Chapter 11

Chapter Eleven

Angelo

Guilt slid down my throat as if I had swallowed vinegar, the bitter taste of my selfishness consuming me. Enzo was like a brother to me, yet I hadn't revealed to him, or indeed anyone else, that it was Serenity's blood that had healed my wounds. If he had fed on her, her blood would have healed him and made him even stronger, but I couldn't bear the thought of even my best friend feasting on her. She was mine and mine alone.

My family was growing desperate; I feared they would attack her to survive, draining her dry. That couldn't happen. I had to protect her.

I had suspected that, as a Nephilim, there was another way Serenity could heal someone besides her blood, and I was right. When she touched Enzo's shoulder, I had watched transfixed as a stream of white light flowed from her and into him. Even in his unconscious state, he was still surrounded by a soft, white glow that matched Serenity's own aura. I couldn't believe what I was seeing—her healing abilities were beyond anything I had imagined.

She sat on the velvet chair, her once-vibrant energy now almost completely depleted, visibly struggling with a bloody nose. The guilt of using her in this way weighed heavily on my conscience, but there had been no other option. Her life—and Enzo's—had depended on it.

She had mentioned she couldn't heal her own wounds. That was something I would have to investigate. Was she referring to the scars on her lower back?

Granting her small request for a television and access to a shower seemed trivial compared to what she had done for me.

Serenity stared at Enzo as if in a daze. "Who did this to him?" She looked at me inquisitively, waiting for me to expand, but it was better that she not know.

So I only gave her a reassuring smile. "Someone who will regret what they did." Something in my voice must have frightened her. Fear crept into her eyes, and she looked away. Her face grew pale, as if she was about to pass out. What was wrong with me? I was terrifying the poor girl. I had to get her out of here.

She sighed and glanced down at my enforcer, concern in her eyes. "W-will he live?" Her voice shook as hard as her body.

I took a deep breath, forcing the turmoil inside me to settle, and plastered a smile on my face. "Enzo will be in good hands with Elena. She's as skilled as any healer in our ranks." I winked. "Well, except for you." My words were calm and confident, but inside, my emotions were swirling like a storm.

Elena wiped Enzo's face with a damp cloth. " Oui, bien s?r , I will take care of him."

I gestured with my hand toward the door. "Please, come with me. I'll take you to your room so you can have that shower."

Serenity got out of the chair but swayed as if she was about to topple over. I clasped her arm to steady her, and she placed her hand over mine. As her fingertips, smeared with Enzo's blood, brushed against my skin, a jolt of electricity coursed through my body. The centuries-old walls around me began to crumble, and I felt more drawn to her than I ever had to any other woman.

We walked in silence back to her bedroom. I stole a sidelong glance at her. Such a young girl, with such power pulsing within her, though she remained unaware of it. Her blood was like a gift from the gods. I cursed my foolishness. Of course it was. Her father was an angel. I just didn't know yet how truly powerful her blood was.

We stopped in front of her door. "Are you going to be all right?"

"I'll be fine," she mumbled as she opened the door.

"Come back out here when you're finished."

She glanced warily at me, then shut the door behind her.

I waited outside Serenity's room for her to finish her shower, wishing I had used the word please. Barking orders was so routine to me, I had forgotten to who I was talking .

Several minutes later, the door opened and Serenity emerged, now wearing a pair of jeans and a loose black T-shirt and smelling clean and fresh, like a summer breeze over the ocean. Somehow the casual attire made her even more enticing to me.

Her eyes were still dazed, as if she was not yet done processing what had happened. She was clearly still in shock over what had happened to Enzo and her ability to heal him.

I gave her a warm smile. "Feel better?"

She nodded. "I guess…" But I could hear the hollowness in her voice and see the way her hands still trembled.

I clasped her shaking hand. "Come with me. I have a surprise for you." I tried to soften my voice, so it sounded more like a request than an order.

She followed me without question.

I led Serenity down the hallway. "Shall I tell you how you did this?"

Her steps faltered, and she looked up at me, her eyes searching. "You know?" I couldn't miss the wariness in her voice.

"Yes, I do," I chuckled as I opened the door.

Serenity's breath hitched as I led her into the immense library, her gaze filled with astonishment as she beheld the grandeur surrounding her. The floor-to-ceiling shelves were filled with books, their spines adorned with intricate designs and gold-embossed titles. Our steps echoed through the expansive space as we walked.

My collection was more than a mere display of wealth or status; it held rare tomes and manuscripts that could not be found anywhere else. The room was filled with the intoxicating aroma of aged paper, and the silence was broken only by the sound of our footsteps. Looking at my vast library, I couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment; these books held not only incredible stories but also told the tale of my own journey through time. This was my sanctuary, where I could escape and continue my never-ending quest for understanding and knowledge, a quest that spanned centuries.

"Oh my gosh." She released my hand and ran her fingertips along the book spines. "This is incredible."

I headed over to a shelf filled with particularly ancient tomes and pulled out a thick book. "I have something you may find interesting."

She peered over my shoulder, leaning in for a closer look. "Is that a book about angels?"

I inhaled her delicate fragrance of dewy roses which lingered in the air. It made my mouth water.

"Yes, it is," I said, a small smile forming on my lips. "I want you to discover your heritage."

She let out a laugh as she straightened back up. "Angels?" She put her hand to her chest. "You think my healing ability has something to do with angels?"

"I do. And I think you need to discover it for yourself."

Her arms immediately crossed over her chest defensively. "I loved my mom, but she was no angel."

I looked at her patiently, waiting for the penny to drop. "And your father?"

The amusement in her eyes disappeared and was instantly replaced with pain. She shook her head and looked away. "I don't want to talk about him. "

I studied her. "Is he the one that left marks on your back?"

Her cheeks flushed. "I thought you didn't see me naked."

"I didn't." I cupped her chin, brushing my finger over her cheek. "Elena told me."

She pulled away from me, tears forming in her eyes. "No, it wasn't my father."

"Then who?"

She wiped the tears that were now rolling down her cheeks. "Why do you care?" The pain in her statement touched me.

"Because I protect what's mine. I promise you, whoever did this to you will never hurt you again."

She lifted her chin in defiance. "He hurt me when I was younger, but not anymore." Still she kept who hurt her a secret, but that wouldn't last for much longer.

I ran the back of my hand down her wet cheek. "Maybe it's time you let someone take care of you."

"Someone like you? As you keep saying, I'm a prisoner here. I'm not sure that's the same as being protected."

She deserved honest answers on what she truly was. "Hiding from your past and your true nature won't help you, Serenity. In fact, it could be dangerous. In these books, this one in particular, I think you will find the answers to questions you never got answered." I brushed a lock of her hair off her face and felt her tremble beneath my touch, whether from fear or something else, I didn't know. "Face your past, Serenity. "

"I think you're wrong." But I could hear the doubt in her voice. And the curiosity.

"Serenity, I want to offer you knowledge. Knowledge about who we are, about your power, about how you fit into this world that's so new to you," I said, hoping to bridge the gap between us with understanding and trust.

She considered my words, the tension in her shoulders easing slightly. "If I find out you're wrong, then will you promise me no more secrets? No more half-truths, either." She held my gaze, daring me to take up her challenge.

"No more secrets," I agreed, feeling the weight of my vow more than any other oath I'd sworn before. I extended my hand, and we shook on it.

But I wasn't ready to tell her about the Aeternum Stone. Not yet.