33. Josie

SEVERAL MONTHS LATER

The warm glow of the Bookish Cat’s lights spilled across the shelves, casting a romantic spell over the place. It was twilight, my favorite time of day, when the shop hummed softly like a contented purr—or maybe that was Matilda. A few lingering customers thumbed through pages, the faint scent of vanilla mixing with the aroma of books both old and new. Scattered heart-shaped garlands hung from the shelves, and a small bowl of chocolate truffles sat atop the counter beside me, a delicious reminder that it was Valentine’s Day. The store was mine, my sanctuary, and tonight, it buzzed with a touch of extra romantic magic.

Which meant it was only a matter of time before Caleb appeared.

From somewhere behind a stack of mysteries, Heathcliff emerged, padding gracefully across the wooden floor like the feline royalty he believed himself to be. Gatsby followed close behind, while Matilda was perched on a shelf in the poetry section, tail flicking with the cadence of her own quiet musings. I shook my head, smiling, and grateful that they hadn’t left despite Gabriel dismissing them from their mission.

I felt eyes on me and turned to see Caleb wandering between the shelves, but his eyes were on me. He raised his fingers to his lips and then pointed to the individuals browsing through the new French cookbooks I got through an independent publisher.

The man and woman were oblivious to the magic swirling around them. Caleb, with his usual understated elegance, had maneuvered them into this nook of the shop with all the subtlety of a master cupid at work. The couple struck up a conversation, and their enthusiasm made me smile. Caleb had drawn them together over a shared interest in something mundane yet oddly intimate: bread-making.

Caleb’s celestial powers were never flashy—more of a gentle nudge than a shove. As the couple’s fingers touched over the book, I saw the faintest spark of attraction pass between them, like a flicker of a candle just waiting to burn bright.

“Do you have another copy of this?” the woman asked while keeping her fingertips on the book.

“Sorry,” I shrugged as I smiled on the inside, “the translations from French were few and far between. I was lucky to get that copy at all.” Warmth came over me, a wave of communication from Caleb and the right words came to me. “But you know that baking in France is an art to be shared…”

The man smiled at the woman. “I would love to buy you this book.”

She smiled back, a blush growing up her neck. “Only if I can bake you the first loaf.”

It was borderline cheesy, though I’d never read a line quite like it before .

I rang up the sale, the couple never taking their eyes off each other. I could have charged ten times more for the book and they’d never have been any the wiser, not that I ever would. Love born over French loaves on Valentine’s Day sounded perfect for these two.

The bell above the door tinkled as they left, chatting about the benefits of homemade versus commercial sourdough starters.

Well done, my heart, Caleb communicated to me from across the shop. There were a few other folks browsing, and some words were best shared silently. You have a gift.

Pride bloomed in my chest. This was our life: me and my celestial matchmaker, creating new love stories in the midst of our own. I glanced at Caleb, who caught my eye and winked, my heart doing that familiar flip.

How was it that one look from him still made me feel like a girl falling in love for the first time all over again?

We held each other’s eyes, desire growing like a vine that tied us together, as the last of the browsing patrons stepped outside.

No customers in the shop , I sent to him through our connection. And you know I got a new shipment of Gaelic dictionaries in the back…

The dim light caught the sharp angles of his face, his eyes smoldering with an affection that left me breathless. His gaze traveled over me, slow and deliberate, as if committing every inch of me to memory. I swallowed, feeling a rush of heat coil in my belly. He didn’t need to say a word—his intentions were as clear as the tension building between us.

Let’s celebrate another couple who have just begun their love story , he said through silent air.

Let’s tear off these clothes so you can fuck me senseless, hmmm? I headed toward the storeroom, keeping my eyes on him.

He didn’t reply immediately. Instead, he walked toward me with a grace that was almost predatory, each step sending little tremors through my body. My back pressed against the door, and I realized I was holding my breath. By the time he reached me, his lips curved into a small, knowing smile.

I laid my hand on his chest. “Maybe that couple will get up to some naughty stuff tonight, too.”

“All in a day’s work,” he murmured, his voice roughened with desire, the sound vibrating straight through me. His hand came up to cup my cheek, his thumb grazing my bottom lip.

He leaned in, his lips brushing mine in a teasing, barely-there kiss that made my knees go weak. I closed my eyes, my senses sharpening, every nerve attuned to him. Heat radiated from his body as his mouth claimed mine fully then, a surge of passion that left me gasping.

