His wings were hidden as well, and it was the first time I saw him looking so… human. No doubt the man was a hunk, but my heart didn’t yearn for him like it always had for Zander. I raised my eyebrows, trying to remember what he just said.

  “Did you say Silkie killed Osca?” My voice held too much hope, it was almost disturbing.

  Amell nodded and joined the large crowd in the living room. He stopped in front of me and Zander, bowing his head to us both. “I am pleased to see you all well and healthy.”

  Zander was even more tense than before as his arm stayed around my shoulder, but he nodded back to the Throne angel. It was hard to forget that Amell and I had once been betrothed, but that felt like a lifetime ago.

  I looked toward Riyon and Penelope, but I assumed they already knew of who was here in Pen’s home. They didn’t need to say any hellos. Me, though, I had a dear friend in Amell, and I wasn’t about to act like I didn’t.

  I stood on my toes, separating from Zander to give Amell a warm hug. He responded with a much tighter hug, but didn’t linger. His aura was pure, and any desire he had for me was replaced with a feeling of respect and friendship. It filled me with hope.

  I stepped back into Zander’s side. “I’m not going to say that Osca’s death causes me any sadness, but I am sorry for my part in it. I hope Batya is okay.” Had I inadvertently killed an angel?

  “She has been well,” Morian spoke again. “She sends her regards and best wishes for you and your loved ones. She wished to come, but I needed a strong Power looking after the city.”

  I was surprised that little Batya was considered strong in Morian’s eyes, but I also felt a surge of pride for the young girl. “I think maybe it’s time for you guys to tell me why you’re here and who is the Divine One?” I was done with niceties.

  Amell sat on the arm of Pen’s leather couch as his father stepped up to speak. “As I said, the Thrones did not wish to punish you. Osca came to me, claiming that you failed your tests and were made for darkness. A full Nephilim to be.” He paused, letting that thought wash over me. Osca was a piece of work. “I assured him that I saw none of that in you. Throughout the time you were in our city, your soul never darkened. Only a sliver of darkness rested in you, but I had come to the conclusion that it was the piece that your father gave you, and not a true part of you at all.”

  “You really believe I’m not evil? What about the Powers that chased us from the city?” It was hard to believe that I could be free, no longer fearing being captured by good and bad alike.

  “The Powers all came forward, relaying the part Osca had in the lie. Some of them are here today, and extremely repentant. You are not evil, Miss Porter. You are truly Divine.” He gave me a real smile then, and for the first time in a while, I felt his words to be true.

  Chapter 18

  * * *

  “I’m Divine?” The word meant a lot to me. The angels I loved most in the universe were Divine, and I couldn’t believe that I could be so.

  Morian nodded. “You are the Divine One, Miss Porter.” There was that title again.

  “What does that mean exactly? Is that the reason you came?”

  “After Osca was killed, the Powers and my son came to me. They informed me of what happened and I was determined to set things right. I interviewed each of the Powers involved in your attack. Amell and I also began looking for you, but we had not known of this place.” He looked pointedly at Penelope as he gestured to the house around us. She did a great job hiding us.

  Penelope flinched under his stare, but I swore I could also see a smile hidden behind her eyes. “I was being cautious,” she said, and I didn’t miss Riyon’s smile as he continued holding her hand throughout. I loved them together so much.

  Morian continued. “We were unable to find you, and I had just returned from earth when I had a vision. I do not get visions, Miss Porter, so you can likely guess that I was taken aback.” His eyes focused on mine. “It was your mother.”

  I sucked in a sharp breath of air. I knew he wasn’t talking about my adoptive mother. Zander told me that my mom and dad were safe on vacation out of the country, and they checked in often. They deserved a good trip, but I hated that they left because of my capture.

  “You saw my mother in heaven.” It wasn’t a question. She had come to me too, so it made sense that she did the same for Morian. But what did she tell him?

