Page 172 of A House of Gold
Silence as the angels process this.
Caspian warned us, Idris points out.We're bound to her. She's bound to us. Which means we're bound to each other through her. Like a web.
"I'm the center of the web," I realize.
"Fantastic," Seraph mutters. "As if being in the same room with these idiots wasn't bad enough, now I have to feel them even when they're miles away."
"You'll survive," Kael says dryly. "We all will."
"Assuming Heaven doesn't retaliate for the archangel," Lysander points out. "Which they absolutely will, once they realize what happened."
"One crisis at a time," Croesus says. He helps me sit up carefully, supporting my weight when my arms shake. "Right now, we focus on keeping Raven alive and recovering."
"Already focusing on it," I point out. "I'm alive. The bonds worked. Crisis averted."
"For now," Seraph says ominously. But through the bond, I feel his relief. His grudging acceptance that maybe this wasn't the worst outcome.
"Can you stand?" Croesus asks.
I try. My legs hold, barely, and I have to lean heavily on Croesus to stay upright.
"I'll carry you," he decides, and before I can argue, he scoops me up like I weigh nothing.
"I can walk."
"You can barely stand." He's already moving toward the door. "You're going to my chambers. You're going to rest. And you're not leaving until you're fully recovered."
"Possessive much?" But I don't have the energy to argue. And honestly, being carried sounds pretty good right now.
The other angels file out of the chamber behind us. I feel them through the bonds, distinct presences at different points in my awareness.
"This is going to be complicated," I say quietly.
"Everything about you is complicated," Croesus replies. But through our bond, stronger now, permanent, I feel his smile. His relief. His absolute certainty that saving me was worth any cost.
Even tying himself to six other angels he can barely tolerate.
"Thank you," I whisper. "All of you. For saving me."
Croesus's arms tighten around me. "Always."
I feel the others' agreement. Reluctant in some cases. Surprising in others. But there.
We're bound now. Seven deadly sins and one mortal sin eater.
Forever.
Gods help us all.
36
Iwake to golden light and the feeling of being watched.
Not in a threatening way. More like...monitored. Observed. Cared for.
I force my eyes open, expecting to see Croesus sitting vigil beside the bed like he did after the collector attack. But the chair by the window is empty, the room quiet except for the soft whisper of fabric against stone.
The presence I'm feeling isn't in the room.
