Im sure she loved you, Marielle whispered.

Twould have been better for her if she had rejected me. The news spread through the local village, and the people feared for their lives and the lives of their children. I would work the field at night, but they would come and throw stones at me and yell at me to leave. I had to find secret places for my death-sleep so they wouldna try to kill me while I slept.

Im so sorry.

He shrugged. I drank blood from our livestock and worked hard on the farm. I thought after the babe was born, and the villagers realized I meant no harm to anyone, they would leave us alone. The night my wife gave birth, I was there to help her.

He hugged his knees. I will always remember the joy I felt, holding our wee babe in my arms. I thought my heart would burst.

I fell into my death-sleep thinking no man could possibly be more blessed than I.

He stood abruptly and walked away from the blanket.

What happened? Marielle asked.

I awoke the next evening and rushed to the house to see how Fionnula and my daughter were faring. He shut his eyes briefly as the memory flashed through his mind. The men from the village had killed them both.

Marielle gasped and rose to her feet. How could they? Why would they do that?

They figured I was only staying there because of my wife and child. So they killed them to be rid of me.

Connor, Im so sorry. She touched his arm.

He scoffed. Do ye think the story ends there? That I cried for my wife and daughter, then quietly made my leave?

Marielles eye widened.

Oh, I cried, all right. I shouted and screamed. I tore the house apart. I flew into a rage that ye canna imagine. A cold rage that turned the world blue and froze the blood in my veins.

I took my claymore and went to the village. And I slaughtered every man there.

Her face grew pale.

I knew it was wrong, but I dinna care. I did it anyway.

You were distraught, she whispered.

That is no excuse! He gritted his teeth. I killed them all, and I found great satisfaction in it.

Youyou dont mean that.

Aye, I do! There were women and children screaming in terror, begging me to stop, but I kept going till every man in the village was dead.

Tears glimmered in Marielles eyes. You were in terrible pain.

Love can do terrible things. He rubbed his brow. My wife died because she loved me. Then I took her love and the innocent love of a wee babe and twisted it into an ugly rampage for revenge. I doomed my soul.

A tear ran down Marielles cheek. Im so sorry for all the pain youve endured

What about the pain my wife and child endured? What about the widows and orphans I left behind? After a few nights, I realized the true impact of my crime. Women and children slowly starving to death because of me. I would go hunting every night and bring them a deer or a handful of rabbits. And they screamed in terror whenever I came. Eventually, they all left, running away from the nightmare I had foisted upon them.

He sighed. The village disappeared. Theres nothing there now but empty fields. And the grave where I laid my wife and daughter.

I am truly sorry, she whispered. For everyone.

He tilted his head back and gazed at the stars. His heart felt lighter just for sharing the secret of his crime, but his punishment was about to begin. Any minute now, she would rebuke him for being a cruel and vicious monster.

She was silent.

He glanced at her and saw that her eyes were shut. Tears glistened on her cheeks, and her mouth moved silently as if in prayer.

He took a deep breath, preparing himself for rejection. Hed known all along he wasnt worthy of her. It didnt stop him from loving her, though. And it wouldnt stop him from keeping his pledge.

Her eyes opened, and she regarded him sadly.

His heart squeezed. For the first time, he could see her age in her eyes. Millennia of pain, joy, and wisdom.

I want to be clear on this, she said softly. I never want to hear you say again that your soul is doomed. Do you think you are God that you can make such a judgment?

He blinked. But I am doomed. Even the demon said I was on his list.

A demon will say everyone is on his list. But he is not God, either. The decision is not his.

Connor swallowed hard. Yere no . . . appalled by what I did?

I am constantly appalled by what humans do. And constantly amazed. She sighed. Why should I point out the seriousness of your transgression when you already know it? You have great remorse for what you did. You should ask our Heavenly Father to forgive you. And then begin your life anew.

I doona deserve it.

She smiled. You can feel that way, but He still loves you. I love you, Connor Buchanan. I will always love you.

His heart stuttered. Yeye canna mean that.

She made a face. Oh, youre right. I changed my mind. I hate your guts now.