My hands found their way to his hair, tangling in the softness of his curls as he deepened the kiss. His tongue stroked against mine, the taste of him heady and intoxicating. I melted into him, arching my body against his as he pressed me against the door. His hands skimmed down my sides, setting every inch of me alight, and I couldn’t suppress the soft moan that escaped my lips.

“God, Josie,” he breathed against my mouth, his voice thick with need. “You’re everything.”

I barely had time to process his words before he scooped me up into his arms, my legs wrapping instinctively around his waist. He closed the storeroom door, our lips never parting, his movements fluid and assured.

After our stolen moments in the storeroom, I walked back out to the front counter, a stack of Gaelic dictionaries in my hands and Caleb’s. And then…

Everything changed .

A surge of energy erupted within me, searing through every cell of my body. I gasped, the force of it blinding, like molten gold flowing through my veins, so strongly I nearly dropped the books. My skin tingled, every nerve vibrating with sensations that stole my breath. The room around us blurred, bathed in a golden radiance that seemed to pour out from me.

Caleb stilled, his eyes widening as he dropped the dictionaries to look at me. “Josie…” he whispered, awe lacing his voice. “You’re glowing.”

I blinked up at him, dazed and exhilarated, as the light around me slowly began to dim. My vision cleared, and I could see him staring at me with wonder. A new awareness settled over me, as though the world had shifted, revealing secrets that had been hidden in plain sight. I could sense things I never had before—the pulse of emotions, the faint whispers of thoughts around us. It was as if some barrier had broken inside me, leaving me wide open to everything.

“What... what just happened?” I managed to gasp out, my voice trembling.

He smiled, his thumb tracing my cheek tenderly. “You were always extraordinary.”

The world around me had shifted, and everything felt alive with an intensity I’d never experienced. Colors around the room seemed to shimmer, more vivid and vibrant than before. The dark mahogany shelves glowed with rich undertones, each spine gleaming in hues I hadn’t noticed in the light’s reflection. The lingering scent of paper and ink smelled sharper, almost sweet.

The air itself vibrated with a hum of emotions, layered and complex, like music, entire symphonies that hadn’t even yet been written.

And Caleb. Oh, Caleb. He shone more brightly than anything else in the shop, his presence like a beacon of warmth and light that wrapped around me. His emotions washed over me in waves: awe, joy, love, and something even deeper, more profound. I felt the pulse of his heartbeat without touching him, a steady rhythm that matched my own.

“Our auras are entwined more deeply than before,” Caleb said as his eyes wandered over me. He lifted his arm and extended his hand to caress my shoulder, tracing down to the place his seal lay on my thigh. The glow intensified for a moment before dimming away again. “Perhaps that’s what you feel?”

I could only nod, overwhelmed by the rush of sensations. I could feel everything: his happiness, his wonder, his love for me—a love so deep, it nearly brought me to tears.

But then, just as I was beginning to wrap my mind around this new reality, I sensed something deeply wrong on the sidewalk. A man—no, a shifter, I could now sense for myself—tall and powerfully built, stood on the other side of the glass door. His eyes scanned first me, then lingered knowingly on Caleb, as if they’d met before. There was a storm of emotions pouring off him, so strong it enveloped me in melancholy and loneliness. But before I could say a thing, he bolted. The melancholy left me as quickly as it had arrived.

Whatever had caused this newfound awareness, it was going to take some getting used to .

“That man...” I started, taking my time to find the right words, but nothing came.

“I’ve seen him before. At the café.” Caleb sighed. “But the curse on him is beyond even my power.”

The idea of a curse created more questions than it answered, but I didn’t get a chance to ask anything more because at that moment, the room filled with a blinding light. I gasped, clutching Caleb’s arm as he instinctively stepped in front of me, shielding me.

When the light faded, I blinked, and there, standing in the center of the Bookish Cat, was Gabriel. Only he didn’t look as regal and untouchable as the times I’d seen him before. His eyes sparkled with a casual friendliness, like he was just some guy dropping by to chat.

“Well, this is cozy,” Gabriel remarked, looking around the bookstore with an amused grin. “I love what you’ve done with the place.” He smiled as his gaze landed on me. “First of all, congrats, you two.” He pointed at my stomach, wiggling his eyebrows. “Little Nephilim on the way! Exciting stuff, right? The new level of sensory input when carrying an angel-child takes some getting used to, but I’m sure you’re up for it.”

I froze, a jolt of energy surging through me at his words. My hand instinctively flew to my abdomen, heart pounding so loudly I was sure Caleb could hear it.

