was of the order of Cherubim, so he was very much involved with the development of mankind. He watched God pour out unconditional love on a race of beings who were often violent and self-serving. God allowed humans to express the sort of rebellion for which his brother had Fallen . Ambrose was the most vocal of our group, but we all resented God’s new creation. And we each expressed our frustration in our own way.”
“What did you say?”
“I asked how we were expected to recognize truth in the midst of all the lies.”
“But Sariel said angels cannot lie.”
“Truth is shaped by perception. We spoke honestly of things we believed to be true, but our attitudes and bitterness had corrupted the truth.”
“So being unable to distinguish truth from lies became your challenge, the trial you must overcome.”
“Aye. Were it not for Sariel’s ability to see into my mind, I might still be lost in lies.”
Rosalind shifted on the bench, scooting nearer. Her voice dropped to nearly a whisper as she asked, “Why does Sir Sariel need to read the thoughts of others? It seems an odd ability for an angel.”
Alyssa looked away from Rosalind’s expectant gaze. What could she say that would be true, yet not frighten Rosalind further?
“Have you ever heard of a Nephilim ?” Sariel asked as he neared them.
Rosalind glanced over her shoulder, watching him round the bench and stand beside the hearth. She shook her head. “What is a Nephilim ?”
“Angels are divided into orders.” He crossed his arms over his chest as firelight gleamed off his hair. “The Order of Grigori—”
“You introduced yourself as Sariel Grigori.”
“Aye. I am prince of the Order of Grigori.”
“Not just an angel, but a prince.” Rosalind rubbed her temples again and closed her eyes for a moment. “Perhaps I am the one going mad.”
Alyssa rubbed her back and waited for her eyes to open. “I think you should rest for a while. You are clearly overwrought.”
“Nay.” Rosalind took a deep breath and squared her shoulders. “I would rather hear it all now. No more surprises. You were speaking of the Nephilim .”
Sariel hesitated, his gaze moving cautiously over Rosalind’s face. “My order, the Grigori, are able to interact with humans in a way other angels are not.”
Rosalind’s cheeks bloomed with color. “As you were ‘interacting’ with Alyssa?”
“Aye.” His smile was completely unrepentant. “What we did not realize was that as well as being able to enjoy the pleasures of the flesh we are able to produce offspring.”
“Angels can have children?” Rosalind’s eyes widened comically.
“Only the Grigori, and there are very few of us left.”
Rosalind paused, fitting all of the pieces of the puzzle together. “ Nephilim are the offspring of the Grigori and humans?”
“Aye.”
Rosalind stood and moved to the other side of Alyssa. Her eyes narrowed and her hands clenched. She shook her head. “Is this why Alyssa came to me? Gideon’s blood makes me a Nephilim ?”
“I wish it were so simple.” Sariel remained where he was, but his tone softened. “Gideon’s blood has been diluted by many generations. What I sense in you is a far more recent mixing of human and…non-human blood.”
“What does this mean?” Rosalind cried. “What is to become of me? Is this why the demon is after me?”
Alyssa rose and wrapped her arm around Rosalind’s shoulders, not surprised to find her slender body trembling. “What do you remember of your parents? How did they meet? Was theirs a love match ?”
Turning to Alyssa, Rosalind buried her face against the other woman’s throat. “Don’t let him hurt me. He means me harm. I see the suspicion in his eyes.”
Alyssa stroked her back and shook her head when Sariel opened his mouth to speak. Sariel could find out what he needed to know without traumatizing Rosalind. “Let’s go to your room. You should rest. This has been a trying day.”
Rosalind
“What did you say?”
“I asked how we were expected to recognize truth in the midst of all the lies.”
“But Sariel said angels cannot lie.”
“Truth is shaped by perception. We spoke honestly of things we believed to be true, but our attitudes and bitterness had corrupted the truth.”
“So being unable to distinguish truth from lies became your challenge, the trial you must overcome.”
“Aye. Were it not for Sariel’s ability to see into my mind, I might still be lost in lies.”
Rosalind shifted on the bench, scooting nearer. Her voice dropped to nearly a whisper as she asked, “Why does Sir Sariel need to read the thoughts of others? It seems an odd ability for an angel.”
Alyssa looked away from Rosalind’s expectant gaze. What could she say that would be true, yet not frighten Rosalind further?
“Have you ever heard of a Nephilim ?” Sariel asked as he neared them.
Rosalind glanced over her shoulder, watching him round the bench and stand beside the hearth. She shook her head. “What is a Nephilim ?”
“Angels are divided into orders.” He crossed his arms over his chest as firelight gleamed off his hair. “The Order of Grigori—”
“You introduced yourself as Sariel Grigori.”
“Aye. I am prince of the Order of Grigori.”
“Not just an angel, but a prince.” Rosalind rubbed her temples again and closed her eyes for a moment. “Perhaps I am the one going mad.”
Alyssa rubbed her back and waited for her eyes to open. “I think you should rest for a while. You are clearly overwrought.”
“Nay.” Rosalind took a deep breath and squared her shoulders. “I would rather hear it all now. No more surprises. You were speaking of the Nephilim .”
Sariel hesitated, his gaze moving cautiously over Rosalind’s face. “My order, the Grigori, are able to interact with humans in a way other angels are not.”
Rosalind’s cheeks bloomed with color. “As you were ‘interacting’ with Alyssa?”
“Aye.” His smile was completely unrepentant. “What we did not realize was that as well as being able to enjoy the pleasures of the flesh we are able to produce offspring.”
“Angels can have children?” Rosalind’s eyes widened comically.
“Only the Grigori, and there are very few of us left.”
Rosalind paused, fitting all of the pieces of the puzzle together. “ Nephilim are the offspring of the Grigori and humans?”
“Aye.”
Rosalind stood and moved to the other side of Alyssa. Her eyes narrowed and her hands clenched. She shook her head. “Is this why Alyssa came to me? Gideon’s blood makes me a Nephilim ?”
“I wish it were so simple.” Sariel remained where he was, but his tone softened. “Gideon’s blood has been diluted by many generations. What I sense in you is a far more recent mixing of human and…non-human blood.”
“What does this mean?” Rosalind cried. “What is to become of me? Is this why the demon is after me?”
Alyssa rose and wrapped her arm around Rosalind’s shoulders, not surprised to find her slender body trembling. “What do you remember of your parents? How did they meet? Was theirs a love match ?”
Turning to Alyssa, Rosalind buried her face against the other woman’s throat. “Don’t let him hurt me. He means me harm. I see the suspicion in his eyes.”
Alyssa stroked her back and shook her head when Sariel opened his mouth to speak. Sariel could find out what he needed to know without traumatizing Rosalind. “Let’s go to your room. You should rest. This has been a trying day.”
Rosalind
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