A Fire in the Heart Read online

  When the world came back into focus, Gabriel took a deep breath, inhaling the scent of jungle and sea. It was a beautiful spot that he’d chosen, and he hoped it would work its magic on Michael. Looking at his lover now, Gabriel could see the confusion on Michael’s handsome face, the furrows in his brow as he looked left then right.

  “Where are we?”

  “Africa. Specifically the Loango National Park in Gabon. We’re at the point the jungle meets the sea, where all the wildlife come out of the green and hang out in the surf. Lions, elephants, rhino, monkeys, birds, you name it. This place is a good one to show just how well all kinds of creatures can come together and be in harmony—even if just for a moment—predators and their prey together. Soak up their peace and the tranquility they get from being in tune with each other and the land. It’ll help.”

  Michael’s expression cleared. “It is indeed beautiful, but I do not know if this is a good idea.”

  “Just try it,” Gabriel said. “Please.”

  Michael sighed. “As you say.”

  “Thank you.” Gabriel led the way down to the sandy shore and sat down, leaning against a large boulder that stuck out of the sand. He tugged Michael down to sit with him, and they stayed there in silence. As they sat, animals began to drift out of the jungle beyond them: elephants with their young, the babies dashing to the water, trumpeting their excitement and frolicking with childlike glee in the surf. Rhinos followed with their calves, and some of the young followed the example of the baby elephants, trotting into the water to play.

  Gabriel cast a quick look at Michael and saw that his lover was smiling as he watched the antics of the elephants and rhinos. The adult animals walked sedately along the edge of the water, enjoying the feeling of sun on their backs and cool sea around their legs. The sound of innumerable birds joined those of the elephant calves and rhino babies, as brightly colored birds flew out of the jungle to hover over the sea, zipping and diving, catching small fish.

  And then tigers wandered out of the dense undergrowth, and several feet away, a small pride of lions. Beyond them came wildebeest and beyond them, deer-like creatures Gabriel could not name. Monkeys shouted raucously to each other, and the tree branches shook and bent as they moved along to join the mass beach trip of the wildlife of Gabon. Buffalos wandered around to join the elephants and rhinos, and the world seemed suddenly full of wildlife, creatures enjoying the beautiful day and celebrating the simple joy of being alive.

  “Perhaps you were right,” Michael said.

  “Hm?”

  “This was a good idea. I feel indeed as if my soul has been balmed by watching these magnificent animals.”

  “It’s lovely, ain’t it?”

  “It is. How did you learn of this?”

  “Samael told me. He said he likes to come here and sit and listen to the wildlife or watch ’em if it’s the time of year they come out like this and play. He said it helps calm his mind when he’s feeling distressed.”

  “He is right. I feel much calmer and much less inclined to rash pronouncements or actions.”

  “I’m glad.”

  “I think we should talk about what we intend to do next,” Michael went on, shifting a little and leaning into Gabriel. “It is clear that we must work on the property in Salem, Oregon, to strengthen those wards I have laid down.”

  “Aye, no arguing there. I’ll help with that.”

  “Thank you, Gabriel.” Michael paused a moment to watch two elephant calves chasing each other and squirting seawater at each other from their trunks. “They are adorable, are they not?”

  Gabriel chuckled. “The young always are.”

  “Truly.”

  “So what else did you want to plan?”

  Michael sighed. “Those witches. I fear that their abilities are greater than many. And I fear that there may be no other option than to kill them.”

  “I thought that myself. Though I can’t say I’ll be sad to do it. You are, though, yeah? I can feel it.”

  Michael shifted a little and gave Gabriel a small, sad smile. “You are always attuned to my moods and thoughts, Gabriel. You are, of course, correct. I do not want to do it. I dislike killing humans. Yet I think it may be unavoidable.”

  “You don’t have to do it, you know,” Gabriel said. “Like I said, I ain’t got any compunction about doing it. I doubt the rest of the Host do, either. Or our Archdemons.”