Caleb wrapped his arms securely around my waist, holding me close. I pressed my forehead against his chest, feeling the steady rise and fall of his breathing as I tried to process what had just happened.

Nephilim. Angel-child.

Caleb’s eyes shone as he rested his hand over mine on my stomach.

“Our child.” He chuckled, the sound light and relaxed, sending every lingering thought of the strange shifter away. “ Of course you’d be covered by a golden aura. How do you feel?” he whispered, his voice full of concern but tinged with the joy I felt myself.

My cheeks flushed but couldn’t help the smile that broke across my face as I turned to Caleb. “So... it’s true?”

“It is. I would have spotted it myself, if we hadn’t just been, uh, occupied.” He blushed. My eternal, sexy angel blushed . I wanted to laugh at his expression, but I smothered it behind my palm.

Gabriel didn’t seem to notice, his smile warm and genuine. “Your kid’s going to be something special—a bridge between our realms, I have no doubt.” He laughed softly, crossing his arms. “And let me tell you, this child will have some crazy talents, but that’s for another time. Right now, enjoy the moment. This is big. The whole Host is talking.”

Caleb pulled Gabriel into a big hug, clapping him on the back with a quiet, “Thank you.”

As joy bubbled up within me, Gabriel rubbed his hands together with unbridled glee. Glee that made me both suspicious and a little bit nervous. “Looks like a celebration is in order! And by the way, you’ve got company coming in three... two...”

The door tinkled as Nana Geraldine burst through with a loud whoop, streamers in hand. “Where is she? Where is she? There she is!” She rushed at me with the sprightliness of a septuagenarian, and I swore she lifted me off the floor with her hug. “I am so, so happy for you.” She kissed my cheek. “We all are.”

“Surprise!” Mom squealed as she rushed in with a cake. “My baby is having a baby!”

“And look!” Dad pointed with pride. “We were even able to get a last-minute cake! We had to make do with a Valentine’s one, but we figured you would understand.”

The cake was adorned with the most elaborate three-dimensional baby cupid I had ever seen. “It’s perfect,” I said as Caleb shook his head with a big, goofy smile on his face.

“But how did you know…” I looked at Nana.

“Let’s say a little—um—birdie told us.” She shimmied her shoulders in Gabriel’s direction. “And of course the whole family needed to come down to celebrate with you. A baby!”

Gabriel cleared his throat and whispered to Caleb, “I’ll go set up the kid’s room.” In that same instant, I heard a faint pop and Gabriel vanished, while my family wasn’t looking.

Birdie, my ass. That Gabriel can’t keep a secret to save his soul… Oh, never mind.

I was swept into a massive hug, my face smothered by red-and-blue checked flannel. “I’m so happy for you, little sis.” I hugged Fred back with all my might. If anyone had told me a year ago that this was where we’d be today, I’d have told them they were high in Wonderland.

But there we were. Caleb. Mom and Dad. Fred. And Nana.

My heart swelled with feelings that weren’t just my own. A new power now surged through my veins, coloring my view of everyone around me. My family—each of them lit up with a joy that shimmered, a swirl of elation and tenderness.

Then, there was Caleb. My love. His pride and quiet adoration, steady and fierce like an anchor in the storm.

And, of course, the life growing inside me—a blend of hope, awe, and the tiniest flicker of uncertainty that came from deep within myself. It was more than I’d ever dared to dream. The rush of emotions, both mine and those around me, overwhelmed me, leaving me breathless in the most wonderful way .

“You are everything to me, and this child already has my heart,” he whispered, his voice raw with emotion. “I love you.”

I whispered into his ear the words that had made forever a reality.

“And love conquers all.”

Our intimate moment came to an abrupt end when Nana stepped in, taking me by the shoulders. “I am so proud of you, Josie.” Her eyes misted over, but a grin quickly overtook her face. “And I know you know that no party would be complete without?—”

“Oh, no.”

“—a flashmob!” She threw her hands in the air and a parade of movement burst into the Bookish Cat. Heathcliff, Matilda, and Gatsby headed for the high shelves as we were suddenly surrounded by jazz hands, kick-ball-changes, and streamers in every color of the rainbow. “Let’s show this baby some love, girls!”

Caleb pulled me into his arms and we laughed . My life had taken a lot of twists and turns. Some of them crazy, like Nana Geraldine’s flashmobs, and others simply supernatural. But as I leaned into Caleb’s chest, I was at peace. At home.

Just an angel and his Chosen, with a baby on the way.

Thank you for reading When the Angel Falls First!