Golden Angel: (Broken Angel #5) by L.G. Castillo Read Free Book Online Page A

headed to the edge of the beach.
    “Come on, Leilani,” Sammy muttered under his breath.
    Screw it!
    “Stay here!” Jeremy rushed past Sammy, diving into the water. He swam swiftly, counting the seconds with each stroke.
    Twenty-two, twenty-three . . .
    How long could a human hold their breath? Despite what Sammy had said, four minutes sounded way too long to him.
    Fifty-one, fifty-two . . .
    He propelled forward, finally reaching the bottle. He took one look at the red string attached to it and dove.
    Fifty-five, fifty-six . . .
    The water was surprisingly murky. Even with his angelic sight, he couldn’t see anything. He swam deeper, wondering how far it was to the bottom.
    Fifty-nine, four minutes! He kicked his legs faster.
    Could she last this long under water? He didn’t even know how long his human form could go on without breathing. Would he drown? He couldn’t die, but his body could. Water could fill his lungs just like any other human and would stop. He couldn’t transform into his angelic form, not now. He wouldn’t be able to get her if he did.
    Four minutes thirty-seven, thirty-eight . . .
    The water was endless. He should’ve reached her by now. There seemed to be no bottom in sight.
    Fifty-one, fifty-two . . .
    Damn it, Leilani. Where are you?
    Suddenly, it was like a veil was lifted, and the water cleared. That was when he saw her.
    She sat cross-legged on the ocean floor, her arms and long hair waving above her. She looked like a sleeping, dark-haired angel.
    No!
    He sped to her, grabbing her by the waist. His fingers felt something hard. He looked down and noticed a belt cinched around her tiny waist. It was holding her down.
    He ripped the belt off her and with the speed of light swam up. Pressure built inside his chest. He had the urge to breathe. He couldn’t. He had to get her out of there.
    He pushed as hard as he could until finally they broke the surface. He gasped, the air burning his empty lungs.
    “Leilani . . . wake . . . up.” He could barely get out the words.
    He swam back to the beach, waiting for her to open her eyes and glare. He waited for the cussing and the hitting.
    There was nothing.
    God, please no. He looked at the sky as he held on to her lifeless body, wondering if Uri was near.
    “Leilani!” Sammy screeched when Jeremy finally reached shore.
    “I have her, Sammy.” He was not giving up on her. She was too young, too full of life. He laid her on the sand and pressed his lips onto hers.
    She’s cold.
    He inhaled, taking as much life-giving air as he could, and breathed deeply into her mouth.
    Come back to me.
    He pumped her chest, rotating between pumping and breathing into her mouth.
    “Don’t leave me, Leilani,” Sammy sobbed.
    Tears streamed down Jeremy’s face, mixing with the salty water as Sammy whimpered. This was not the way her life was supposed to end.
    “You’re not dying, Leilani. Do you hear me? I won’t let you.”
    He whispered the words he’d heard Raphael say so many times during his healing ritual. He didn’t care anymore about duty. Screw duty! He was tired of death. He was banished anyway.
    Whispering ancient words of life and resurrection, he breathed into her again. Then he paused, water droplets splashed onto her pale cheeks. His mouth hovered over hers, waiting for her heart to beat once more.
    And waited.
    And waited.
    He kept his eyes glued to Leilani’s chest, willing it to move.
    It was still. No heartbeat. No life.
    He’d failed. He didn’t have the power to bring her back. She was . . .
    The word stuck in his throat.
    With quivering lips, he kissed her forehead, her eyelids, and then her lips.
    The archangels had had the trial. There was no doubt about it. And this was his punishment.
    He was damned for eternity.

9
    N aomi paced the crowded corridor in front of the Hall of Judgment. She bumped into one angel after another as they streamed into the hall.
    “Love, let’s go inside,” Lash said as he stood next to Rebecca.