  “Perhaps.” Michael sighed again. “I wish that these beliefs this group has, the ones who work for this company, did not exist. I wish that the company itself did not exist. I do not understand such hatred for another being, regardless of who or what that being is. It is alien to me, Gabriel, and I do not like such feelings when they rise up in myself. Yet they do, from time to time. It is rare, thankfully, but it has happened. Not for centuries, in truth.”

  “Not even the ones who were part of that angel kidnapping and selling ring? The black market angel traders?” Gabriel quirked an eyebrow. “I didn’t have much fondness for them.”

  Michael wrinkled his nose. “I had forgotten. You are correct yet again. Yes, I did not like them at all, either. Yet they did not desire to evict us and ban us from this world. God ordered us to watch over, guide, and protect humanity, and we have, I think, done a reasonable job. But we cannot force people to think the way we would wish them to, and I confess that I would like to force them to change. But a forced change is not a change at all, is it—it is simply a form of enslavement, crushing another’s will with force or power.”

  “Aye. So let’s do it this way: Uri, Raz, and I will take the Seraphim and go deal with these witches. You, Tzad, and Sammy go deal with the business people. Haniel, Metatron, and Remiel can do backup for us. That way, you don’t have to deal with having to kill humans at all. Tzad’ll judge as he sees fit and according to the laws, and if we can sort out a human court, hopefully in Germany, then we can do that.”

  “You raise another point,” Michael said. “Has anyone gone to speak with the German government about this?”

  “Raz is,” Gabriel said. “He should be there right now, actually.”

  “With Uriel, I suppose.”

  “Probably.” Gabriel grinned. “Uri knows what’s going on. He’ll keep his mouth shut.”

  “I devoutly hope so. We do not need him insulting the good people of Germany by declaring every human to be a carbon ape.”

  Gabriel laughed at that. “Aye, I know. And you know, I don’t think he really means it, most of the time. He’s just in the habit of being a grump.”

  “Perhaps.” Michael leaned back into Gabriel. “When the sun has set here, we should return and take care of the wards in Salem.”

  “We can go now, if you want.”

  “I confess that I do not. This place is beautiful, and I wish to linger a little while and watch the sun set. If that is all right?”

  Gabriel kissed the top of Michael’s head. “It’s more than all right, solnyshko.”

  “I am glad.” Michael snuggled close, and Gabriel wrapped his arms around his lover’s waist.

  As the day wore on and the sun slowly began to dip beneath the horizon, the animals and birds all returned to the forest, either singly or in little groups. Gabriel watched the exodus with a small smile on his face, just soaking up the peace and calm that filled the area. Against him, Michael shifted and turned, and Gabriel looked at him, his smile widening.

  Michael didn’t say anything; he reached up one hand to cup Gabriel’s face. Then he leaned in and kissed Gabriel. It was soft and sweet, and Gabriel wound his arms tighter around his lover as he kissed him back. The kiss slowly deepened, becoming passionate, and Gabriel made a soft noise into Michael’s mouth as Michael shifted and straddled his lap.

  “We are alone here, are we not?”

  “Aye, solnyshko, we are.”

  “Good.” Michael slipped a hand beneath Gabriel’s T-shirt. Gabriel shivered a little as Michael caressed his skin, raising gooseflesh in the wake of hi
s touch.

  “Mm, Mishka,” Gabriel purred into Michael’s mind. “Did you want something?”

  “You.”

  “Sure?”

  “Yes. If that is all right.”

  “It’s always all right.” Gabriel wriggled a little and lay back on the sand, pulling Michael with him so that his lover lay on top of him, pressed close from tip to toe. He slid one hand down Michael’s body, kneading Michael’s ass for a moment before he worked his hand between them and unfastened Michael’s pants. Then he slipped his hand inside, wrapping his fingers around Michael’s cock.

  Michael gasped, and his hips bucked as Gabriel began to stroke him, letting out a low moan as Gabriel teased the head of his cock with his thumb. Gabriel nipped Michael’s lower lip once and then rolled them so that he was pressing Michael onto the sand. Beneath him, Michael’s body language became immediately pliant and submissive, even as Michael moved his hands to Gabriel’s wings and his fingers clenched on handfuls of strong feathers. Gabriel growled at the sensation and used his power to get them both naked, their clothes being scattered across the narrow strip of beach.

