mind as I slept. I had been dreaming of soaring over my home town with white wings on my back.

  The clouds in the night sky embraced me as I passed them, and I settled on my parent’s rooftop, enjoying the view of the stars above me.

  “Who’s there?” I asked, searching the shingles along the roof, but not finding another person.

  “It is only me. There is no need to fear.”

  I spun toward the voice to find a tall man with short black hair, olive skin, and dark gray eyes. He was older than me, maybe twice my age, and sat only a few feet to my right, dressed in all black. His buttoned up shirt was open at the top, and tucked into his dark slacks that fit him perfectly.

  Whoever this guy was, he looked incredibly classy and dangerous.

  I scooted farther away from him, feeling uneasy in his presence. “And you are?”

  He smiled at me, perfectly white teeth shining in the moonlight. “I suppose I am not surprised you do not recognize me. You saw me only once when you were not yet a teenager.”

  “I don’t recall ever meeting you. Sorry.” Something was familiar about the stranger, though.

  Looking around, it dawned on me that I was still dreaming, with white wings on my back. Somehow, I was being visited in my dream like I had with Zander.

  “Are you a Guardian angel?”

  He shook his head. “Quite the opposite, some might say. Though I have looked out for you for many years.”

  I pulled my chin back, confused, until I remembered what Riyon had said. Nephilim can dreamwalk.

  The man’s smile grew as he noticed my sudden realization. “You can ask me, if you wish.”

  “How exactly do you ask a stranger if they are an angel from hell?” I let out a sharp breath, exasperated.

  “Just like that.” He raised one eyebrow and nodded. “And, yes. I am Nephilim, though I reside in the underworld, not Hell.”

  Fear crawled up my chest, starting in my stomach and growing. I pushed myself back even more, and swallowed hard. “Why are you in my dream? Are you going to hurt me?”

  I tried to imagine which karate moves I would use if he attacked, but his strength was likely a hundred times superior.

  The man held up his hands and turned his body toward me. “I told you. You do not need to fear me. I came here to introduce myself. My name is Kieran.”

  I nodded. “Great. Nice to meet you. Now I should be going.”

  I turned and looked down at the sides of the house, only seeing blackness on all sides. I shot my eyes back up to the stars above, but darkness took their place as well. The black nothingness grew around me until Kieran and I were the only things left.

  My breath picked up and I felt like I was choking on my fear. “What’s happening? Where did everything go?” My words were panicked as I searched past Kieran for some form of existence.

  He stood and walked toward me in the dark empty space, extending a hand. “I only manipulated the dream so that you could not leave. I have some things to say.”

  I refused his hand and pushed myself up to my feet. “You’re holding me hostage in my own dream? How is that possible?”

  “I have been around for a long time, Erin. Not many things are impossible for me anymore.”

  I scoffed, anger mixing into my fear. “Aren’t you special? Tell me who you are. Why did you know me when I was a kid?”

  Kieran turned his head, his features softening. He rubbed a hand across his scruffy chin. “I am so sorry. I forgot my manners once I saw you. I am your sire, or as it is known in your world, your father.”

  “No,” I said simply, not wanting to believe him. My mouth dropped and I crossed my arms tight. “My father is the man that raised me. You’re just a demon.”

  Kieran’s face grew fierce and he stepped closer again. “You are my child, Erin. I am your father. There is nothing more to say, other than I want to bring you to the home in which you belong. You are coming with me to the Underworld.”

  I shook my head, and opened my mouth wide before screaming at the top of my lungs.

  ⬨⬨⬨

  “Shhh. It’s okay. I’m here.” A warm hand stroked my cheek, soothing my screams.

  A calmness came over me at the gentle touch. I leaned into it, the scent of warm cotton filling my senses.

  Zander.

  I opened my eyes to see his worried emerald irises only inches from me. He searched my face for answers to why I was screaming in my sleep. I didn’t have answers for him as my terrifying dream was temporarily forgotten. Actually, I didn’t have words at all.

  He was so close that my chest swelled with heavy breaths and I was speechless. The memory of his lips on mine was too real. I wanted that feeling again.

  “Are you alright?” he whispered, his minty breath fanning my face.

  I nodded, and my traitorous body scooted closer to where he sat on the large bed beside me. I had gone to bed alone, with my bedroom door closed. How did he hear me?

  I was mad at him, right?

  “Good,” he said, still the only one speaking in the dark room. He leaned in closer to me, his cheek brushing up against mine, and whispered in my ear. “Please don’t ever scream my name like that again, Erin. You broke me.”

  I screamed his name? When?

  I closed my eyes, loving the feel of him so close. Then suddenly there was nothing but cold air surrounding me, and when I opened my eyes again, I was alone.

  I shot up in bed, looking around the room, and instead of a frustrating Guardian, all I found was a sleeping gryphon taking up half my dorm. “What on earth just happened, Griff?”

  The beast just made a grumbling noise and continued breathing steadily as he slept. I shook my head and fell back to the bed, my nerves still running wild from Zander’s presence.

  Was he really here? Did I dream him up, too? My questions went unanswered as I fought back the sleep that wanted to return.

  I didn’t want to dream again, to have my mind invaded. I wanted to be held and comforted by Zander. I wanted to pretend like the dream never happened, but even with my giant guard dog protecting me, I knew that Kieran was all too real. He was my father, and he wanted to take me home.

  Chapter 15

  * * *

  “Okay, Pen. We need to talk.” I ran alongside my friend on the outer circle of the training field. She kept pace with me instead of smoking me like she had the day before. I couldn’t help but imagine she must feel like she’s going on an easy walk as we sprinted together.

