“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.
My eyes narrowed. “Are you serious right now?”
“We will end this,” Noah said, shaking his head as if it were all just so simple. “I love you. You mean everything to me. There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for you.”
“Except stay,” I growled.
Noah flashed a quick look over his shoulder at the Seraphim. “Try to understand.”
“I’m done. This is just, like, not okay.” I crossed my arms as my stomach swirled as if I’d swallowed a hurricane.
“I’ve worked my entire life for this moment,” Noah said, his chest rising and falling with each rapid breath.
“It is time,” the Seraphim announced as she gradually floated higher.
Noah gave her a single nod before taking my hand. “I love you, Remy. Please, never forget that.”
Noah floated upward, looking down at me with sad eyes. The Seraphim stared at me as she rose higher and higher out of the circle of shrubs. All the light beings shrank into small glowing orbs, twinkling like stars until they faded into nothing, leaving me stranded with Nightmare.
I couldn’t speak. There wasn’t anything to say. Noah had abandoned me and yet claimed to love me.
I never asked him to choose, but he did. Noah made a choice, and there wasn’t anything he could say that could ever fix that.
Sure, I was sad, but more than that, I was furious. He had been the one thing in my life besides my Aunt Joyce that I actually believed I could count on.
He wasn’t any different from any other guy that had come into my life. They were all the same.
The rage and, honestly, the embarrassment boiling in me was out of control. I didn’t know what to do with myself. It felt as though I didn’t belong in my own skin. The only thing I wanted was to get away, far away, and from everything.
I pulled in a slow, shaky breath and turned to Nightmare. Firmly placing both hands on my hips, I exhaled. “What can I do to help?”
Chapter
Five
Nightmare smirked as if he’d played a brilliant move in a game of chess and checkmated his opponent. It wasn’t long before his grin vanished, and he’d remember why he’d come to me.
“There is a lot we need to talk about,” Nightmare said, raising a brow. “You’re sure you’re up for this?” He placed a finger over my lips. “Before you answer, however, just remember what my brother has done for you.”
“Well—”
