Fallen Angel Reclaimed: The Complete Series by Lacey Carter Andersen

9

Surcy and Tristanstood at the front of the small sailing boat that he had procured. She didn’t know where it came from, but she didn’t care. Mark’s life was at stake.

Tristan moved with certainty as he took them from the dock and sailed them out into the middle of the cove. There, he dropped anchor and went to stand at her side.

“Try listening to it now.”

“I tried the whole way,” she insisted, but she tried again.

Still nothing.

“Drop it in the sea.”

She whirled toward him. “If this doesn’t work, we’ve lost our only way of finding him.”

“Drop it,” he said, his tone unforgiving.

She felt sick as she stretched her hand out over the water. It took her a long second to open her fingers, but with a deep breath, she turned her hand over.

The shell dropped as if in slow motion, but when it hit the water, a wave boomed out. The waves rose, and suddenly, their ship was flying over the ocean like a child’s toy. She clung to the edge of the ship, but her fingers began to slip. Tristan was immediately there, pulling her against him, and holding onto the railing as if it was the easiest thing in the world.

The water struck them wildly, powerfully, and still, the gargoyle held her.

Time passed. Her face rested against his chest and she breathed in the earthy scent that belonged to the gargoyle. Her eyes closed. For a minute, with the water spinning around them and the boat soaring over the waves, she felt lost in a dream. In Tristan’s arms, nothing scared her. She felt safe and protected.

And this feels so natural.

How many times had his arms held her, times that she still didn’t remember? How many times had he protected her? He stayed with her, beside her, through each day, even though she couldn’t open up to him.

This big, strong man needed more from her. All three of her demons did. She’d thought she couldn’t give it to them when she wasn’t sure about their cause, the angels, or the true nature of demons. She had thought she couldn’t connect with them because she wasn’t sure who she was anymore, and because she didn’t remember her past.

But maybe, instead, she needed to focus on creating a new connection with them. New memories. New moments.

Lifting her head, she whispered his name.

He looked down at her. His dark hair was soaking wet. His skin glistened with water, and yet, his mismatched eyes latched onto hers as if there was nothing else in the world but them.

Reaching up, she touched his cheek. She wanted to kiss him, but she didn’t. She just clung to him and touched his face, memorizing every line.

“What do you ask of me?” he murmured, his voice barely audible above the rushing water.

“Just… just a chance to try again.”

His eyes widened, and very slowly, he nodded.

A slight smile teased his lips. “I would like that very much.”

When the waves calmed, they struck land. The ship pitched, and if it weren’t for Tristan’s strong grip, they would have gone flying into the water. Instead, they clung to each other, panting.

The ship righted itself. The waves calmed, and the ocean grew still around them.

They moved to the other side of the ship and stared at the little island. There was nothing on it except a lonely looking building made of dark stone.

“You think that’s where he is?”

Tristan nodded. “I think so.” Turning, she took a deep breath. It’s okay. You can handle this. “Will you fly us over to it?”

His gaze locked onto hers. “Are you sure? We can teleport.”

“I can handle it.” Lifting her hands, she wrapped them around his neck.

He transformed in an instant, his flesh turning to cold stone beneath her touch, and his stone wings sprouting from his back. When he lifted them into the air, she felt the wind on her face. Flashes of herself soaring through the air came to her, and she felt herself trembling. Memories came back, of her wings being torn from her back, of the wounds that ached for too long.

When they landed on the island, he put her down.

She stumbled away from him and threw up. Dropping to her knees, tears slid down her cheeks. She didn’t understand why she was reacting like this. It wasn’t like her life had been easy. It made no sense.

Tristan sat down on the sand beside her and stroked her back, avoiding her scars.

Wiping her mouth, she turned to him, feeling ashamed. “I’m sorry.”

He was quiet for a long moment. “In my previous life, I was a gargoyle created to defend my town. For many, many years, I came to life only when I was needed, but the time between attacks grew longer and longer, and I remained a creature of stone for too long. When I was needed again, I didn’t expect to die. I didn’t believe one of my kind could be killed.

I thought whatever I faced would be easy. I’d fought vampires, werewolves, cruel humans, armies… many, many battles. When I was reborn in the demon realm, I was afraid. I have never feared the dark like that before. But it was endless. And the screaming…” He paused, shaking his head. “That’s why I still don’t like the dark. There are times when I forget what it was like, and then something will remind me. I find my heart beating fast, and my skin dampened with sweat.”

She smiled at him. “So, you’re telling me this is perfectly normal?”

The corner of his mouth twitched. “Or we are both unusual.”

Sighing, she looked back at the little building. “Well, I’d better pull myself together and find Mark.”

He stood and held out his hand.

She shook her head, knowing she needed a minute to clear her thoughts. Rising and going to the water, she washed her face and hands. That seemed to help. She still felt embarrassed, but a little better. Ready to kick some angel ass.

I feel the way I do after Daniel and I have sex. As if my emotions and senses aren’t as muted. I feel charged with energy. Almost overloaded.

Weird…

Clenching her hands, her focus returned. And something else. A feeling she hadn’t experienced much since becoming an angel… that she could remember. Rage rolled through her. These angels had stolen Mark. The goddess said he wouldn’t last the night.

How dare they!

“Come on,” she said, calling her soul-blade to her hand.

“Surcy?”

“I’m going to teach those fucking angels a lesson.”

Tristan pulled his blade from his back with a hiss. “This is a plan I like.”

As they started through the palm trees and plants, a horrible scream echoed through the air. Birds launched into the sky, and the very trees seemed to shake.

But the effect on the surroundings was nothing compared to what that sound did to Surcy. She recognized Mark’s voice. She’d know it anywhere, and his scream was one of horrible pain.

She started running. She didn’t care if she was going straight into danger. No one hurt her demon. No one!