  He nodded. “I did.” The whole room listened to Morian speak, with complete focus and respect. He continued. “She spoke to me about her part in conceiving you,” gross “and the reason you were brought into this world without any knowledge of your lineage. She named you as the Divine One, and her words were true.”

  A few voices murmured in the group and Zander squeezed my shoulder. I looked up at him, new tears wanting to burn my eyes. He looked at me the same he had only hours before. With love. My mother never told me why and how I was born. She only gave me cryptic messages, but I did have a real purpose.

  I cleared my throat. “Did she tell you what I’m meant to do? Right now I feel lost, with no purpose.”

  His smile grew then, and it actually looked great on him. He looked years younger. “Well, I cannot deny that she is quite good at beating around the bush, as the humans say.” He chuckled, and a few Powers joined him. They thought us humans were hilarious apparently. “She told me that you are the Divine One because you were born from the dark and the light, growing in a world where you had any path to choose. God gave her the gift to carry a child that was half divine and half fallen, in order to have that agency. Other angels are not given this choice. You were meant to grow, come into power and use that power for good or bad. You chose good, giving you the highest title above all others, making you the truest Divine being to exist now or ever.”

  My breath was heavy. I felt unworthy of such a title. I was just Erin Porter, the weird girl. The animal lover, and barely a high school graduate. It still didn’t answer my most burning question, though.

  “What kind of angel am I?”

  Morian pointed to me. “Your mother said I only need to see your wings to determine that. I assume, as you are obviously mated,” he looked between me and Zander as if seeing a physical link between us, “you have seen your wings?”

  I looked up at Zander for the go ahead, and he bent forward to kiss my lips in front of everyone present. He stepped away from me, standing beside Pen and Riyon. “Show them, angel.”

  I nodded. “Okay.” I closed my eyes, imagining my newest appendages folding out of me, and the snap echoed in the open room. The air was knocked out of me, and I heard the loud gasps before my eyes even opened.

  “Seraphim,” Morian said in unison with Amell.

  ⬨⬨⬨

  I opened my eyes and looked around at all of the angels staring at me. They saw something in me that I didn’t. “What’s a seraphim?”

  Nobody answered at first, until Penelope finally spoke up. She was watching me with wide eyes, and she stepped closer to touch my wings like I had to her when she showed me her red ones.

  “Hon, a Seraphim is the highest ranking an angel can be. They used to be compared to the hand of God… before they became extinct.” She said the last words slowly, letting the truth sink in.

  “But, clearly extinct isn’t the right word if I am one now. Maybe I’m not a Seraphim? Maybe I’m just deformed or something.” I honestly hoped for the last option. Too much pressure was on my shoulders with the titles Seraphim and the Divine One. How could anyone be worthy of those titles?

  Morian stepped closer to me, and Zander followed immediately, looking like he would fight the Throne if he made the wrong move. I caught the look Morian gave Zander, like he was surprised that Zander was being so protective. I couldn’t imagine Morian hurting me, but I felt a surge of love for my protective Guardian.

  I smiled at Zander, letting him know I was okay. Morian's bright white aura was enough to make me trust him. Zander nodded to me, and I was grateful he didn’t push it.

  “I am aware, as I am sure you are, that you have trials ahead of you. If you would not mind, could you say a few words for those who do not know you, and for the ones who are already heading up your army?” He tilted his head toward Riyon, Penelope, and Zander. “We would all appreciate your knowledge on your enemies, whom you have spent too much time with as of late.”

  He wanted me to talk about the Underworld. How could I give a speech to an army of angels? I felt like I might pass out as they all stared at me expectantly. Zander came to my side again, and Penelope stood behind me, supporting me. Maybe she just stood there to catch me if I fainted. Either way, I loved the crap out of her for it.

  I swallowed hard and cleared my throat. “Um… okay. I guess I have this destiny, which I likely don’t deserve, and might possibly not measure up to.” A humorless laugh came from me. “I knew from a really young age, being just a little human girl in school with bullies, that I was different from the other kids. I saw things differently, and I felt more deeply. To be honest, I hated it. Why me?” I paused, and all eyes stayed glued to me. They cared about what I had to say.

