Aria by Cassidy Ryan

Author:Cassidy Ryan [Ryan, Cassidy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Totally Bound Publishing
Published: 2012-03-14T00:00:00+00:00

* * * *

A sharp breeze blew in off the river. Aria shivered and wrapped her arms around herself as she watched pleasure boats drift along on the water, trying to drive from her mind the image of Grayson as she had last seen him—sprawled out on the bed, sleep warm and tousled. Leaving him…getting dressed and walking away…There was an ache in Aria’s chest, like a merciless hand squeezing her heart. She swallowed past the lump of emotion in her throat and her hands gripped the metal rail that ran the length of the river bank until her knuckles where white.

“I can’t bear it, Michael.” She hadn’t heard her brother’s approach, but she instinctively knew he was standing beside her.

A warm hand closed over hers, but it brought no comfort. It was the wrong man, the wrong hand.

Guilt lanced through her at the thought, and she raised her eyes to Michael’s in silent apology.

His expression was gentle and understanding. Aria had to look away—it didn’t make her feel any better.

“Is it really so bad, coming home to your family?” he asked. There was no accusation in his tone, just curiosity.

Aria let go of the rail and clasped her brother’s hand. “No, of course not. It’s just…” She couldn’t finish, her throat closed on the words.

“You love him,” he said quietly.

A sob escaped Aria and she nodded. “Why must I chose, Michael?” She knew she must sound like a child demanding everything, now, but she couldn’t bring herself to care.

Taking hold of her arms, Michael turned her so she was facing him, even if she didn’t actually meet his eyes. “I won’t pretend that I know what you’re feeling; I’ve never been…challenged like that. But—” He stopped abruptly, and when he didn’t continue Aria raised her eyes to his face. She was shocked to see, for the first time ever, Michael looked uncertain.

“Michael, what is it?”

His continued silence, the flicker of doubt in his eyes, made her stomach twist uncomfortably. “Tell me,” she demanded.

For a frustrating moment, she thought he was going to keep his peace, but he finally sighed, sounding resigned. “You will see him again. Soon.”

Aria frowned. “I don’t understand. I told you I’m coming home.”

“Don’t you?” He arched an eyebrow. “You’re an Angel, sister, a messenger of God. Until now, how have you interacted with humanity?”

Dread swirled in Aria, made her light-headed. Eight months ago, she had been sent to comfort Elisabeth Cole, to help the woman relinquish her hold on the mortal world and guide her soul home. For millennia—with a few rare exceptions—her contact with humanity had been limited to those ready to pass over to the other side.

She shook her head in denial. “Grayson…?” She was shivering again, but this time, it had nothing to do with the early morning chill.

“Elisabeth Cole died of cancer, but she had been ill for some time, and if the cancer hadn’t taken her, then she wouldn’t have lived much longer anyway. She had an ailment of the brain.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.