Page 146 of Stealing Embers
“You’ve not had an easy life, but the strongest spirits are often forged in adversity. I do hope you unearth the answers you’re searching for.”
His head turns, and I follow his gaze to Tinkle, who is scurrying along the top of the coffee table, searching for cookie crumbs. “I have a feeling you’re going to face some unique challenges.” His hand settles on my shoulder, startling me. I meet his eyes, which are so much like Steel’s that something twists in my chest. “Our family is here for you. All you have to do is reach out.”
I’m floored. This is the same man who threw eye-daggers at me several hours ago. What could have changed during that time?
“Thanks,” I croak, my throat thick with unwanted emotion.
“Let’s let them finish their conversation in private,” Laurent tells his wife.
After a gentle squeeze, his hand drops from my shoulder. Eloise goes up on her toes to kiss his cheek and offer him an encouraging smile. She must have had something to do with her husband’s change of heart.
I’m struck for the second time today by what a strong and palpable bond the pair share. Is that an angel-born thing or unique to their relationship?
After the Durands leave, Tinkle won’t stop scrounging for food on the tabletop. Sable clears her throat to get his attention, but it doesn’t faze the Celestial with a one-track mind. Sighing, she leaves her seat and returns a few minutes later with a fresh plate of cookies. Chocolate chip this time.
“Mine!” Tinkle shouts and attacks the plate the instant she sets it down.
Sable waits to resume her questioning until he’s lying on the table with a bloated belly and sucking the chocolate from his claws.
“So, if I have it correctly, you were charged with protecting Emberly from the Fallen and Forsaken until she found her way to us?”
“More or less. I can shield her presence, which has been necessary because of her father’s bloodline. She would be a particularly tasty treat for the Fallen.”
I hope he doesn’t mean that literally.
A smile breaks over Sable’s face and her eyes shift to me. “You know who Emberly’s parents were? This is great news.”
Nope. Don’t want to go there just yet.
“If you could shield my presence,” I cut in before Tinkle can open his furry mouth, “then why was I still attacked so many times? Does it not always work or something? Are there limitations to your abilities?”
Tinkle lumbers to his feet and plops his hands on his hips. “I’m going to pretend you didn’t just insult my superior supernatural abilities.” It takes supreme control not to roll my eyes. “But if you must know, I had to sleep sometimes. Naps are very important for growing Celestials.”
Oh. My. Gosh.
“Are you telling me . . .” I suck in a deep breath and hold it for three long counts before releasing it, trying to control my blood pressure. “Are you saying the times I was attacked happened when my fairy god-Celestial was literally sleeping on the job?”
Un-flippin’-believable.
I flex my fingers, curling my hands in and out of fists.
“You should just be grateful your father had the foresight to send you a protector at all. If not for me, you’d have been felled by a Fallen’s blade. . . or worse.”
My lips are sealed as I breathe loudly through my nose. Sable, Ash, and Deacon all stare at me, but this is the best I can do to compose myself.
“Tinkle, who is Emberly’s father?” Sable asks, trying to lower the tension in the room, but this is the truth I’m not sure I want brought to light. At least not yet.
Ash’s fingers brush my arm. “I think you should let them know.”
“You already know?” Sable asks. She leans forward, waiting for one of us to speak. Deacon remains silent, but his gaze rests on me so heavily, it feels like a physical touch.
I take a moment to fortify myself before opening my mouth to spill the details, praying I’m not making one of the biggest mistakes of my life.
“Do you know of an angel named Camiel?”
Chapter Forty-Four
“The Angel of War? What does Camiel have to do with any of this?” Sable blinks as her gaze trips between me and Tinkle.