“Of course I came back. So tell me.” He echoed her earlier words.
She took a deep breath, stared into his dark eyes, eyes filled with love. “I love you. I think I’ve always loved you, and that I’ll love you forever.”
“Forever is good, because there’s something else I need to tell you.”
“There is?” Why did he look so worried? “What’s been happening? Where’s Ryan? That’s the last I remember. I was with Ryan. I was dying and I wasn’t going to see you again. But now I feel…” She peered inside herself; the headache was gone, vanished as if it had never been. “I feel wonderful.”
Ash put her from him and lowered her gently onto the furs covering the bed. He rolled to his feet and paced the room a couple of time. Came back to stand over her, his brows drawn together, hands shoved in his pockets. He was building himself up to tell her something, and he wasn’t sure she’d be pleased.
“I’m not dead am I? Some sort of ghost and I’ve really gone to Hell?”
A smile flickered a across his face. “No. You’re not dead.”
“Did Roz come back and save me?”
“Not quite.”
“How ‘not quite’? What did you do? Why don’t you want to tell me?”
He sat beside her and took her hand. “You were in a coma. I couldn’t ask you. I had to make a decision.”
“Jesus, Ash, just spit it out. What did you do?”
“I gave you angel’s blood.”
The words didn’t make much sense. “Why?”
“The elixir of life. That’s what it is—angel’s blood. Or rather Archangel’s blood. You were dying and I just happened to know where there was an Archangel and…”
“And he donated some blood?”
“I…persuaded him to part with a little.”
“You didn’t kill an angel?”
“Unfortunately not. They’re not that easy to kill. He’s still around.”
“And are you in trouble?”
“Big trouble. But it was worth it. Or will be as long as you’re happy.”
She searched his face trying to work out what she was missing. “Why shouldn’t I be happy? I’m alive. What aren’t you telling me?”
He took a deep breath. “You’re immortal.”
Again, although she heard them, the words didn’t make a lot of sense. “As in I’ll-live-forever immortal?”
He nodded.
“I’m not going to die. Like not ever?”
“You can still be killed, but you won’t grow old and you won’t get sick.”
She thought about that for a minute. So far so good. Was there a catch? “Hey, I’m not going to turn into an angel or anything?”
A shudder ran through him. “I certainly hope not.”
Faith was finding it hard to take in. She’d been dying, and now she was going to live forever, and Ash loved her. “You’d better make sure those angels don’t kill you. I don’t want to spend eternity on my own.”
“I’ll make sure.” Lowering his head, his lips brushed hers. “After all, I’ve got something to live for now.”
“And so have I.”
Epilogue
“So it’s safe here, then?” Tara asked.
Roz nodded. “I presume so. But Piers was being very mysterious.”
Another two weeks had passed. Faith had spent most of them in Ash’s bed making love and coming to terms with her change in circumstances. Every morning she’d stand in front of the mirror and say, “I am immortal,” ten times. It still hadn’t sunk in.
She hadn’t attended any of the many meetings, but she was aware that the others had not returned to the Order and were still residing in Ash’s house. Ash claimed they had heard nothing from Raphael but were being cautious. And with good reason; she’d come to understand just what Ash had risked when he’d saved her life. If Lucifer—and she was impressed she could think that name without screaming—hadn’t freed him from his debt, he would have been in serious trouble. And all for her.
Then today, Piers had called a meeting and insisted everyone attend and it was to take place at the Order. So here they all were, back on Earth and in Piers’s office. Waiting for Piers.
Tara and Christian sat side by side on the black leather sofa. Roz perched on the arm, one leg swinging and beside her stood a tall “man” who Faith had never seen before. Dressed in tight black pants, long boots, and a sword at his side, he would have stood out even if he hadn’t been the most beautiful being she had ever seen.
“Who’s that?” she whispered to Ash.
“Total asshole,” Ash replied. “Actually, that’s the Walker. He’s Roz’s father and the fae representative on the committee.”
“A fairy?”
He smirked. “Yeah. Say it a little louder.”
There was no love lost there. Ryan sat behind the desk, reading something on the monitor. He glanced up as though sensing her regard. “Hi there, angel.”
“Piss off, Ryan.”