Part 39 (1/2)

In seconds, he stood before me s.h.i.+rtless, wings jutting above his shoulders and down his sides. He was magnificent. Echoes of memories teased me. I'd seen him like this before. Touched him.

”Why did you deny having them when I told you about my dreams?” I asked.

”It wasn't the right time.” His wings retracted. He pulled his T-s.h.i.+rt back on and pointed to the bed.

Funny I hadn't realized we were in a bedroom until then. The room was spa.r.s.ely decorated, with just a queen-sized bed, dresser, and wooden chair. ”The right time for what?” He went quiet, making my chest hurt as my suspicions shot up. ”I want to know everything about my past, Bran. Not just the things you confirmed last Sat.u.r.day. No more hesitating or giving me vague answers. I want...” I wanted to know that I could trust him.

Bran laughed. ”You have no idea how long I've been waiting to hear you say those words.”

I frowned. ”Why?”

”Because they mean the time is right. You're ready for the truth. I see it in your eyes and hear it in your voice. We need to mind-meld.”

”Mind-meld?”

”We overlap our energies and our minds, and you'll see everything. My memories. My thoughts. My feelings. They might not answer all your questions, but at least you'll know more than you know now.”

I studied him, wanting so badly to believe him. How could I love him and not trust him? He moved closer and searched my face. ”What is it?”

”Does it hurt?”

”Not for us. Our energies are matched.”

”Meaning?”

”They blend perfectly and completely, enhance each other without the highs and the lows others feel when they steal energies.” Without breaking eye contact, he took my hand and directed it to his lips, pressing a kiss into my palm. ”I know you don't trust me. I can see it in your eyes, but once we mind-meld, you'll see you have no reason not to.”

”How is it done?”

He cupped my face and gave me a calm, rea.s.suring smile. ”Look into my eyes and let that powerful mind of yours take control.”

It was weird recognizing his energy, the same energy that had comforted me so many times over the last three months. Tonight, he didn't have a s.h.i.+eld and I actually saw his psi energy for the first time. It was bright and pure with no blemishes.

It was both comforting and exciting as our energies blended until I couldn't tell where mine ended and his began. We were one.

Then something weird started happening. I could feel what he was feeling, hear his thoughts. Then the thoughts were replaced with images. Scenes after scene starring me-entering this bedroom, at school, practicing with Master Kenta, at the beach...

Hearing my own voice seemed weird. He'd watched me often. In some of them, I hadn't been aware he was around. He'd fought with his brother after the beach party. He kept yelling at Gavyn that he shouldn't have told me about the past before I was ready. I saw his sister Celeste, who idolized him. Another tunnel led to a scene of me on my bed. He'd visited me while I was in a coma. The feelings accompanying the visits were raw and intense. When he'd said he loved me, he hadn't been joking. He'd visited me often, sometimes leaving just before Lady Nemea or my father came into the room.

I wanted to stay there, but I had other memories to explore. I went down another tunnel to a weird place-the top of a building or a mountain. I could see the sky and clouds and that was it. Or maybe they were in the air, since the gorgeous woman that appeared had ma.s.sive wings just like his. Instead of leaving, I stayed and stared at her in awe.

She was gorgeous, with luminous eyes and radiant skin as though tiny lights danced under it. Her long red hair flowed to her waist, and her wings, white and dazzling, fluttered gently behind her. The white silk dress hugging her curvaceous figure frothed around her feet.

”G.o.ddess Xenia, thank you for meeting me,” I said, and I giggled at my voice. Actually, Bran said that. I was reliving his memories as him. Using all his senses. Seeing with his eyes, hearing with his ears, and talking in his voice.

”You were once foolish enough to make a deal with me, son of Llyr,” she said, her voice melodic and calming. ”I guess you haven't learned your lesson. How are your wings?”

”The feathers grew, G.o.ddess,” Bran said. ”Lilith found the cure.”

”She's a resourceful young lady, isn't she?” Xenia said with pride.

”She loves me and would do anything for me,” Bran said, the conviction in his voice unwavering. ”I want to show her the same devotion. I want to join the Hermonites and watch over her.”

A tinkle of laughter escaped the G.o.ddess. ”You ran away from them, and now you want back in?”

”Yes. I'm willing to give up anything for her. Take my wings.”

She stopped smiling. ”Taking away your wings was not my doing, my dear. But it was part of Lil's journey. The Tribunal was another.”

”You sent the Tribunal?” Bran asked.

”No, silly boy,” a voice like nails sliding on a chalkboard hissed. ”I did.”

A second woman appeared. She was so pale that blue veins were visible under her translucent skin, and her hair was as pale as her skin. Like G.o.ddess Xenia, she wore a flowing robe, but hers was red, matching her blood-red eyes. Her wings were like Prisoner Zero's, bat wings with sharp points. I knew who she was before she opened her mouth. Queen Coronis. The paintings and statues on the island had been kind. Probably created by those who'd loved her.

”So many people died because of you,” Bran snapped.

Coronis looked at Xenia. ”Tell your boy to watch his tone or I'll try to take his soul again.”

Xenia laughed. She sounded like wind chimes. ”That won't be necessary, my dear sister. He tends to be pa.s.sionate and a bit careless when it comes to our Chosen One.” Xenia threw him a warning glance. ”He forgets we don't help unless they ask.”

”That's right,” Coronis said. ”Your brother and his friends wanted justice for what they perceived as the Guardians' unfairness, and I helped.”

”By sending the Archangels?”

The sister G.o.ddesses looked at each other and shrugged.

”The Archangels come and go, but the Nephilim survive,” Xenia said.

”Why did you summon us?” Coronis asked impatiently.

”I summoned her.” Bran pointed at Xenia. ”Not you.”

Coronis cackled. ”Don't you understand anything, silly boy? When one of the Nephilim asks for help, we answer it. Even if I'm not here, I know when you summon her. When someone summons me, she knows. I am her shadow in the Tribunal. When you asked her to show you a way to save your sister, I was still alive and busy. Her shadow in the Tribunal didn't know any better.” She shook her head. ”My son, the idiot, represented me.”

”What my sister is trying to say is,” Xenia cut in, ”you asked for my help to save your sister and I led you to the Guardians, where you met your true love and destiny.”

”And I decided to take your wings,” Coronis said with malice.

”My soul,” Bran said.

”Wings, souls, who cares?” Coronis snapped. ”Good and bad go hand in hand. You can't get blessings without suffering. I still don't like his tone, Xenia. Can't I just take his soul?”

”No, sister. His is not yours or mine to take. He's already given it to her.”

”You could give her another one,” Coronis suggested.

”I could,” Xenia said.

”He would make a wonderful addition to my minions in Tartarus.”