Read Online A Gift of Wings by Stephanie Stamm - Free Book Online

regarded his brother in silence. He’d figured that much, but that didn’t mean he was ready to comply—and certainly not without more information.
    Kev leaned forward in his chair, his features assuming the focused gravity Aidan knew only too well. His brother’s eyes looked back at him from the face of a Captain rallying his troops.
    “Let me rephrase. We need you to come back. Our situation is more precarious than usual—and getting more so by the day. The Metatron is on the verge of nullifying the Alliance.”
    “Right. The Metatron has been making noises about the Alliance for as long as I can remember—usually they’re idle threats intended to make Lucifer toe some kind of line.”
    “Not this time,” Kev said, his jaw tightening. “Jahoel has been killed. And the perpetrator did a very good job of making it look like Lucifer was responsible.”
    Aidan could feel the blood draining from his cheeks. “Holy hell,” he breathed.
    “Yep, that pretty much sums it up,” Kev said.
    “Who’s Jahoel’s replacement?”
    “Adrigon has been promoted to first of the Metatron. A Principality named Margash has joined as fourth.”
    “Jahoel was the only one of the four who was sympathetic to the Fallen.”
    Kev nodded. “He was the only one as ancient as Zeke, the only one who was there from the beginning.”
    “What’s Adrigon like?”
    “He’s young—in angelic terms—arrogant and, from what I can tell, unwilling even to acknowledge the existence of shades of gray. As far as he’s concerned, Light is good, Dark is evil, and the Alliance is a huge waste of energy. If he had his way, there would be no Dark and no Fallen.”
    “And Margash?”
    “He’s something of an unknown quantity, but indications are he’ll follow Adrigon’s lead.”
    “So, where does that leave us?” Aidan was unaware of the pronoun he’d chosen until he caught Kev’s raised eyebrow.
    Kev uncharacteristically refrained from comment and just answered the question. “Lucifer has called for an investigation of Jahoel’s murder, and despite their apparent willingness to accept the surface evidence, the Metatron has consented. A team is being assembled with members from both sides. In an effort to strengthen our position, I’ve agreed to serve as Ha Satan .”
    “ What? ” cried Aidan, leaping to his feet. “Are you out of your mind?”
    “Probably.”
    Aidan paced back and forth in front of his chair. “Gods, Kev. Caught between Lucifer and the Metatron, you won’t stand a chance. You’ll be dead before next Tuesday.”
    The corner of Kev’s mouth lifted in a sardonic smile as he pushed a hand through his shoulder-length brown hair. “Believe me, I’m well aware that that’s a distinct possibility. But it’s the only way I can have access to both Lucifer and the Metatron, and I need to have some idea of what’s going on in both domains. If we don’t get a handle on this situation soon, we could all find ourselves caught in the middle of something much like Armageddon.”
    Zeke had entered the room while Kev was speaking. He carried a tray containing a Sèvres tea service, along with an assortment of breads, butter, hard-boiled eggs, and a plate mounded with bacon and sausage links. He placed the tray on the heavy oak table around which the leather chairs were clustered.
    “I thought we could all use some sustenance,” he said, as he poured strong, dark tea into the three cups. “Help yourselves to milk or sugar, if you like.”
    Aidan shook his head as he lifted one of the cups and studied its pattern. “Zeke, your civility never ceases to amaze.”
    “Nor does your enthusiasm for breakfast meat,” said Kev, as Zeke lovingly placed several slices of bacon on a piece of buttered toast.
    Zeke’s light eyes sparkled with amusement as he lifted the open-faced sandwich toward his mouth. “Ah, Kevin, one should never underestimate the power of food. Even apocalypse looks less dire when viewed over a plate of