Two things came to me. One, Lord Raphael appeared as a mortal man. Two, this was a brothel-hotel, and she was offering her services. Subtly, of course, so as not to offend his sister.
“One room,” I said.
Lord Raphael smiled.
The woman turned, golden locks bouncing off her shoulders. “Your room is for a single person. A man of his size won’t fit.”
“He’ll make it fit,” I said.
She stared me down. I stood firm. Gurl, bring it on.
Lord Raphael cleared his throat. “As fascinating as this exchange has been for me, one room will do. Thank you. Goodbye.” He went to close the door.
She returned and blocked the entry with a hand. “Not so fast, mister.” She pointed at me. “She’s a soldier from the Court of Command. Hiding one could jeopardize my business, even my life. There’s a price for that, and I deal only in coins.”
“These coins,” he said. “Where did you get them?”
“From the people who come here, of course.”
“Loyalty is currency, my dear.”
“Not anymore and even if it were, this soldier deserted her post and you betrayed our Court by helping her.” The woman extended a palm.
“I’m not a deserter,” I bit out, ready to punch this woman.
Lord Raphael handed her something, and her eyes grew wide. She pocketed the object and made a zipping gesture over her lips. “Your secret is safe with me.”
“Thank you, Mary Ann. Bring the girl a bath, clothes, and food.”
The woman visibly startled at the mention of her name, but dipped her head, eyes on me.
Lord Raphael lifted her chin. “I dislike the way your eyes stray. They’re such pretty eyes.” He swiped a claw under one. “It would be a shame if they could not see. Do you agree?”
The woman nodded.
“Then we have an understanding. Dismissed.”
Lord Raphael kicked the door shut in her face, then spun around. Hands on hips, gaze on the bed, he smirked. “I’ll make it fit?”
“I’ll take the floor, Commande—” I cut myself off before I called him commander again. “It’s a habit,” I explained.
“One I am certain I will spank right of you.”
Whaaa…? I blushed profusely.
Unfazed that he’d just threatened me with spanking—which I was sure I would enjoy far more than he thought I would—he continued, “You will have the bed. I’ll spend the night in the river.”
“That’s not weird at all.”
“Sarcasm?”
I nodded.
“Healing waters,” he said. “All the waters in my Court have healing properties. I heal faster in the water, as do all my people.”
“Oh, like the healing baths the angels use in the House of Command.”
“Like those, though they are just salt water now. I removed the healing properties.”
Ouch. They depended on those. “While we’re talking about the waters… Why don’t mortals get to bathe in the House of Command?”
“Limited resources. Not all angels have permission to enter either, and besides, much of the House is training grounds. Battles are waged elsewhere. But here, in the Court of Sunder, the waters are in abundance. You are safe here. Mary Ann, if suspecting and overly promiscuous, is well-meaning. She serves me.”
“I’m sure she serves quite well.” Petty, Nevaeh. Petty.
Lord Raphael smirked.
A knock came from the door, and he opened it to let two men inside. They set the bath down, and another pair of men filled it with water from giant buckets. Steam rose from the bath, and after they left, Lord Raphael dipped his hand into the water. It changed color from clear to violet. I hadn’t ever seen violet waters, so this must be Lord Raphael’s in-house special. Or maybe I was just so filthy, it would take special water to wash all the dirt away. And sins. Perhaps it would cleanse my sins against my Court and the man in my dreams.
Lord Raphael stepped back and gestured with a hand. “There you go, my lady.” He executed a perfect bow from his waist, but wobbled on his feet as he rose back up.
“It bothers you a lot,” I said.
“What?”
“The lack of wings.”
“Certainly.”
“How long will it take you to grow them back?” Most angels healed quickly. Those from the Court of Sunder healed fastest. When the Command Fleet stood against them and defended the House of Command, many of the fleet angels died, and those who had lived suffered greatly with damage that would take months to repair. Rumor had it at the end of the battle, the commander had poured every ounce of his power into healing Julia.
Lord Raphael’s eyes turned back to violet. “It’s not a question of time. The question is what will it take to grow my wings, restore the broken Court, and keep you alive?”
“Me?” I chuckled. “I just need weapons, and I’ll find my way around. The Exile seems like a great place for me. That’s why you brought me here, isn’t it?”
“It is.” Lord Raphael handed me a knife he must’ve stolen from the sack outside and exited. I stood there long after he’d gone. That was it. He’d dropped me off in the Exile. He kidnapped me from the Court of Command, made the journey all the way here, and left me in the one place I could hide. It was a favor for feeding him all those months. For fear the commander would discover I’d fed his prisoner, I couldn’t go back to the Court of Command, and I didn’t belong in the Court of Sunder. The Exile should work for me. I would survive here. I’d spent my entire life training for survival.
I undressed, folded my filthy, torn clothes, and set them in the corner right over my boots. I stuck my toe into the hot water, then gritted my teeth and dunked in there and stayed under to keep from waking the dead with my screaming. When the angels healed us, their power burned as it repaired and sealed the wounds. Lord Raphael’s healing waters penetrated, I swore, into my bones. I came up for air, then inhaled and dunked back under, letting it burn away. These waters would make my body more agile, and I’d need that out here on my own.
Chapter 6
After I left the room, I swept the house with my power, counting the mortals in the establishment. With only seven single-bed rooms and no patrons interested in seeking pleasure at the moment, Nevaeh stayed up here alone.
The damned Command Fleet. I’d kept them alive and thriving when their numbers dwindled and they faced enemies far greater than they could handle. I asked for nothing in return and even less acknowledgment for my part in the fleet’s wellbeing. When Michael grew fond of a mortal who remembered the Before, he discounted the threat of Lucifer reaching her and influencing him through her. I couldn’t allow it. Besides, after all these years, it was hard to believe he’d gotten a mortal soul for himself.
And yet, I wanted to believe. I could’ve taken the room on the other side of the wall. I could’ve, but I didn’t, because I wanted to believe Father gifted my soul a mate too.
I descended the steps, noting the creaking of the wood under my boots, which would alert me to anyone walking up in case I couldn’t detect them by sensing the blood running through their veins. At the bottom step, I paused and surveyed the patrons. Mostly drunks, gamblers, thieves, and murderers who had escaped the cities and sought refuge here. They didn’t remember the Before, but due to their life’s choices, they presented as perfect Marked soldiers.