The door slammed behind Lash as he stepped into the Hall of Judgment. There was little light in the room as there were no windows in the area. Candles lined the walls, providing the only illumination in the room. This was part of the old traditions, and one of the few that Lash was glad they kept. It made it easier to hide your face in the shadows, to hide from the shame angels were supposed to feel at their own wrongdoing. It also allowed Lash to hang his head and give the appearance of shame when he was being reprimanded. Michael, who sat in the seat of judgment, wasn’t able to see the smirk on his face whenever he was brought in. In the past, he’d thought it was a joke because he never felt he deserved any of the punishment he’d received—until now.
The shadows that lingered in the corners of the large chamber were a reflection of what he felt inside—an empty shell of darkness. Of the last three decades of his punishment, this was the first time that he felt forsaken. Now, he truly knew what it felt like to be one of the fallen, without the light of having or giving love. Without Naomi, there was nothing, just darkness to consume him.
He looked at the seat in the back of the room where Michael sat and passed judgment on him so long ago. It was empty. As he headed toward the back of the room, he saw a shadow move.
He looked over to his right. The shadow moved into the candlelight, and he saw an angel with dark hair pulled up into the intricate style Rachel often wore. Her wings were an exquisite downy white, accentuating the curves of her body. He took in the slender neck, and his eyes trailed down to a familiar patch of freckles.
Lash inhaled sharply. Was this a cruel joke? Not even Gabrielle would stoop so low as to do this. Was this his punishment—to be forever reminded of all that he’d lost? Yet a glimmer of hope flickered within him as he took in the curves of her back, the porcelain skin that glowed with perfection in the candlelight.
“Naomi,” his voice cracked as he tried to reign in his hope that she was actually there.
The woman turned. Light blue eyes met his. Red lips curled into a smile. “Lash.”
Naomi. My Naomi. His heart jumped to his throat, and for a moment, he couldn’t move. It was as if his feet were frozen to the floor.
She looked puzzled at his hesitation and took a step forward.
“Don’t,” he said. “Let me just look at you for a moment.”
She frowned. “You’re being silly.”
He sighed. Only Naomi would be irritable in Heaven. It really was her.
He walked to her, and his fingers brushed over her face as if he was touching delicate glass. Without a word, he took in every inch of her face: her tilted nose, the flush on her cheeks, her sculpted lips.
Her breath quickened as his thumb slid over the bottom of her lip.
The heat of her breath against his skin sent a shiver of desire to the pit of his stomach like he’d never felt before. Lash pulled her into his arms and kissed her passionately. A mixture of heat and electricity passed between them, making him come alive and sending away the cold and dark shadows that had taken root in his chest.
“It’s you. I can’t believe you’re here,” he said in between the trail of kisses he planted along her jaw and down her neck.
“I can’t believe it either,” she gasped, trying to catch her breath. “One moment I saw Jeremy about to attack us then the next he’s sitting by my side when I woke up in a strange bedroom, then he brought me here.”
“Jeremy brought you here?”
“Yes. I asked him what happened and he said that Raphael wanted to tell us both together. We were waiting for you.”
Lash shook his head. “What’s going on?” He placed a hand on the small of her back. “You know what. I don’t care. All that matters is that you’re here with me.” His hand traveled up her back and to her hair. “What’s with the new hairstyle?”
“I looked a mess when I woke up. Rachel helped me put myself together. It’s my first time here, and I don’t know the dress code. Unlike you”—she rubbed her nose against his—“I’d like to make a good first impression with the boss.”
He laughed and ran his fingers through her hair, loosening it from the braids. She shook her head and her hair cascaded down into waves over her shoulders.
“Beautiful,” he whispered as he kissed her gently. “You’ve nothing to worry about. You’re magnificent.”
“That she is.”
Lash and Naomi turned to see Raphael standing behind them.
He pulled Naomi closer to him. “If you’re here to take her away, forget it. Where she goes, I go.”
Raphael shook his head. “You have always had a problem listening to what people say to you.”
“Can you blame me? I did exactly what you said and I thought I lost”—he swallowed, unable to say the word, and instead, ducked his head to kiss her.
“There is a purpose for all that has occurred. I promise to answer your questions,” Raphael said.
Lash looked at him skeptically. Naomi patted his chest and pecked him on the cheek. “Let’s listen to what he has to say.”
Chapter 24
Sitting on a bench in the courtyard, Naomi looked around in awe. She’d never imagined that Heaven would look like this. Even paintings of what people hoped Heaven would look like couldn’t compare to the lush landscape, the intoxicating smell of the flowers, and the vivid blue sky. It was as if they were in a tropical paradise, minus the mosquitoes. When she had a chance, she was dying to ask if anyone knew why mosquitoes even existed.