Wings of Redemption by Sarah Gilman Read Free Book Online

of course. I wouldn’t have it any other way, and the colony produces plenty.”
    “Nice.”
    She headed for the kitchen, and he made quick work of cleaning up the castoff archangel on the floor. When he rejoined her, she sat on a bar stool and had the first set of waffles in the toaster.
    He pulled dishes out of the cabinet and went to the fridge. Thankfully, he had orange juice and raspberries to offer, as well. He typically didn’t have much variety on hand, but he was growing in some new flight feathers, which required decent nutrition. If not for that, the calories flight consumed, and the energy drained from his psychic talent, he wouldn’t care if he lived on cheese and crackers.
    Hmm. Just one more way he’d stopped giving a damn about life without paying the sentiment any notice.
    “So.” She fidgeted with the maple syrup bottle as they waited on the waffles. “What happens after Virgil is done picking my brain? Not that I know anything he’ll find useful, by the way. I stay the hell out of my father’s business. Will I be allowed to leave without…anything else coming up?”
    Kestrel leaned on the counter. “What did Carny tell you?”
    “Uh—”
    “She told you something. I know her. And you look guilty.”
    Saffron sighed. “She said you might ask me to stay here for a few days.”
    “Did she say why?”
    “Just that you had a good reason.”
    He passed her the first set of waffles and added a second pair to the toaster for himself. “Yes, I would like you to consider staying in Eden as my guest. For a week, tops.” He chose his next words with care. “You see, all archangels and some demons have extrasensory abilities. Our term is ‘psychic talent.’”
    She nodded. “My father mentioned that once. He thought it was a rumor, though.”
    “Not at all.”
    “So you do read minds!” She leaned back.
    “I cannot read your mind, I promise. Our individual skills run in families. Some are healers. Some are mind readers. Carny can make plants grow before your eyes, as her father could. The colony has fresh fruit and vegetables year round thanks to her.”
    “And you?”
    “They call me the grim reaper behind my back.” He clenched his teeth. He’d never had to explain himself to someone who didn’t already understand his talent. He often didn’t have to explain at all. Usually, he could just take someone aside and they’d put two and two together before he opened his mouth. “I know when someone is close to death.”
    She worried her lower lip. “Close to death, as in a gunshot victim?”
    “Like that, except I know before the gun is even drawn.”
    She blanched. “Are you saying I’m going to die?”
    “Yes. No!” He reached for her hand as she swayed. “I’ve helped others avoid death many times. This is a problem that can be solved, Saffron. That’s why I want you to stay.”
    “But, if you’ve seen the future—”
    “I’m not seeing the future.” He stroked her hand. “You could say I’m witness to an arrangement of dominoes in real time, constantly rearranging themselves. People walk in and out of death’s shadow more often than you’d think. For example, if someone stepped out in front of a speeding car, I’d sense the imminent death. That doesn’t mean the car won’t swerve a second later. All I’m privy to is how circumstances are lined up in a given moment.”
    She sat in silence, absorbing the information. “But you don’t know how long I’ll need to stay?”
    “I’m afraid not. Whatever’s looming over you is not fleeting, like the car example. It’s been constant since you drove up to Eden’s gates. Maybe longer—I can’t sense anything beyond a distance of a few miles. However, I’ve never sensed a death more than a week ahead of time. That instance turned out to be a demon planning a suicide.” He narrowed his eyes.
    She stiffened. “I’m not suicidal.”
    “Good.”
    “Is this why you took an interest in me in the first