Extinguish by J. M. Darhower Read Free Book Online

surrendering to lust would be the end of them.
    Mere minutes had passed when the air crackled and an Archangel appeared in the middle of the park. His presence startled everyone except for Samuel, who took the sudden distraction to gain the upper hand. He pulled hard, yanking his opponents straight into the mud with a splat.
    Laughing as the angels tried to clean themselves up, Samuel made his way over to the grassy knoll. He took a seat beside Serah, his face lit up with an elated grin. His brown hair reached his chin, falling into his face. He ignored his messy locks and threw his arm over her shoulder, pulling her roughly to him in a headlock. "Hey, little sis."
    "Samuel," she said, trying to escape his grip. "Have you forgotten I'm three nanoseconds older than you?"
    "Older, but still smaller."
    She broke loose. "Yet just as strong."
    The Archangel cautiously approached, the only one in the park not in human form. His wings seemed more expansive with everyone else's tucked away, his stance intimidating.
    "Michael," Samuel greeted him. "Nice to see you, buddy. Have a seat. Relax."
    Everyone remained still, attentive, almost awestruck with him there. They worshiped no one except their Father, but Michael inspired something in them. Being in his presence, witnessing his radiance, made them feel just a little bit holier for a moment.
    Samuel seemed unaffected, though. Always so relaxed, always so friendly.
    Michael didn't sit, appearing not at all at ease. He lingered in front of them, watching curiously, not used to socializing. His eyes met Serah's eventually, the magnificent blue as bright and cloudless as the afternoon sky. Curiosity sparked in them as his lips twitched with a smile—the first smile she'd ever seen on his face.
    "This is my sister, Serah," Samuel said, noticing where his attention had gone. "Serah, this is—"
    "Michael," she whispered. "I know who he is."
    Samuel laughed. "Of course you do."
    The other Powers hollered for a rematch, drawing Samuel back out into the park.
    "Serah," Michael said, her name a warm summer breeze from his lips. "I apologize, but I can't say I'm as aware of you as you are of me."
    "No need for an apology," she said. "You're an Archangel and I'm—"
    "Exquisite."
    She blanched. That certainly wasn't something she'd expected him to say.
    Michael's gaze drifted out onto the park as the second game of tug-o-war started. "Your brother's a great warrior. I couldn't ask for a better ally in the fight against evil."
    "Yeah, Samuel's brilliant. I hope to be just like him someday."
    "I have no doubt you already are," he said, turning back to her. "I've never seen you in battle, though."
    "I prefer earthly duties."
    "Shame," Michael said. "If I had you by my side every day, maybe it all wouldn't feel so utterly drab."
    Before Serah could even make sense of his words, Michael drifted away. He broke up the game of tug-o-war, grabbing the middle of the rope and singlehandedly sending all eight men flying into the puddle before disappearing.
    Hannah cleared her throat. "Well, I guess we know now who has the biggest penis here."
    Serah shook with laughter as the gathering broke up, Hannah vanishing to go back to work as the Powers wandered off. Samuel shook off the mud as he strolled toward her. "I had a feeling he was going to do that."
    "He's, uh . . . interesting."
    "He's a great ally."
    "That's the same thing he said about you," she said. "He seems fond of you."
    "And I of him," Samuel said. "Most shy away from Michael, and I get why. No matter how good he is, no matter how pure, it's hard to break from the shadow of someone who, so badly, fell from Grace."
    "Satan."
    "Yep," Samuel said. "Imagine having that dude as a brother. Makes me look a million times better, huh?"
    Serah dramatically scrunched up her nose. "Eh, I guess you're okay."
     
    "It was my brother."
    Lucifer’s brow creased as he gazed across the gate at Serah. "Your brother?"
    "You asked how Michael noticed me," she said.