“Then let’s go home,” Noah purred as if he’d won and was ready to celebrate.

We turned to leave, but Nightmare jumped in front of us. “No. She can’t leave.”

“You heard her,” Noah growled. “She wants to leave with me.”

Nightmare grabbed my shoulders. “It’s my brother. He’s in trouble.”

Chapter

Four

Ipressed my lips together and told myself to keep walking. Darkness could take care of himself. He had an entire army of imps to help him. If Nightmare couldn’t help him, what could I do for him?

But my curiosity got the better of me. “What kind of trouble?”

“Remy, no!” Noah said, taking my hand.

“I’m just asking,” I said, shrugging.

Nightmare’s expression grew serious. “I wouldn’t ask you if I didn’t think it was important.”

“Leave her alone!” Noah roared just as lights floated down from the sky, lighting up the entire area as if it were daytime.

The lights grew until they formed a single new humanoid being. She was pure white with six long golden feathered wings, three on each side. Her hair was fiery red, and she stood at least seven feet tall, not counting the foot she hovered over the ground.

“Noah,” she said, her soft voice commanding as it floated through the air. “Come to me.”

All the light beings surrounded her and bowed their head as they pressed their palms together. Noah moved to her as if he were in a trance. He stopped before her, his mouth hanging open in awe as he dropped to his knees.

“Stand,” she ordered with a gentle kindness radiating from her blue eyes. A single tear slid down his cheek when she smiled at him. “Do you know why I’ve come?”

Noah’s head slowly moved from side to side. The woman with wings lowered herself and whispered to Noah. When she finished speaking, all the light beings surrounding them kneeled before Noah.

“Now you understand,” she said, her voice like caramel.

“Yes,” he said.

“What’s going on?” I whispered to Nightmare, keeping my voice low.

Nightmare shrugged. “Don’t think he’d notice if we left, though.”

“Shh!” I waved my hand at him as the majestic winged creature set her eyes on me. My mouth dried, and I felt like crawling into the shrubs.

“It’s time to choose,” the winged woman said.

Noah flashed me a quick look before turning back to the woman. “Can I have a moment?”

“Time is limited. You must choose now,” she said, giving him a single nod.

Noah inhaled deeply as he walked toward me. He took my hand in his as he looked into my eyes.

“I wish I could explain what this all means to me,” Noah said, frowning. “I want you to understand.”

“Understand what?” I said, my brow painfully scrunched.

Noah drew in a breath and puffed out his chest. “They’ve come for me. It’s time. If I don’t go, I’ll lose everything I worked for.”

“What do they want you for?” I asked, squeezing his hands as if that would somehow let me understand what was even happening.

“I’m being called to join the Army of Light,” Noah said, keeping his voice low. “If I don’t go now… I may not get another chance. They need me to stop the end.”

I covered my face with both hands. “I don’t understand. This is all just so much.”

“It’s going to be okay,” Noah said, placing his hand on my shoulder. “Go home and wait for me. This will all be over soon. Stay inside until I get back.”

“It’s time, Noah,” the winged being said.

“I have to go,” Noah said, swallowing hard before pulling me in for a hug. He held me hard as if he were afraid to let go.

I shook my head as I leaned back into his eyes. “You’re just going to leave me here? Like this? I don’t even know where I am. When will you be back? What am I supposed to do? What is she?”

“A Seraphim,” Noah replied, keeping most of the sound from his voice as a small smile curled the corners of his lips.

“Noah!” the winged-woman boomed.

“Noah, please,” I said, twisting the front of his shirt in my fist. I didn’t want him to leave me. Not like this. Not here.

Nightmare groaned. I could hear his foot tapping against the ground.

“Make your choice,” the Seraphim said.

“Choice? What choice do you have to make?” I asked, wiping away the wetness gathering at the corners of my eyes.

Noah had always been there for me. He had changed my life in so many ways, including helping pay my hospital bill without being asked. Aunt Joyce would have lost her home had it not been for Noah.

“Whether or not I will be accepting the once in a lifetime offer or if I will stay here,” Noah said, shifting his eyes from mine.

I took a quick step back. I could already feel his answer as the coldness moved through me.

“Remy, I’ve dedicated my entire life to this. Please try to understand,” Noah said, pleading with his glassy eyes.

“After everything, you’re just going to leave?” I asked sharply. “Do I really mean so little to you?”

Noah sucked in a breath. “It doesn’t have anything to do with you. I love you. I will always love you. But I have a purpose. I can help a lot of people. I’m needed.”

“I need you.”

“Wait for me. I will be back when this is all over and everything is back to how it’s supposed to be,” Noah said, looking into my eyes.