What?

She swatted his shoulder. When I say I love you, you should accept it. If you dont, then youre calling me a liar.

Nay, I Tears stung his eyes. Ye still love me?

She gave him an impatient look. Only a man with a good and noble heart would punish himself for centuries. Your wife and daughter would not be pleased to see you wallowing in misery.

Im no wallowing, he grumbled. I fought a battle earlier tonight.

Youve kept a black pit of suffering in you for so long, you have trouble accepting love when it falls in your lap. Its time to stop the suffering. You have a woman here who loves you. She crossed her arms with a huff. And Im getting really tired of waiting for my blow job.

He laughed.

She gave him one of her radiant smiles. Thats more like it. You have centuries ahead of you, Connor Buchanan. They should be filled with love and laughter.

He pulled her into his arms and buried his face in her hair, his tears mingling with her damp hair. Ye are the light in my darkness. I love you more than I can say.

Will you become one with me? she whispered.

He leaned back. We . . . canna . . .

I want to. She caressed his cheek, wiping his tears away. If I ever make it back to heaven, I want to know that I gave you everything I have.

But what if it . . . soils yer

She touched his mouth. Ive come to realize that joining with you could never be a soiling of our love, but a celebration of it.

His heart swelled and he squeezed her hand. I like the way ye think.

She smiled. I thought you would.

Marielle jolted when she felt his tongue against her private parts. Good heavens! She clutched the blanket in her fists.

Connor was amazing her with his speed and determination. In a frenzy of movement, he had undressed her and himself in just a few seconds. Then in a whirlwind of sensation, hed tumbled her down on the blanket and kissed her all over. Her nipples were red and hard from his suckling. Her heart pounded from the wild things hed done with his fingers. Still reeling from that climax, shed watched him kiss his way up her bare legs to her thighs.

And then . . . his tongue. Good heavens, the things this man did with his tongue. She gasped. She moaned. She cried out for mercy, and he kept going, kept taking her higher and higher. She was spiraling toward the heavens, flying without wings. She screamed, but instead of plummeting to Earth, she landed in his arms.

Oh, Connor. She gasped for air. Her heart thundered, and her body rocked with spasms.

He leaned over her, smiling. No speaking in tongues?

She smiled back. Magnifique.

Wrap yer legs around me.

Mmm? She did as he asked, then jolted when she felt him pressing against her. And the two shall become one. You didnt want your blow job?

I want inside you. Now.

Oh.

He looked at her closely. Did ye change yer mind?

No. She gasped when he nudged at her. Her grip tightened on his shoulders.

Am I hurting you?

She shook her head. No. Its just strange. As an angel I never even noticed this sort of thing. It seemed so . . . unimportant. But now, it . . . it seems like a really big thing.

Aye. It is.

She searched his eyes and saw so much love and tenderness there. I love you.

I love you, too. He rested his brow against hers.

He plunged into her. She gasped. He gasped, too, their breaths intermingling.

Youre inside me, she whispered, then hugged him tight with her arms and legs. Even her inner core squeezed tightly around him.

He groaned.

The small amount of pain she had felt faded away. The discomfort of feeling overly stretched melted away. She smiled. And the two shall become one.

She patted his back. Im comfortable with you now. Thank you.

Comfortable? He propped himself up on his elbows and frowned at her. Yere no excited?

Excited?

Aye. Im so excited, Im about to explode.

Oh. Of course. That was how a man spilled his seed inside a woman. You can finish up whenever you like. Ill be fine.

Fine?

She smiled. Yes.

He cursed under his breath.

She wondered what was wrong. They were one now. How could she be confused about what he was thinking if they were one?

Ye want to feel fine? He pulled out a bit, then plunged back in.

She gasped.

Was that fine? He ground himself against her.

Oh! She clenched his shoulders.

He dragged himself out slowly, then slammed back in.

She squeaked.

He set a steady pace. Are ye feeling fine yet?

Yes! Good heavens, he was doing it to her again, making her fly, but now it was even better. He was soaring with her.

