Total pages in book: 131
Estimated words: 121854 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 609(@200wpm)___ 487(@250wpm)___ 406(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 121854 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 609(@200wpm)___ 487(@250wpm)___ 406(@300wpm)
“Yes,” Aodhan said. “War follows a well-trodden path for all its violence, while this, what took Marco, came out of the shadows, unseen and unknown.”
Navarro’s long hair gleamed in the sunlight, its rays revealing the strands of red and bronze hidden among brown so dark, it was a breath away from black. “Marco was fresh faced and eager and ready to explore the world of immortals. But…there was a goodness in him.”
The angel halted in the shadow of a tree with a spreading canopy in which songbirds gossiped, unconcerned with the winged beings below. “Some people—mortal and immortal—seem to have a heart that does not darken no matter what. A resilience that is profound in its determination to stand strong against all attempts to alter them for the worse. Do you know what I mean?”
Aodhan met the other man’s gaze. “My best friend is Illium, Navarro.”
A warming of the rich brown eyes that had the slightest tilt at the corners. “Ah, I must be tired indeed to forget that—especially when Illium’s nature used to concern me when he was a fledgling. How, I thought, could a boy with such a heart survive the rigors of life?”
Hands behind his back, he clasped the wrist of one with the other. “It was much the same with Marco. So young, he hadn’t yet grown the warrior encasing necessary to guard his heart. I felt protective of him.” A tightening of his lips. “I didn’t favor him in any visible way—that would’ve only led to problems with his peers, but I did keep a closer eye on him.”
Aodhan didn’t interrupt.
“I only picked up that liquor shop because I intended for Marco to manage its future refurbishment and upgrade,” Navarro continued. “It wasn’t really my type of investment as it stood. I thought to have him manage it for a year or so in order to strengthen his administration and finance skills before I put him in charge of the upgrade.”
That the angel had been so thoughtful in his oversight of Marco’s development didn’t surprise Aodhan. Everything Navarro did was tempered and thorough.
“You knew he had a stalker.”
Beginning to walk again, Navarro frowned. “I knew he had an unwanted admirer, but her attentions seemed to peter out before the war. I assumed the infatuation had run its course.
“Prior to that, Marco did come to me to say an anonymous admirer had sent him gifts and letters. He didn’t want to keep them as he was much in love with his chosen partner, but with the giver refusing to reveal her identity, he couldn’t return the items.”
“What did you advise?”
“That he give them to me. I placed most in the safe, but I—with his permission—wore one of the most distinctive rings for over a month, at a time when I was mingling with angelkind at various events.”
“A silent statement that the gift was unwanted, had been passed on to his angel to curry favor.”
“That was my intent in wearing it—but it appears his admirer took it as a sign that I was appropriating Marco’s gifts. He received even more jewels, this time sent to his mother’s home. He continued to pass everything on to me to store in the safe until such time as he could return them. He was sure the admirer would approach him in person soon enough, as was I.” His muscles locked. “Neither one of us foresaw that it would be in murderous violence.”
One question answered at least. Marco hadn’t kept the gifted items. They’d been in his effects because Navarro had considered them part of Marco’s estate.
“We didn’t find any love notes or letters among his belongings.”
“No, I didn’t pass those on. Marco hadn’t wanted the attention, so why make his mother worry about his honor? The jewels and gloves, I thought she could sell. Marco always spoke about buying his mother a luxurious apartment once he held a more senior position with the attendant income.”
Aodhan wondered what Giulia would say when she realized the jewels had been purchased with her son’s blood? Then again, did she have to know? Could this not be a gift from a son to his mother, a mother who had no one else left? “Will you tell a lie for me, Navarro?”
The other angel looked at him, his gaze rich with empathy. Navarro might not see it, but his more solemn personality aside, the angel wasn’t so different from Illium and Marco. His heart remained defiant and unjaded.
Navarro’s next words confirmed Aodhan’s belief. “Marco’s mother. The jewels are a gift from me in honor of her son’s exemplary service. It is agreed.”
“Why aren’t you part of the Tower’s senior team?” Aodhan asked in genuine interest, because Navarro was far too stable and wise not to be more heavily utilized.
“I was once,” Navarro said, to Aodhan’s absolute astonishment. “Back when Raphael first ascended.” Clearly noticing Aodhan’s surprise, he smiled. “Raphael needed a transition team, and as he’d been one of my favorite students once, I volunteered. I don’t regret doing so, but I also don’t regret stepping down when others became available. I am not made for politics and an archangel’s senior court cannot avoid it.