Shock rocked him on his feet. He staggered and took the final step to the seat opposite Raphael. He sank down and stared into the flames. Could they do it? It went against all the laws of Heaven.
Lily had passed over. Was it possible to bring her back? A vision of her rose up and seemed to dance in the flames. She’d been the most beautiful woman he had ever known. Both inside and out. Her purity of spirit had been like a light shining from her.
But immediately another vision superimposed itself. Faith.
Faith, who was fragile and human.
He’d told her he was beginning to care for her. The truth was he loved her.
That didn’t lessen the love he’d felt for Lily. Before her, he’d always been a loner. He’d taken women when the need had moved him, but he’d never shared anything of himself with them. She had transformed him. There’d been a slight glitch when he’d lost her, but he’d never reverted completely. And when he’d found Tara was alive, he’d wanted to be better. He’d wanted her to look at him as though he was worthy of her love.
But this wasn’t a choice between Faith and Lily. The truth was, he’d already made that decision and moved on. He loved Faith now. The choice was between Roz and Lily. One would die so the other could live. His head hurt.
He glanced across and saw a small smile flicker across the angel’s face. Smug bastard. He thought he had him. And in all honesty, Ash wasn’t sure that he didn’t. For the first time he could remember, he didn’t know what to do. His head felt as though it was splitting. He forced himself to think clearly. “How could you bring her back?”
“Believe me—we can. It’s been approved.”
“I told you, I don’t know where…the abomination is.”
“Just pledge to help us, and we will bring your woman back.”
Ash rose to his feet. His mind spun. He needed to get away from here. Think. Because maybe this wasn’t his choice to make. Lily had been his wife, but she was also Tara’s mother. A mother she had never known. Did he have the right to deny her that chance?
“Well?” Raphael prompted.
“I need more time.” He had to talk to his daughter.
Raphael frowned. Obviously, he’d been sure of the outcome. Ash held himself still under the intense scrutiny.
“You have a day,” Raphael murmured. “After that the offer is withdrawn.”
Ash whirled around and stalked from the room.
Raphael called out as he was under the archway. “Come back here when you have decided.”
Luc waited in the outer room, but Ash nodded curtly and didn’t pause. He needed to be alone. He launched himself into the air as soon as he was out in the open. Higher and higher, he rose and flew until his wings ached. Finally, he landed on a rocky outcrop high on a mountain. From here, he could see his castle, black against the twilight sky.
He loved this place.
He loved the mountains, the chill of the cold clear air. He liked to visit Earth, liked to play with their technology, but he always felt the need to return here.
Would Tara want Lily back? Or would she think the price too high? He suspected he knew what her answer would be. Tara had inherited her mother’s purity of spirit. She seemed to have nothing of him inside her. All the same, he needed to speak to her.
But one thing wasn’t clear. Why were the angels willing to offer so much for Roz? She wasn’t that important.
Could they have other motives?
Such as the destruction of the newly formed committee.
Because Ash had no doubt that would be a side effect if he went ahead and betrayed Roz. Lamont would implode. He should be unable to call a war on such a personal matter, but Ash doubted that he would see it that way. And Piers would come after Ash with everything he could muster.
Also, Roz was the Walker’s daughter. The Walker was a fae assassin but his brother ruled the fae. If Ash handed Roz over to the angels, that would be the end of any alliance between the fae and the demons. It would be outright war.
How did he feel about that?
To his surprise—badly. The committee was the way forward. It could only be a matter of time before humans discovered monsters really did live among them. With technology increasing, hiding became harder.
The alternative was to withdraw completely back to their own worlds.
But he didn’t like that idea either.
No the Council was definitely the way forward. Only the angels didn’t see it that way.
He rubbed his hand over his face and longed to go home. See Faith. Hold her. If he held her, then everything would become clear.
But first, he had to talk to Tara. Tell her he had the power to bring back her mother. He launched himself off the outcrop and headed for home.
When he landed in the courtyard, he took on his human guise. He unstrapped the sword and handed it to a servant; he didn’t want to scare Faith if he came across her. Maybe she’d be watching for him and now she’d rush out, leap into his arms, tell him she hadn’t meant what she’d said.
Jesus, he was pathetic.