“I know you’re there.” Nyalla continued to read her magazine, a tiny smile twitching up one side of her mouth. “Sam went out and won’t be back for hours. Come out.”

The pool water launched upward into a column, branching out to form a humanoid shape before shimmering into Gabriel’s human form. He walked across the top of the water, stepping out onto the edge of the pool. His footsteps left wet marks, his body glistening with drops of water. He’d even manifested a bathing suit, which Nyalla found amusing as there was no one here except the two of them. Well, unless you counted Boomer and Diablo down in the barn. Oh, and Dalmai who seemed to be permanent assigned to stable duty.

He knelt by her side and she put the magazine on a side table, lifting her sunglasses and leaning back in the lounge chair. He was so gorgeous. So very gorgeous. And all angel.

“I brought you something.”

He had an earnest expression, open, honest, and vulnerable. Nyalla felt her heart clench. She loved him. But loving a human was different than loving an angel, and that was different than loving an archangel. They had a rough road ahead of them, and she wasn’t sure if he’d find the effort worth it.

He said he wanted to watch the beauty of her life, her sunset, but would that be enough for her? Would it be enough for him?

“Here.” He stretched out his hand. There was a flash of light. And held gingerly between two fingers was the collar.

“Oh!” She took it from him, noticing how he shuddered and wiped his hand on his swim trunks. “How did you… Oh Gabe, you found Sidriel?”

He nodded, his expression suddenly grim. “It took me a while. But when I did I made sure to take the collar from him.”

And give it to her. This thing was a bane to both demons and angels alike, but he knew how having something so powerful made her better able to go up against such beings.

“Thank you.” She smiled up at him. “And I assume that Sam will be complaining about how she needs to attend an emergency Ruling Council meeting to vote on how to punish the traitor?”

“No. Unfortunately Sidriel did not surrender, and during my attempts to bring him in, he was killed. My report was promptly completed within the hour and submitted for review at the next regularly scheduled Ruling Council meeting. I’m sure they will find it satisfactory.”

That didn’t bother her one bit. She ran her fingers over the silver of the collar, then slid it under her lounge chair. “Beach this weekend? We can sail or take some kayaks out.”

“Unfortunately I’ll be too busy this weekend.”

All the excitement over seeing him drained away. He was busy. He’d always be busy. She’d need to make do with the little scraps of time every year or so that he could pull together. She knew it would be like this, but deep down she’d hoped things between them might be different.

“Aren’t you going to ask what I’m doing this weekend?” His fingers brushed down her arm, the light touch both tickling her skin and electrifying each nerve ending.

“Tracking down more rebels? Assisting with the elven assimilation? Reading through a gazillion pages of reports for the next Ruling Council meeting?”

His fingers were now tracing circles on her stomach, making her want to do less talking and more…this.

“No, I’m going to be viewing the Great Barrier Reef with my beloved before the humans completely destroy it. And we won’t have need of snorkels, but she’ll be able to breathe underwater without a problem.”

She caught her breath, then let out a squeal, throwing her arms around his neck. She’d get to teleport. She’d get to experience something she’d been longing to see since she first saw that glossy travel brochure. And she’d get to do it with Gabe — the man...angel that she loved with all of her heart and soul.

“So you’re back to full power then?” She asked when she finally pulled back from him.

“One hundred percent angel,” he told her.

Nyalla glanced behind her to the rows of French doors. “You know, Sam won’t be back for a while and we have time, if you’d like to go upstairs to my room.”

He followed her gaze, a slight frown on his face. Oh no. Was sex off the menu now that he was one hundred percent angel? Was that something she’d have to learn to live without?

“I mean no offense, Nyalla, but your room… I’m sure it’s just as much of a disaster as the hotel room in Aruba — worse probably. I will never be able to concentrate on making love to you with your clothing balled up all over the floor and make-up smears on your dresser, and your sheets untucked.”

Nyalla laughed. He was the same Gabe. He was the exact same Gabriel she’d fallen in love with. “Well then, you organize my room to your satisfaction while I watch, then we’ll make love. What do you think?”

He stood, taking her hand and pulling her to her feet. “I think, as you humans say, we have a plan.”