  “I was created by two enemies. My mother was born an angel, and with the help of God himself, she fooled a powerful Nephilim into believing she was a human looking for comfort. And amazingly, it worked. My sire, being a cruel man, left my mother to birth a child and lose her life in the process. Some father, right? In his own way though, he didn’t abandon me. He kept tabs on me as I was raised by the most loving parents a human child could ask for. My real mom and dad.”

  I smiled at the thought of my parents. They were destined to be mine. “My sire actually sent a young Nephilim to hide in my life, befriend me, and be the boy that I shared my first kiss with.” I looked up at Zander, and he didn’t scowl or grumble. He knew I was his, and never Joey’s. “What nobody knows yet, though. Even the ones standing beside me haven’t heard this. That Nephilim boy is the one that saved me from the Underworld less than a day ago.”

  That shocked them all. None of them had ever heard of a fallen angel doing anything kind for another. Even Zander gripped my hand tightly, his eyes surprised. “Joey saved you?”

  I nodded, addressing the entire room. “I think I know why I’m this Divine One. Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely don’t feel like I’m some powerful angel. But I understand why the Divine One was created to be raised with agency, and to be able to see the dark and the light. So that I could see that even the fallen can sometimes choose to be more than the life they’re born into. I saw that in Joey when he got me out of my prison, and it gives me hope that this war doesn’t have to be eternal.”

  “By the way, I absolutely didn’t expect to be able to talk in front of you all and actually make a lick of sense, but miracles can happen when you’re in the presence of angels, I guess.” The crowd snickered, their small laughter beautifully melodic. “But I do want to say one more thing. I grew up with something that no other angels get, and that has made the biggest difference for my future.” I turned to Zander. His green eyes were watching me with so much love. “I had a Guardian angel. I saw him in my dreams, and I fell in love with him. And by the most grand twist of fate, he was chosen as my eternal mate.”

  Mouths dropped all over the room and I almost laughed. Zander kissed the back of my hand and addressed only me. “It’s just further proof that anything can happen.”

  I sighed against his lips on my hand, and I didn’t want to be a downer, but I couldn’t deny what was to come. “I am more than grateful to have you all here, but I’m not free. My sire will be back, and he expects me to be something much worse than what you have shown me of myself today. There will be a fight, and none of you are expected to fight it.”

  Morian bowed at the waist in front of me, his voice low but powerful. “We are here to fight for you, and beside you when that day comes.”

  I wanted to argue, but one at a time, the entire crowd of angels began to bow just like Morian had. Not a single angel was standing, other than me. And let me tell you, I had never felt such hope in my entire life.

  Chapter 19

  * * *

  “We will keep watch through the night, Divine One.” Morian said in his usual proper tone.

  All of the Power angels had scattered after my big speech. They supposedly went off into the woods to set up a perimeter around the house and camp for the night. Morian had suggested that we bring the fight to the fallen, but that would have to wait. I was still too exhausted after escaping the Underworld and staying up the night before with Zander. I also needed a really long shower and a change of clothes.

  I narrowed my eyes at him. “Come on, Morian. Don’t call me that. I hoped to eventually be on a first name basis with you, but this is going the opposite way.”

  He smiled, the lines around his eyes deepening. Sometimes he looked so young, but it was clear that he had lived a long time. “Erin, although you see yourself as just a girl, you are much more than that. I am happy to call you by your first name, though.”

  I sighed. “Thank you. Now, I need a shower and to get out of these hellish clothes.” I grimaced, feeling like I should’ve given a speech in something other than the scraps I got from the Underworld. Oh well, too late.

  I wrapped Penelope in a big hug and did the same with Riyon, speaking to them both in a low voice. “I expect a great story from you two. It has to have details, times, dates, and epic romance.”

  Pen laughed. “You got it, girl. But, exactly how many details are we talking?” Her eyebrow rose in a teasing way.

