He nodded. “There’s something about it when a person mutters it under his breath, you can feel a sense of peace. Like they’re resolved to face their death. Sometimes, I wonder if I would be able to do something like that.”
“What do you mean? Face your own death?”
“I don’t know if I’m strong enough to do it.” He barked a laugh. “Imagine that. The angel of death afraid of dying.”
“Why would you even think it?” Her mind flashed to Uri and Rachel.
He pulled himself up and walked a few feet away from her. “Because, I guess, deep inside, I know I’m a coward.”
“No, you’re not.” She went to him and turned him around to face her. “You and Lash are the bravest people I know. You had to make sure I got to the top of Shiprock. And you had to do it without telling your best friend. I know he’s still mad at you, but he’ll come around. And you had to know that he’d get mad even though you were doing what was best for him.”
Jeremy dropped his head. “You think too much of me. I didn’t know you were going to join us. I was just doing my duty.”
“I wasn’t talking about me. You knew that he’d go back home after you...uh, after your job was done.”
“Say it, Naomi. After I killed you.”
“Jeremy, look at me.” Her hand reached out to him, and when it touched his strong jaw, his breath hitched. He tried to pull away from her, but she firmly lifted his head to make his eyes meet hers.
“Naomi, please don’t.” His voice was raw.
“Don’t what? Don’t tell you ‘You’re a wonderful brother’? Don’t tell you ‘You’ve been a great friend to me’?”
“If you knew what I was feeling, you wouldn’t be saying those things.”
“I know you may be...confused about your feelings for me, but—”
“I’m not confused,” he said, his sapphire eyes gazed deeply into hers.
“Jeremy. You may think that right now, but with time, as you get to know me, you’ll see things...you’ll see us more clearly. There’s one thing I know for certain.” She placed a hand on his chest. “This heart loves his family deeply and will do anything for them.”
His eyes smoldered at her touch, and she swallowed at their intensity. He reached out, and his fingers ghosted over her face as if memorizing every single inch. When they reached her lips, she gasped as his thumb gently stroked her bottom lip. Slowly, he leaned in toward her, lips parting. She was about to pull away from him when something crashed into his body, sending him twenty feet into the air.
A blur whirled past her, straight to where Jeremy lay groaning. She was about to run to him when the shadow stopped and turned to face her.
16
Naomi’s heart skipped a beat at the glorious sight of Lash. His hazel eyes blazed with fury as he stared down at Jeremy. His fist clenched tightly against his side, muscles straining, tensing, ready to fight. The sides of his jaw jutted out, and he gritted his teeth, emphasizing his handsome chiseled face.
“Lash,” she breathed.
He turned, and his face softened when his eyes met hers. “Naomi. I’m sorry about...everything.”
She heard a groan, and her eyes darted to Jeremy as he lifted himself from the ground. Whirling, Lash took a threatening step towards him.
Naomi rushed to Lash and grasped his arm. “Don’t. He’s your brother.”
Hurt flashed across his eyes as he studied her face. “You”—he swallowed thickly—“care for him?”
“Of course I do.”
He sucked in a breath as if he’d been punched.
“He’s my brother too,” she explained. “At least, he will be soon.”
He blinked and looked at her as if he couldn’t believe what she was saying. “You still want to be bound to me? You forgive me?”
“Yes! Yes!”
Before she could say another word, fevered lips pressed down on hers with such passion, she felt like she would float away at any minute. Tears streamed down her face, thinking of how stupid she’d been to hurt him the way she did. She kissed him back deeply. Her arms clung to his neck as she drowned herself in his kiss. This was where she belonged, in his arms.
“Oh Lash, I love you,” she said in between kisses. “I have always loved you. I’m so sorry I left like I did.”
“Naomi, I was so scared. I thought you’d stop loving me.”
“Never...no matter what.”
He paused and pulled back. Gazing at her tenderly, he brushed the tears from her cheeks. “Why are you crying?”
“Because I’m so happy.”
He chuckled and placed his forehead on hers. “I’m happy too.”
There was a sudden movement coming from behind Lash that caught her eye. Her heart flew to her throat at the sight of Jeremy’s face. Red with fury, it grew closer as he charged at them.
“Lash, look out!”
Before he could turn, a pair of arms lifted him off the ground. She screamed as iron claws also cut into her shoulders and jerked her up.
Jeremy dove and crashed into whatever it was that had grabbed her. The entity let out a grunt and released her, sending her slamming to the ground.
As she scrambled to get on her feet, Jeremy crouched in front of her. “Get behind me!”
“Impressive, Jeremiel. I see domestic bliss hasn’t softened you. You managed to put down one of my best fighters.”
Her heart fell to the pit of her stomach at the sound of the familiar voice. A hulking shadow moved out from behind the trees, and she clutched Jeremy’s arm when she saw who it was.
“You’re not touching her, Saleos,” Jeremy growled as the dark angel he’d taken down got up and took his place beside Sal.
“Oh, I’m not interested in touching her...yet.” Sal smirked, waving over to someone behind him. A second dark angel emerged from the shadows, an exact replica of the one who had attacked Naomi. They both had the same beady black eyes and shaved heads. They looked exactly like the demons in a child’s nightmare.
The dark angel dragged something behind him, pulling it from the shadow. He let out a frustrated roar as he jerked forward, throwing Lash in front of him. A massive arm quickly wrapped around Lash’s throat, and another clinched him by the waist.
“No!” Naomi screamed as she charged toward them. “Let him go!”
“Don’t.” Jeremy grabbed her arm, pulling her back.
“I see you’re the one who wants to do the touching, Jeremiel,” Sal said. “You’ve been at it for quite some time. How long was it, ten, fifteen minutes?”
Lash growled at his words and attempted to lunge after Sal. When he managed to get one arm loose, the dark angel’s twin grabbed it and twisted it behind his back. Lash howled in pain.
“Please, don’t hurt him,” Naomi sobbed. “Let him go. I’ll go with you.”
“Aw, so sweet. She wants to sacrifice herself for you, Lahash. It must be
Lash turned red and kicked his feet up, struggling against the dark angel’s grip. The dark angel yanked him back, laughing.
“Don’t listen to him, Lash,” Jeremy pleaded.
