Fallen Angel by Patricia Puddle Read Free Book Online

that’s funny because we
both know that you stole Eloise from me.”
    Nathaniel rolled his
eyes. “Oh, we’re going through that again, are we? You know very
well that I was called upon by Michael. It wasn’t my fault Eloise
was born early, or that she had a difficult birth. I told you at
the hospital that Lucifer turned up and I had to fight him to get
him out of there, so how dare you accuse me of stealing her from
you? You’re the one who put her life in danger by leaving her
vulnerable without a guardian, and all because you were too busy
ogling pretty girls at a surfing competition.”
    “ Ah.” Devlin,
wagged a finger at him. “So you did know where I
was.”
    Nathaniel sighed. “No, I
didn’t. I found out later. You didn’t tell anyone where you were
going. Look, Devlin, it was eighteen years ago, so why are you
still harping on about it?”
    Devlin clasped his
fingers together. “Because Eloise should have been mine. I’ve
always felt that, I still do. Please, Nate, I’m begging you, hand
her back to me?”
    “ Don’t be
absurd. Angels don’t own people. Anyway, I can’t give her back to
you.”
    Devlin spun away from him
and held his head. “Why not? You betrayed me, Nathaniel, and you
were supposed to be my best friend.”
    “ Don’t try
that one on me. You know I have to put Eloise’s wellbeing first.”
He wrapped his arm around Devlin’s shoulder. “Listen, try and
understand. I had no choice in the matter. I was ordered to take
over as her guardian. I didn’t ask for it. It hurt me as much as it
did you. Ask Ramiel if you don’t believe me.”
    Devlin shrugged him away.
“That’s rubbish. If you were a genuine friend to me, you would’ve
flat out refused, or at least tried to find me, but you didn’t. And
if you are a true friend like you claim to be, prove it.” He
flipped a hand in the air. “Hand her over to me now or at least
share her with me. You owe me that much at least.”
    Confused, Nathaniel
stared at him. “What is it with you? Why do you want Eloise so
desperately?”
    “ The same
reason you do, you hypocrite.”
    Nathaniel raked his hands
through his hair and sighed. “Look, we’re just going around in
circles and I don’t have time to stand here and argue with you all
morning. I’m not sharing her with you, Devlin, and I never will.
Anyway, I’m sure you’ve got better things to do than annoy me. You
must have wards to attend to, so why aren’t you with
them?”
    Devlin smiled. “Nate, I’m
here now because I couldn’t stand us fighting any longer. Though
you don’t admit it, I know you missed me—and I miss you. I couldn’t
stay away any longer. Anyway, I left my ward with his mother’s
guardian. Okay, I’ll admit I want to see what a descendant of a
fallen angel turns out like, but I also want back what was taken
from me. It was my destiny to guard Eloise.” He gripped Nathaniel’s
shoulders. “Come on , Nate, you were my best friend for
thousands of years and we never fought before Eloise was born. You
know you can trust me, so please, just share her with
me?”
    Nathaniel looked deep
into Devlin’s eyes and though he tried to see into his soul,
something was stopping him. Believing he had an ulterior motive,
there was no way he could trust him with Eloise, so he pushed him
away. “No, and that’s my final answer.”
    “ Why
not?”
    Nathaniel blew out a
frustrated breath. “Because I don’t trust you.”
    “ What’s that
supposed to mean?”
    Nathaniel looked at him
for a long moment. “Listen, Devlin. I know you won’t believe this,
but I would love nothing better than for us to be friends again,
but you have to move on and forget about guarding Eloise. Please,
say that you will and we can ...”
    Before Nathaniel could
finish his sentence, the back door flew open and Madeline walked
out with her laundry basket. Devlin’s jaw dropped and as she walked
down the garden to the washing line, he stared at her bare legs and
whistled.