Read Online Splendor and Darkness (Rebel Angels) by Cyndi Friberg - Free Book Online Page B

surged through him with intoxicating intensity. His head swam as he delved deeper, absorbing more of her, consuming all of her.
    She struggled, heightening the pleasure for him. Come, Byleth , come to me now. There’s no point in resisting.
    She clawed at his arms and tossed her head as the color bled from her face. He shoved into her one last time and used the force of his physical release to complete the transfer.
    He siphoned the last of her essence from her quaking body then pulled out half a second before the lifeless husk turned to dust and scattered across the forest floor.
    Enos stood, his muscles rippling as he stretched with contentment. Her being still struggled within him, prolonging his ecstasy. It had been too long since he devoured a soul! He’d forgotten about this euphoric rush and the blast of power.
    He was tempted to savor her, to slowly absorb her vibrant energy into his own. But, alas, he had a mission, a use for his little fledgling.
    Calm yourself, Byleth . You’ll soon have another body in which to play ?

Chapter Five
     
     
    “You said your quest had already begun when you lost your sight,” Nate prompted, keeping his tone light and gentle. Lailah stood beside the bed, wavering in and out of focus. At times he could easily see through her then her image would sharpen with vivid detail. She wasn’t a dream. He knew her name. “Are you able to talk about what happened?”
    She hesitated. Her golden light diminished and her human form solidified. The blue faded from her eyes. Compassion clenched his heart. She dwelt in darkness again. He had never seen anything as extraordinary as her sparkling, ice-crystal eyes. Pulling her long braid over her shoulder, she sat on the edge of the bed. Even braided, the strands hung to her waist.
    “Angels are often created in pairs,” she began. “Alyssa and I had always been together. When the seeds of discontent took root in me, the deterioration of Alyssa’s attitude wasn’t far behind.”
    He sat beside her, needing to be near her, yet unsure how to comfort her. “She was one of the seven?” Unable to help himself, he caught the end of her braid. The silken curls wrapped around his fingers and he sighed.
    “Alyssa was also a Rebel Angel. Her challenge was to discover truth. It took her nearly one hundred years, but she managed to find me in the mortal realm.”
    “One hundred years?” He sucked in a breath, staggered by the implication. “How old are you?” Quickly pressing his fingertips to her lips, he kept her from answering. “I apologize. That was rude. Are you immortal?”
    “That depends on the outcome of my quest.” Her lips brushed his fingers as she spoke.
    Stunned by her casual reference to her possible destruction, he released her hair and stroked her cheek. She might not have realized it yet, but she’d acquired a companion for her quest. “Tell me about Alyssa.”
    “Judith needs to hear the details of Alyssa’s quest as well, so I’ll wait until the morning, if you don’t mind?”
    “Now you’ve made me curious. What has Alyssa’s quest to do with Judith?”
    She chuckled. “There is a definite connection between the Rebel Angels and the Monthamn family, but you asked about my eyes. My sight was destroyed by a demon named Paimon during Alyssa’s quest for truth.”
    She stated the facts in one concise sentence, obviously not wanting to elaborate. He had countless questions twisting through his mind, but he steered the conversation away from her injury. “Was Alyssa’s quest successful?”
    “Aye. She resides in peace with her husband Sariel.” She paused. There had been expectancy in her tone, as if she were waiting for him to react to the names she’d mentioned. “Have you heard the name Gadrayel ?”
    “ Gadrayel is the angel on the Monthamn standard. He is rather like a family mascot.”
    Her lips pressed together and laughter flashed in her eyes. Why did she find that amusing?
    “How do you know about