  The sound of the surf on the sand was loud now, almost drowning out the calls of birds, but Michael’s noises, his groans, his soft cries, his gasps, were loudest in Gabriel’s ears and were a symphony of the most perfect notes that he had ever heard. Gabriel continued to stroke Michael’s cock, and Michael moaned, a loud, ragged sound, full of need and desire. He wrapped his legs around Gabriel’s hips, and Gabriel, panting now, ducked his head to gasp against Michael’s neck.

  “Please, Gabriel,” Michael murmured, stroking Gabriel’s wing feathers. “I want you.”

  “I want you too, baby,” Gabriel said, his voice muffled against Michael’s skin.

  “Then take me. Now. Please.”

  Gabriel didn’t need to be told twice. He slicked himself with a thought and reluctantly released Michael’s cock, taking his own in hand as he positioned himself between Michael’s thighs and pressed his cock against Michael’s hole. Slowly, taking his time and drawing it out, Gabriel thrust into Michael’s body, feeling tight muscle yield to him, relax and flex around him. Michael arched into Gabriel’s body, his fingers clenching again in Gabriel’s feathers.

  “Harder, Gabriel,” Michael said. His voice was rough.

  “Okay.” Gabriel wasn’t certain he could muster more of a reply than that single word. Once he was balls-deep inside his lover’s body, he paused for a moment, bracing himself on his free hand, and then he began to move, fucking Michael hard and slow.

  Michael reacted to Gabriel with the passion and love that he always did, and, as it always did, Gabriel’s heart exploded with echoing love and the sure and certain knowledge that he was the luckiest being in the universe. Gabriel treasured Michael, loved him without reservation, his flaws and faults as much as his perfections. As Gabriel groaned, unable to restrain the noises that came from his own mouth, he lowered the shields he kept up around his power and his Grace just enough so that he could touch Michael’s own Grace and wind his power around Michael’s.

  The little beach lit up with silver and gold as the two Archangels loved one another, and the light of their Graces and power mingled with that of the setting sun, turning that remote spot into a place of joyful celestial energy. As Gabriel’s thrusts sped up and his desire grew, he knew it wasn’t going to take him long until he came.

  “Michael,” he growled, “Michael, I love you.”

  Michael let out a wordless cry and arched, holding tight to Gabriel with both his arms and legs and clenching down hard around Gabriel’s cock. A moment later, Gabriel felt Michael’s orgasm rip through him and then sticky warmth on his hand.

  “I love you, Gabriel,” Michael said. He was panting and trembling a little, and Gabriel, turned on beyond his ability to describe in words, let out a low moan and came as well.

  It took him a few moments to regain the ability to speak in more than just grunts, and then Gabriel propped himself up on one hand and smiled down at Michael. “This was a very good afternoon,” he said.

  Michael smiled back. “It was,” he agreed. “I feel much better about our situation now. In truth, the peace of this place balmed my soul more than I thought it would. I did not think this was going to be more than a frivolous distraction, but by bringing me here, you have reminded me that we do not work toward the protection and freedom of humanity but of all life on this beautiful planet.”

  Gabriel nodded. “Aye, we do,” he said. “I totally understand why Sammy comes here.”

  “As you say. I will thank him when we see him.”

  Gabriel slowly pulled out from Michael’s body and gently disentangled himself from his embrace. “And alas, we can’t linger here, much as I’d love to lie on the beach with you and watch the stars come out and listen to the sounds of the rainforest behind us. We’ve got a meeting to attend.”

  Michael sighed. “Yes, we do.” He sat up. “Where are my pants, Gabriel?”

  Gabriel looked around. “I seem to have thrown our clothes all over the beach,” he said. “I was a bit distracted. You’re very distracting, baby.”

  Michael blushed. “It is no matter.” Gabriel felt him reach out with his power, pulling in their clothes, which were damp in places and covered with sand in others.

