Mom shrugs. “If you’d agreed with me, it wouldn’t have made any difference. The Senate didn’t believe a word I had to say, just like you predicted. They almost had me impeached.” Her voice cracks when she says that last phrase. “You did what you thought was right, too.”
“No, I didn’t.” Xavier’s left hand balls into a fist and he punches his leg. “I wasn’t thinking about right and wrong. I just felt things. I felt the need to protect you.”
I purse my lips and frown. Hmm. That’s an awful lot of lovey-dovey talk out of Xavier. I turn my attention to Mom, who’s doing way too much blushing and retying her robe. Definitely some attraction there.
Xavier steps closer. “This shouldn’t happen to someone like me.”
Mom looks up from her robe, her head cocked to one side in her ‘confused look.’ She isn’t the only one. I’m stumped as well. What’s all this ‘someone like me’ stuff? He’s a common angel, right?
Mom sets her hand on her throat. “What’re you talking about?”
Blue light flares in Xavier’s eyes. “I’m an archangel.”
I stagger back a few steps, my body reeling from the shock. A freaking archangel? They’re rarer than greater demons, and totally badass.
“An archangel? But there was nothing in your record.”
“That’s why I came to Purgatory. Few know me here. After the first few millennia of celebrity, I’ve chosen a low profile.” He closes his blue eyes. Points of white light sparkle around his shoulders. Great golden wings appear on Xavier’s back.
Mom’s fingertips brush the long gleaming feathers. Her voice is low and breathy. “So beautiful.”
Xavier shivers and opens his eyes. The wings disappear.
“An archangel.” Mom slides her hands into the pockets of her robe. “I didn’t know there were any left.”
I sniff. What Mom doesn’t know about angels and demons is a lot. A greater demon can be born or made. Armageddon became one when he was crowned the King of Hell. But archangels? Limited supply from the beginning of time. They’re so old and powerful, they rarely hang out with mortals at all. Most common angels never meet one. My eyes almost bug out of my head.
I can’t believe Mom worked with an archangel. Cool.
Xavier sets his hand on the living room wall, leaning onto it for support. “There aren’t many of us. I led our armies in the Battle of the Gates, the one that drove demons from Heaven. Armageddon was the general on the opposing side.” A sad look washes across his face. “He was a common demon then.”
I remember Xavier and Armageddon in the Senate committee meeting. That pair hate each other’s guts. I shake my head in disbelief. They fought in the War of the Gates, a thousand years ago. That’s one long grudge.
Mom examines his face for what feels like years. “Why are you telling me this now?”
Xavier smiles. “I knew you’d ask that question.” His grin slowly fades. “I must leave, but not before I say something, just once.” He steps up to Mom, gingerly setting his hand against her cheek. She leans into his touch. “I’ve been around a long time. I’ve seen mountains form, stars appear, oceans give birth to life. I’ve witnessed wars and weddings, mercy and hatred, greed and sacrifice. In all that time, I’ve never loved a woman.” His fingers curl, drawing her mouth toward his. Xavier’s lips brush hers once, gently. “Until you.”
Holy shit.
I knew there was a flirty spark between them, but this? Whoa. And the way Mom stares at him all slack-jawed and wide-eyed, it’s pretty clear she didn’t see this coming either.
Xavier lowers his hand, turns on his heel, and walks away.
Mom steps into his path, blocking his exit. Her eyes take on a steely look, the one I know means she won’t back down. “Where are you going?”
He stares past her and opens the front door. Mom sets her body firmly in the threshold. “Where, Xavier?”
“Let me go.” He stands tall and unflinching, every inch of him filled with stony resolve.
Mom searches his face, her eyes opening super-wide. “Wait a minute. Why wasn’t I killed in Armageddon’s War? Why was I–of all people–given a service?” She closes the door behind her and glares at Xavier.
“That’s not important, Camilla. All that matters is your safety.”
My mind whirls. Mom once said that someone made a great sacrifice to keep us safe. At the time, I was pretty sure that mystery someone was my father. Now here’s Xavier, doing something huge for Mom’s safety.
My skin erupts in gooseflesh. Could Xavier be my dad?
The gears of my mind stall out. Mom said my dad was Tim, and whatever other faults she has, she doesn’t lie. Hide the truth and strong-arm everyone else into doing the same thing? Sure. Outright lie? No. At least, that’s what I used to think.
Mom steps closer to Xavier, her bottom lip trembling. “What did you do, Xavier?” She grips his hands in her own. “WHAT DID YOU DO?!”
Xavier stares at their clasped hands, his eyes glistening. “I traded your life for mine. As of midnight tonight, Armageddon takes me to Hell.”
Mom sets her hand on her throat. Her breaths come in rough gasps. “When are you coming back?”