Read Online Her Accidental Angel by Melisse Aires - Free Book Online Page B

and tank felt heavy and sticky. Rahmiel was only wearing the white cloth wound around his hips. Kari wished she had packed a swimsuit.
          “It’s pretty here,” she said.
          “Yes. I knew it was here because I flew over it when we came before. I couldn’t see it from the prison.”
          They sat side by side on the flat rock gazing at the beauty of the waterfall. Sunlight hitting the mist made by the falling water created a rainbow effect. Kari had never been anywhere so lovely in her life.
          “Tell me more about being in prison.”
          “There’s not much to tell. I challenged a Guardian to a duel and killed him. The Angeli sentenced me to life in prison. For murder.”
          Rahmiel gazed out across the pool. “He was a traitor, but he came from a powerful Angeli family. We had a girl, like you, one the demon wanted. We found her under a pile of children’s bodies, wounded but still alive. We knew the demon would not cease trying to find her, to kill her. The demon always finishes a kill he has started. We don’t know why. Pride, maybe. Or perhaps it is in the nature of a religious act. Who really knows why demons do what they do?” Rahmiel stretched out next to her and leaned on one elbow, so his face was close to her breast. He lifted a lock of hair off her shoulder and began to play with it.
          “Anyway, none of us had bonded with her. She was distraught and wounded. We were wounded. We needed to see to the burials. It was a horrible day. Gerial, a Guardian, said he would do the binding, which would give her a measure of protection.
          He was the only Guardian who had escaped the fight unharmed. So the poor girl, who had lost her whole tribe, went with Gerial. But Gerial didn’t do it, after all. He got involved in family business of some sort and ignored the girl until our planned battle time. Tehmuel and I were so rushed neither of us noticed there was no bond. We just assumed it was there.” Rahmiel moved onto his back, and placed his forearm over his eyes, as though blocking the sun, which came down through the canopy of leaves in gentle dapples. Kari took advantage of the moment to inspect his body, and the sight of his lean muscular form wrapped only in the white fabric swatch made her feel warm.
          “I moved away from her in the fight, thinking she had the protection,” Rahmiel continued, “and she was pierced. She didn’t survive. Later Gerial said he couldn’t do the bond because his father had arranged a marriage to an important Angeli family. I was furious. He should have told us. She was the last of her tribe. The entire tribe died.
          Thousands more died before we found another survivor to lure the demon to our trap.
          The demon doesn’t leave something unfinished if he can help it. Neither do I. I challenged Gerial to a duel and killed him. But by then the powerful marriage had happened…politics intervened. Lemuel, the Guardian leader you met, is related to Gerial’s wife.”
          “That’s not what I consider murder,” she said, relieved at finally knowing the truth.
          “I think you did the right thing.”
          He rolled over onto his elbows, his face very close to hers. His lips curved into a slight smile, and he raised a hand to trace her lips with his finger. “I am glad you do not think me a murderer. I took my Guardian vows to protect our human brethren seriously.”
          For a moment she looked into his eyes, and then the soft brush of his fingers sent a sudden shiver through her.
          Rahmiel grinned and sat back up. He picked up a handful of pebbles and began tossing them into the pool. Kari enjoyed the play of muscle as he moved.
          “Have you ever been bonded before?” she asked after awhile.
          “No.”
          “What is it, exactly? I could feel something last night, I think.”
          “Close your eyes.”
          Kari looked into his for a