  I groaned and started walking away. “Nope. I’m not blushing in front of you two again! Goodnight!”

  I grabbed Zander’s hand and pulled him up the stairs. Luckily nobody was around, so they didn’t see the hungry look on Zander’s face when I tugged him into my bedroom.

  As soon as the door shut, Zander grabbed my hips and lifted me against him, his fingers digging into me with almost too much strength, but I didn’t mind one bit. My legs wrapped around his hips and our lips crashed together. How had it only been a day since our time at the beach, but I already craved to feel every part of him again?

  He started walking toward the bed, his tongue and lips straying to my neck. “It has only been one day, but dang I missed your touch,” he whispered as he explored my neck, and his breathy voice made my entire body shiver.

  “My thoughts exactly,” I said back, but instead of letting him continue, I jumped out of his arms. “But, I seriously need a shower. I feel disgusting in these clothes.”

  Zander nodded slowly, taking a moment to recover from my sudden distance as he licked his lips. He sat at the foot of the bed, and gestured to the open master bathroom. “Of course. Do what you need to do, and take your time. I’ll be here when you’re done.” His smile was so sweet that I wanted to feel it against my lips again.

  I raised my eyebrows, and tilted my head like I was confused. “Do you really think I’m going to let you stay out here when there’s plenty of room for the both of us in that shower?”

  His eyes immediately darkened and he stood from the bed. He undid the button on his pants but didn’t move forward. “It’s not a big shower, angel.” His voice was hoarse when he spoke. Oh, how I loved that sound.

  I grinned, and pulled my shirt over my head as I walked toward the bathroom. “I guess we’ll have to squish really close together then.”

  A deep groan came from Zander, and in seconds he had me thrown over his shoulder and carried me into the bathroom giggling like a maniac. I’d just like to thank the genius that designed this itty bitty shower…

  ⬨⬨⬨

  Zander heard the noises before I did. I was sound asleep, wrapped tightly in his arms when he bolted upright and dragged me out of bed with him.

  “Get dressed. We have to go now.” His voice was frighteningly urgent as he ran to the window to look out into the night. I was frozen with fear. Did he say get dressed?

  His words finally registered in me and I hurried over to my closet to throw on tight black leggings and a loose t-shirt. I quickly threw on socks and my exercise sneakers before running back to Zander.

  He was already dressed, minus a shirt, and his white wings were splayed wide like they only were when he was on high alert. I gulped and looked out the window just like he had, seeing nothing but darkness.

  “What is it? I thought I heard a noise but I don’t know what it was. Maybe someone just got up for a glass of warm milk?” Oh, please let it be that simple.

  Who was I kidding? Just looking into my Guardian’s eyes told me something was up. He looked me up and down and moved around to my back. His hands gripped the middle of my shirt and tore it in half from just above my shoulder blades to the bottom hem, leaving it split in two. Then he tied the bottom back together in a knot, leaving just enough open space for my wings if I chose to use them.

  It seemed likely that I wouldn’t have much choice. I thought about that, and I quickly shook my two sets of wings from me. Fixing the shirt like he had was smart. If my wings came out in a t-shirt it’d likely fall right off of my body, causing a whole new batch of issues.

  Zander grabbed my hand. “I heard a yell, coming from outside.” He began towing me down the stairs behind him. “Something is up, and if my gut is right, we’re under attack.”

  I gasped, and my heart rate picked up. “I can’t let all of those angels get hurt because of me, Zander.”

  He stopped at the bottom of the stairs when a loud shout shook the walls of the house from the outside. It was a battle cry, and loud crashing noises followed it, like elephants stomping through the forest.

  Zander spun on me, grabbing my shoulders as he leaned close enough for me to see the intricate details of his emerald eyes. “Erin, the Powers are here to fight for you, and for themselves. This is their war too. It has been their war since long before either of us were born. We’re going to go out there together and fight alongside them, okay?”