Embracing Eternity (12 page)
“Of course not. I’m amazed. Overwhelmed.”
“Ah, that was more along the lines of what I’d hoped would happen.” Withdrawing, he settled beside her and wrapped his wings around her.
“As amazing as you were, that is not what I meant. I don’t deserve any of this. Forgiveness. Heaven. You. And yet, here I am. I’m almost afraid it’s a dream that will be snatched away when I wake. Except demons can’t have dreams this wonderful.”
She closed her eyes and nestled into him, determined to cling to every bit of Heaven she was afforded.
Once, she’d taken all of this for granted, but never again. Heaven was a gift, as was love, gifts she wouldn’t squander.
She wanted to keep Evan’s love forever.
A feather teased over her cheek, its tickle demanding she open her eyes. She let her lashes drift up with reluctance.
Before her was one mahogany feather. The rich plume gleamed, catching the golden starlight and seeming to glow.
She sat up, hardly daring to hope what this meant.
“Wear my feather, Meela. Show all the Heavens you are mine forever.”
She reached out hesitantly, almost afraid to touch his offering. To share a feather was an eternal pledge, a visible mark of the bond between angels.
“I’m not worthy of this.” She pulled her hand back, unable to take it. “Everyone will know you have made a bond with one of the Fallen. I can’t shame you this way.”
“You are Redeemed and all of the host knows this. You are the angel who died and was reborn.” He tipped her chin up with one finger, forcing her to look into his eyes. In them she saw only sincerity. He didn’t see a demon when he looked at her.
“I told you before, you are a source of wonderment and joy. You are the angel who came home. Any angel would be proud to call you friend, and I have never wanted to call you anything but mine.”
He held up the feather again, and Meela didn’t let herself think. She took it, quickly slipping it in the untamed curls of her wings. He’d chosen a small feather, one which would sit prettily in her own stunted curls. The quill took root, sinking in to become a part of her. It would live and grow there, forever marking their love.
She then sifted through her feathers, looking for the perfect one. Something straight and beautiful to adorn Evan.
“This one.” Evan reached out and let one of the curliest of them all twist around his finger.
“That one is ugly. What about this one?” She found a soft one that wasn’t strong and straight, but the narrow shaft allowed it to flow almost like hair. It would incorporate with his wings quite nicely.
“No, this one.”
“Evan, that one won’t lie flat. It will stick out and look silly.”
“It carries the weight of your past and shows the world my mate is a strong cherub. It is the most beautiful feather I can imagine.”
She opened her mouth to speak but no words came. What could one say to such a thing? Tears pricked her eyes and she placed her hand over his. Together they took hold of his chosen feather and pulled.
The sharp pain of the plucking was quelled by a tendril of healing from Evan, as if he was reluctant to even allow her this tiny hurt. He was ever her protector.
He took the feather from her and placed it prominently on the high curve of his wing. None could miss it there. It thrust out from his dark plumage in a corkscrew of golden brown and white speckles.
“Perfect,” he said, admiring it.
It looked ridiculous to her. And yet, she felt a flush of pride. Evan was wearing her feather. He was hers, forever, and all of Heaven knew it.
“Yes, perfect.” She never could have imagined this, that her fate, her forever, would rest with this angel.
With a sigh of contentment, she curled into his arms once more and embraced him…embraced her eternity.
About Voirey Linger
In an ideal world, Voirey Linger would live surrounded by brawny, half-naked men who cared for her every need. In real life, she spends her days chasing her children and trying to convince her cats not to kill each other.
Writing brings a few of her fantasies to life while helping her escape the chaos that follows three battling boys and two warring felines. She looks forward to the day everyone learns to get along, but until then she deals with it all the same way any Southern woman would…sass laced with just enough honey to make it go down easy.
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Ellora’s Cave Publishing
Embracing Eternity
ISBN 9781419941498
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Embracing Eternity Copyright © 2012 Voirey Linger
Edited by Grace Bradley
Photo and cover design by Syneca
Model: Angelo
Electronic book publication November 2012
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