Wrath of the Fallen by Eve Archer

Chapter Thirty-Nine

Dominick

“I choose to make you immortal,” I said, barely giving myself time to breathe or process what she’d said.

“Wait, what’s happening here?” Sara spluttered, her gaze pin balling between me and Ella.

I took Ella’s hands in mine, ignoring her friend’s incomprehensible babbling, and stroked my thumbs over the backs of them. “Spending the rest of immortality with you is the only redemption I’ll ever need.”

Her eyes filled with tears. “Are you sure? It’s a lot to give up.”

I lifted her hand to my lips, kissing the soft skin. Even though her auburn hair clung to her forehead, and smudges of dirt marred her cheeks, she looked beautiful to me. “I have never been so sure about anything in my very long life.”

She leapt up, and I had to move fast to catch her as she wrapped her arms around my neck and her legs around my waist. She kissed me hard at first, and then her lips melted into mine with a soft moan as the kiss deepened. I tangled one hand in her damp hair, holding her to me and drinking in the taste of her. Energy pulsed through my body and after a few moments, her hands scorched my back as she clung to me. When she tore her mouth from mine, I could see that there was a warm glow surrounding us.

Ella’s eyes grew wide as she held her hands up, examining the light emanating from them. “I guess this is a good sign.”

“There’s no doubt she’s a demi-angel,” Uriel said.

I turned toward the resonant burr of his voice, having almost forgotten that we were still surrounded by others. Rami beamed at me, his happiness evident, even though he’d just discovered that the prophecy couldn’t save him, reminding me just how deeply I would feel his loss in the coming year. Even Mastema smiled, although that could have been fueled entirely by voyeuristic lust. He was a demon, after all.

Sara’s arms were crossed as she eyed us. “I would say get a room, but I have too many questions.”

Ella slid down, but I kept an arm firmly curled around her waist, already missing the buzz of her skin against mine.

“So that’s it?” Sara asked. “You’re immortal?”

I glanced at Uriel. “You made the prophecy. Is Ella immortal now?”

The archangel looked first at me and then at her, his gaze searching. “This is your choice?”

Ella peered up at me, but I didn’t hesitate. “This is what I want.”

Uriel looked at Gabriel, who gave him a brusque nod, then approached Ella, touching the tips of his fingers to her forehead. “Immortality is yours, daughter of the archangel. Use it well.”

No longer would Ella age and wither away while I remained young. I would never experience the agony of losing her slowly, or the long stretch of centuries after she was gone. We would be together until the end of days. That was more than enough for me.

“This is crazy,” Sara muttered. “It can’t be real, can it?”

“Please don’t try to kill me to test it,” Ella said with a weak laugh.

Her friend pulled her into a hug, while I pinned Gabriel with a hard gaze. “I want assurances that no angel will come after us again. Relinquish any claim you have on my mate.”

His eyes glittered in challenge for a beat. The archangel Gabriel was not used to being given orders, especially not by one of the Fallen. He slid his gaze to his daughter and released a breath. “I have no reason to pursue either of you. You’ve made your choice.”

“And you will not have to suffer my restoration,” I said, reminding him of the real reason he was backing off.

He merely grunted, glancing back at Ella. “I am sorry I was not a father to you.”

Her body stiffened next to me. “I actually had a great dad, but thanks for the apology.”

I fought the urge to give Gabriel a smug grin, but I did hold Ella closer to me, so proud of her for being strong. Gabriel had never been a true father to her, but it still must have been hard to let him go.

“I need your promise, Gabriel,” I said. “You will make no further claims on your daughter.”

He reluctantly met my eyes. “You have my word.”

I pivoted to Uriel. “And you will tell the rest of the angels that she is not to be touched.”

“You know it is rare for us to interfere in humanity anymore.”

I lifted a brow at him. “But here we are.”

He let out a low laugh. “I suppose you’re right. I will make it known.” He cut his gaze to Gabriel. “There will need to be atonement for Azrael’s actions and for any angels involved. I suspect you will see even less angelic involvement on Earth in the future.”

“That’s always good news,” Mastema said, stroking a hand down one scruffy cheek.

“Not that we won’t be watching,” Uriel added. “We won’t let your demons run roughshod over humanity.”

“You give my demons too much credit for stoking evil and humanity not enough.”

Uriel appraised the demon prince. “Perhaps, Mastema, but I will be watching.”

“I miss when you were Watchers,” Mastema said, with a quick glance at me and Rami. “There was altogether less…watching.”

Gabriel stepped forward, folding his hands in front of himself as he addressed Ella. “We will probably not see each other again until…” His words trailed off, probably because he didn’t want to bring up something as awkward as the final judgment.

“You’ll never be my dad, but I think you did care about my mom in your own angel way,” Ella said, taking a step toward him. “So, if you don’t mind, I’m going to go back to thinking of you as my godfather.”

Gabriel nodded, and then Ella put her arms around him in a quick hug. “Take care of yourself, Gabe.”

He appeared stunned, then unfurled his wings and wrapped them around her in a brief embrace. “You, as well. Semyaza must truly love you, or the prophecy would not have come true. If he continues to strive to deserve you, perhaps one day he will.”

It was a backhanded compliment, but I’d take it. Gabriel released her, and she returned to my side, slipping her trembling hand in mine. I squeezed it, realizing that this was tougher on her than she let on.

Uriel cleared his throat. “We should leave before the people of Paris notice the angels in front of Notre Dame.” He swept his gaze across all of us. “Are we in agreement that this matter is now closed?”

Everyone nodded.

Uriel bowed his head. “May peace be with you.” Then he and Gabriel flew straight up into the air with their wings unfurled.

“And also with you,” Ella whispered, as she tipped her head back to watch them disappear behind clouds that were now white and fluffy.