  “…How far did I throw them?” Gabriel wondered as he began to get dressed.

  Michael looked amused. “Some goodly ways, I fear.”

  “Well, passion does that to me.”

  “It makes you throw clothing long distances? I will have to remember this so that next time we are alone together I am certain to disrobe before we do this.”

  Gabriel laughed. “It’s the second time—remember that night in Scotland when I ended up throwing our clothes all over the bracken and gorse?”

  “Yes. And you said you had been lying on something that had made your bottom itch.”

  “Aye. Bracken’s quite scratchy, you know.”

  “I will strive to remember that,” Michael said solemnly, although his eyes shone with mirth.

  “Thank you, Mishka, you’re very kind.” Gabriel tugged on his boots.

  “I try to be. Are you ready?”

  “Just about.” Dressed, Gabriel stood up and stretched. “Shall we go to Portland?”

  “Yes.”

  Gabriel took Michael’s hand, and Michael smiled at him and moved them.

  13

  THE GARDEN was lovely, and Ahijah breathed deeply as he walked beside Samael by the lakeshore. He could hear the chitter of monkeys and the call of birds and in the distance the noise of the city of Kyoto, muffled and muted by the enormous trees. It was easy to forget there was a city beyond the walls of the garden.

  “It puts me in mind of Eden,” Samael said.

  “I was just thinking that.” Ahijah sighed, more a sigh of remembrance than regret.

  “Do you miss Eden?”

  “No, not really. It was beautiful there, but Semjaza was awful to Mama, so when you and the other Archangels told us to run and to hide, it was almost like liberation. We knew Semjaza would screw things up.”

  Samael frowned a little. “You do not refer to him as Father?”

  “Why should I? He was never that interested in Hiwa or me. He thought Hiwa was going to be a warrior and his prime minister, but Hiwa had more interest in playing chess with Raziel. And he had little interest in me when he discovered that I had little interest in women.” Ahijah shrugged.

  Samael’s frown, however, deepened. “You are gay?”

  “Yeah.”

  “I didn’t know that.”

  “It’s not something I talk about a lot. Anyway, what does it matter? Until recently, Nephilim couldn’t have relationships. You guys were keeping an eye out for us, and okay, I know it was to make sure we were okay, but can you imagine Uriel being the patron saint of calm and collected rationality when he learned that I was hiding the few other Nephilim who survived his flood?”

&n
bsp; Samael chuckled a little at that. “Uriel is rarely calm and collected when he is roused. But he wouldn’t have hurt you, Ahi.”

  “What about the rest of my people? I couldn’t take that chance.” Ahijah looked away from Samael and over the lake. “Anyway, when the flood waters receded, Hiwa and I split up. We knew that God would want the last Nephilim dead, and you guys were probably in heaps of trouble for letting him and me go. God was cranky back then. So we used our own limited magic to hide ourselves and our auras and separated. He went off into central Asia, and I went down into the Americas. They weren’t called that then, but you know what I mean.”

  Samael sighed, and Ahijah turned to look at him. “Ahijah, there is much that transpired in those early days of humanity that we all regret. Uriel and Noah were very close, you know. Uriel did not want to unleash the flood, because he loved this planet, and he and Raziel had built Eden together. Many of the buildings and statues in Eden were built as tokens of Uriel’s love for Raziel.”

  Ahijah nodded. “I heard that. From Uriel, actually. But the point is, even if I wanted to have a relationship, who would I have it with? Human men were off-limits because of Celestial Law, and my own people were too frightened to do anything beyond hold hands. And they only did that because of their fear—to feel a connection to someone like them.”

  “I am so sorry,” Samael said softly.

  “It’s okay.”

  “Let us continue to walk a little,” Samael said. “It’s a beautiful day, the garden is lovely, and there is a water wheel over there that I would like to see. Can we not walk over and have a look at it?”

  Ahijah smiled back. “That sounds good.”

  “Then we shall do that. And then we should go into the city and find somewhere to have some food. I would like to taste the fine cooking of a Japanese chef.”

  Ahijah felt his smile growing. “I’d like that.”