He pounded into her, and when she screamed her release, he shouted and let himself go. The feel of him climaxing inside her made her own release go on and on.

He collapsed beside her, breathing heavily.

She smiled, gazing at the stars overhead. Shed done it. Shed become one with Connor. For all eternity, she would know they were one.

Her smile faded. If the Father could forgive Connor, He might forgive her, too, and tell the Archangels to let her back into heaven.

But how could she leave Connor?

Chapter Twenty-three

When Marielle fell asleep in his arms, Connor didnt see any reason to move her. He folded the blanket over her and let her sleep, sprawled across his chest, while he gazed up at the stars.

It was a miracle she still loved him, and a part of him wanted to hold on to her forever. But it was her hearts desire to return home to heaven, and he had sworn to help her. He wouldnt break his pledge. He was haunted, though, by the thought that time was running out. If she became too human, would the Archangels accept her back?

After a few hours, she stirred. They gathered up their clothes, and he teleported them back to the cabin.

There were three missed calls on his cell phone and an angry text from Angus. Where the hell are you?

Connor warmed up another bottle of blood and made the call.

Where the hell have ye been? Angus demanded. Ye missed our strategy meeting for tomorrow night.

I had to guard Marielle.

Ye could have brought her with you. And ye should have answered yer damned phone. We were worried something had happened to you.

How is Shannas father? Connor asked, attempting to change the subject.

Hes in a vampire coma, but his wounds appear to be healing. Well know for sure tomorrow night if hes going to make the transition.

Did everyone make it through the battle all right?

Aye, just a few cuts and scrapes that will heal in death-sleep, Angus answered. I ripped my kilt, and when I tried to order a new one online, they said it would be three months before I could get it.

Three months? Connor had never heard of it taking so long.

Aye, apparently theres been a sudden rush on kilts. Forty-three orders from some town in New York.

Connor grinned. The lad from the ice cream shop must have told a few friends, and the news had spread.

Anyway, I want you and Marielle here tomorrow after sunset, Angus ordered. Everyones gathering here at Romatech. Well have some time to prepare before the sun sets at Mount Rushmore.

Ye think its a trap? Connor asked.

Aye. So well be arriving in two different groups. If the first group is trapped, the second group should be able to set things straight.

Makes sense to me. See you tomorrow. Connor rang off.

He settled on the couch next to Marielle. We know where to find Casimir tomorrow. Ye could stay here

I want to be with you.

He brushed her hair back over her shoulders. I hate to put you at risk.

I have to be there when Casimir and the Malcontents are defeated. She rested her head on his shoulder. I dont think its a coincidence that Casimir asked you all to come to Mount Rushmore. I lost my wings near there. I believe I will get them back at the same place.

He groaned inwardly. Then she was hoping to leave him tomorrow night. He was sorely tempted to beg her to stay with him. But how could he? How could he expect her to give up an eternity in heaven for the short life of a mortal? If he truly loved her, he would let her go.

Not again, Marielle grumbled when Connor handed her a dagger.

Aye, yere no going without a weapon. He strapped a belt around her waist.

It was Marielles seventh day on Earth, the day humans called Friday. Just before dawn, the ladies had brought Brynley to the cabin as usual, and she had guarded the cabin during the day.

Just after sunset, Connor had emerged from the closet and guzzled down a bottle of blood. Now he was arming himself and Marielle before teleporting to Romatech.

I want to go, too! Brynley announced. I kicked ass last night.

Connor gave her a worried look. Can ye shift again tonight?

Yes! I can shift for three nights at the time of a full moon. Tell Phineas to get his tight ass over here and pick me up.

Connor arched a brow. Ill pass yer message on to him. He grabbed on to Marielle. Lets go.

Dont forget about me! Brynley shouted. Ill kick Phineass ass if he doesnt . . .

Everything went black, and Brynleys shouts faded away.

Marielle stumbled when they arrived on the grounds at Romatech.

Come. Connor led her through the side entrance.

So many Vamps were arriving, the MacKay security office and hallway were jammed.

Once yere fully armed, go the cafeteria! Angus shouted.