“Jake, all of Heaven is grateful for your sacrifice they will whisper your name for generations to come. Thank you brother.”
Jake smiles and turns back to Malach finding him walking away to talk to Simeon.
“What now?” he asks her. “What am I supposed to do now, Elina? I have carried you in my heart since I was a child, what now?”
“Now you fill that space with hopes and dreams that are your own.” She steps towards him needing to touch him and takes his hands. “Jake, how do I thank you for giving me hope when I had none? For walking with me in the shadows and making me feel as though I wasn’t alone. I selfishly took from you, because I needed you. I promise that you will be happy. Go home, be with your sister and your family.”
“Will I ever see you again?” He asks, looking at her with tears in his eyes.
“I don’t know, but Jake I am going to ask something of you. Will you watch over Alex for me? He will have Hunter, but I would feel better knowing you were there for him. His part in this is not yet done. He will need training, the kind only a soldier who has been in battle can give him. I know I am asking too much...”
Jake interrupts her with a hand to her mouth.
“I would do anything for you, Elina.”
He glances over at Malach and finds his reptilian eyes watching them. He leans forward and kisses Elina on the mouth, knowing it will infuriate the angel. Laughter bubbles up and Elina sends a soft shock through Jake.
“You are so mean. Careful if you poke a dragon he may take a bite?” she warns him.
“I know it, but he’s just so easy.” Jake says laughing with her.
Simeon stares at Malach as he watches Elina with Jake and he has to laugh.
“Easy dragon, you have won. Malach, what does this mean for the Angels? She is the first female Archangel will there be more?”
Malach hears the question and he turns back to his friend.
“Not just Archangel Simeon, but wife. Our Father gifted us, we are to be together for eternity,” he tells him in awe of such a gift.
“I don’t understand, we have fought against it for so long, why now?” Simeon asks thinking of Elsbeth.
“You told me never to question our Father, and now I tell you the same thing. Go to Elsbeth, Simeon. You are being offered a choice, as I was. Choose carefully, brother.”
Simeon turns to him in shock, “Truly?”
Malach smiles at him, “Go, now.”
Simeon’s roar of joy can’t be contained. He leaps into the air on golden wings and soars off to meet his destiny.
Elina and Jake turn to watch Simeon fly away, and her eyes meet Malach’s.
Jake sighs as she steps toward him without even knowing she’s doing it. She turns back one last time, “I love you, Jake,” she whispers before running to Malach.
All of heaven watches as she leaps into his arms. “Time to go, Wife,” he says with a smile of wonder.
“Wife? Is that what you called me? Can it be real?” she asks tracing his face with her fingertips.
His smile of joy turns to one filled with hunger.
“Say it again!” she demands.
“Wife,” he growls in a husky voice. “Will you fly with me?”
“I don’t know, you know what happens when we fly together, Husband?” she says with a shy smile.
“I am counting on it!” he spreads his large blue wings and tugs her close, again asking “Will you fly with me, Elina?”
“I thought you’d never ask.” She says and tucks her wings in tight against her body and wraps her arms around his neck. He leaps into the air holding his prize close.
Jake stays on the beach and he could swear he hears cheering in the heavens.
Chapter 37
On an east coast beach, Elsbeth walks and waits for the sunrise. Sleep eludes her again, as it has since the demon kidnapped her. She knows that it will take time and hopefully good memories will replace the bad ones. Until then, she walks.
Simeon lands behind her with a rush of wings and hears the whispers of his Father. This gift has never been presented before and he is humbled by the offering. Will she agree? What if she doesn’t love him? What if she does not feel the same?
Elsbeth feels him before she turns. Afraid to hope she waits until she sees movement out of the corner of her eye, a golden glint that catches the just crowning sun.
She whirls around and shock flicks across her face, quickly replaced by delight. “Simeon!” she says running towards him. In that moment all fear is washed away. She skids to a stop when he holds up one hand.
“Elsbeth?” He says in a deep voice, “I need to talk to you.”
She scans his body quickly looking for injuries when she finds none she steps closer. Her golden blonde hair blows in the wind and fear fills her eyes.
“What’s wrong? Is it Jake? Is my brother okay?”
“No, Jake is fine,” he says, looking at her. The sun slips higher into the sky and Elsbeth stares at him. Relieved, she steps closer desperate to touch him.
“Elsbeth, I...” when did she get so close? Her fingers trace his mouth.
His wings flare out behind him shocking her and she drops her hand and steps away. “I’m sorry, Simeon.” She knows better than to touch him.
“No, Elsbeth look at me. I was gifted by our Father with a choice, Please tell me I made the right one?”
His beautiful golden wings are translucent and his dark eyes are staring at her with hope?
“I love you Elsbeth, I want to be with you, for however long we are given.”
An ocean breeze blows her long blonde hair around her face and his wings begin to sift away like sand on the breeze.
“What are you saying, Simeon? You gave up your wings?” she asks, watching