  Pen kept running, her long blonde ponytail flopping behind her, breath as steady as if she were sleeping. Yup, just a walk. “What’s up, hon?”

  I looked around the field, making sure the guys were still gone updating Morian while Pen and I ran together. “Last night I had a nightmare, and I could’ve sworn Zander was there soothing me when I woke up, but the next minute he was just gone. I don’t know if I just dreamt that he was there or if it was real. What do you think that means?”

  Penelope shrugged and slowed to a steady walk with me while I caught my breath. “Do you really think it was just a dream?”

  I shook my head. “I honestly don’t know. He said he didn’t like me in that way, but sometimes I swear he looks at me a certain way and I just… feel things.”

  Penelope stopped walking and turned to look at me with her eyebrows raised and her signature devilish smile. “Feel things, huh? What things are you feeling exactly? Do we need to have the talk about what goes on between a man and a woman in the…”

  “No!” I cut her off with both hands raised, before she could get on with the birds and bees conversation that drowned me in embarrassment when I was thirteen. “Please do not give me the talk. I am eighteen years old and very aware of the biology of relationships.”

  Penelope locked me in a knowing stare. “How aware are we talkin’?”

  I groaned and crossed my arms, much too immature for this conversation. “Not physically aware, and let’s leave it at that.”

  She giggled and I immediately wanted to throttle her. “Good. You have plenty of time, sweetie. I’m just glad you didn’t give it away to the Nephilim.”

  I blanched at her reminder of my ex-boyfriend fallen angel, Joey. “Oh my gosh! What if I had? I can’t believe I never saw past his disguise.”

  She shrugged again, flipping her platinum ponytail over her shoulder. “I get it. He was gorgeous in that bad boy way. I have fallen for a few of those myself.”

  I wiped a bead of sweat off of my forehead and nudged Pen in the arm. “Speaking of you falling for boys, want to tell me the history between you and Riyon?”

  Penelope’s face blushed a sweet pink color, and I gasped. “I have never seen you blush before, Pen. Now I’m really curious!”

  “Weren’t we talking about Zander and his maybe nighttime visit?”

  I shook my head. “I’m over that. I’m sure it was only a dream. Now talk!” Not totally sure. But her love life was much more interesting.

  She sighed. “We grew up together and spent every minute together. It was a long time ago.”

  “How long exactly?”

  “About ninety years.”

  My eyes stretched open so wide that I could’ve seen a person standing directly behind me. “Ninety years?” I yelled in shock.

  She nodded. “Yes. It can’t be news to you that us angels live a long time. It’s in all of the movies.”

  “It’s different when you hear it from an actual real life angel, though. You’re old, Pen.”

  She scoffed and threw a death glare at me. “I’m a fairly young angel, Erin. Still in my twenties if I were a human.”

  I tried to grasp the idea of living for centuries. “How long will I live?” I asked, afraid of the answer.

  “A Throne angel lives about ten to fifteen times longer than a human. A Power lives a little less than that, and for the Guardians, they can live a lot longer or shorter. Pretty much as long as charges need them, and since they move from charge to charge, their years are unknowable.”

  I shook my head, feeling my dark hair tickle the goosebumps on my neck. “Sheesh. I need to get a hobby.”

  Penelope laughed and pulled me in for a hug. “Stop stressing. All this time can be really fun and you can take your time finding love and learning new things.”

  “What about Riyon, though? Why aren’t you guys together since you were so close?”

  “Didn’t forget about that topic, huh?”

  I shook my head.

  “We both trained to be fighters, brothers and sisters in war. We were so competitive and had big goals outside of mating and having children. I guess we kind of grew apart.” Her face grew sad as she spoke about their past.

  “Is he not your eternal mate?” Her look of confusion made me feel the need to clarify. “Morian told me angels have eternal mates that they can have children with.”

  She stared off into the distance past my head. “I don’t really know if he is.”

  “How does one know, then?”

  “It’s a part of the wings. There is a mark directly below an angel's wings, on the inside of the lowest feather that is unique to them, but when two souls become mates, the female mark changes to match the male’s mark.”

  “But yours hasn’t changed to match Riyon?” I asked.

  She shook her head. “It has not.”

  “How do you test it? Do you have to get close to him?”

  “The two angels have to have a connection to begin with, and from there, they keep that connection going and eventually, fate intervenes and marks them for one another. If the connection is severed, there is no chance for the couple to move forward. Ours was severed a long time ago.”

  “Can’t you just try again? If you really care about each other, wouldn’t you want to see if you are made for one another?”

  Penelope threw her head back. “It was my fault! I was scared and so I severed our connection, Erin. He’ll never fully forgive me after that. There is no moving forward.”

  Her eyes showed true sorrow for missing her chance with her possible soulmate. I vowed then and there that I would try all that I could to make those two be together. I knew in my heart that they were meant to be.

  “Anyways, we need to get back to your room and start getting ready for the ball. You have a date with your fiancé.” She winked at me and my heart sank.

  “Wonderful. A date to an angel ball with my forced fiancé that attacked me at our first meeting, while a thousand more angels glare daggers at me for simply existing. Sounds peachy.”

  ⬨⬨⬨

  I don’t know how many divine hours Penelope spent finding me the perfect skimpy white dress and perfecting my look before the ball.

  It had to be the latest hour before dark, or whatever the angelic time was, by the time Pen stepped back and eyed me approvingly.