Velvet Haven

is what He wants.”
    “You know what happens when you willfully change the course of a human’s life.”
    “Yeah, He gets pissed and tosses us out on our asses.”
    “You upset the balance, Suriel,” Gabriel thundered. “And now you have brought events upon these mortals that they will not understand. That they would not have had to endure if you had not allowed yourself to weaken to the power of a mortal. You interfered in her destiny. She was to die, but you brought her back to life. And not only did you prevent her death, you gifted her with your power to resurrect herself—over and over. Now, you will take it back.”
    He could not agree to this. He had worked too hard to save Mairi. To hide the Oracle from everyone who wanted it. To give up now . . .
    “You will also vow that you will have nothing more to do with the human. You will leave her, never to see her again, or to enter her dreams. You will not speak to her in her thoughts, and you will never, ever use your powers to prevent her death. Most of all, you will retrieve that gift and return it to me.”
    “And in return I will get what?” Suriel snarled.
    Gabriel met his gaze, his eyes glowing with triumph. “He will forgive you your sin and bring you back home.”
    The breath was sucked out of Suriel. For a thousand years he had begged forgiveness. Had sought redemption so that he might once more soar in the heavens with his brothers. He wanted the burden of his black wings lifted, the stain of the onyx-colored feathers washed away to reveal the pure white beneath, returning them to their glorious state, before his fall from grace.
    “Think of it,” Gabriel taunted. “A full pardon. Forgiveness. To walk in His light once more.”
    Suriel fell to his knees at Gabriel’s feet. He imagined what it would be like to have his honor back. To walk among his brothers, his name unsullied, his sins forgiven.
    “Just give up your claim to the mortal,” Gabriel whispered in his ear. “That’s all you have to do.”
    Mairi. Her image flashed before his eyes. There was a reason He had wanted her saved as a newborn. A reason she had saved Rowan. She wasn’t meant to die. He knew it. Felt it. Giving his power of resurrection had been right. For the first time in a thousand years he had felt his Creator with him, willing him to do what he did.
    “She’s just a mortal,” Gabriel reminded him. “Clay and dirt.”
    No. If she were just a mortal, Gabriel would not be here, offering him absolution. Suriel had walked the Earth alone for a millennium, begging God’s forgiveness. In those thousand years, God had never once acknowledged his prayers. Until now. Until Mairi. There had to be something else going on. Gabriel was too intent, not only on Mairi’s death, but on the powers he had given her. Why? What problems did it cause for Gabriel?
    “Does He know you’re here?”
    “Who do you think sent me?”
    Suriel tasted the lie, smelled the deceit, and knew then that Gabriel had not been sent. He had come alone, seeking his own motives.
    “Have I your word, Gabriel, that my pardon is the truth? That if I forsake her, I will come home?”
    “Yes,” Gabriel murmured.
    Pressing his eyes shut, Suriel nodded.
    “Good.” Gabriel’s white robe swirled on the stone floor as he stepped away. “Is your word of any worth, Suriel?”
    “As much worth as it can be, coming from a fallen angel.”
    Gabriel laughed. “Defiant to the end.”
    “Tell me, Gabriel, what will you do with the woman?”
    “She will be safe.”
    Suriel looked up to see Gabriel sheathing his sword. “And what of your word, Gabriel? Is it of worth?”
    When Gabriel turned to look at him, the archangel’s eyes were black. “As much as yours is.”
    Which meant Gabriel was a fucking liar.
    Suriel closed his eyes and prayed to the god who had created and destroyed him. Trying one last time, he spoke the words aloud. “Show me the right path and I will take it.”
    “You will have a day to return to the woman and regain the gift. I will await you. Once I have it in my possession, I will return with you to the heavens.”
    “I’ll be there.”
    Gabriel turned, then stopped. “See that you are, Suriel. I don’t tolerate fuckups.”

    It was past twilight and Mairi waited in the grove that Bran had called Nemed. His sacred space. He had wanted her waiting there for him. With her arm outstretched she waited for her raven to appear. She saw him in the distance, soaring high above