Chapter 63: Contract

Lanie

Angandriel flew us out of heaven. The clouds seemed to go on forever and the white surrounding us seemed oddly familiar. I wondered if it was something Kira had seen before. Maybe after we combined I would finally stop feeling this weird sense of déjà vu all the time.

Angandriel held me in his arms in a hug with my hands around his neck. The wind was cold against my skin, but he was giving off so much heat that I just snuggled in closer to him.

"Where are we going?" I asked.

"Utah, they have Kira there. I think they are going to try the merging ritual again and summon Juno."

"Juno, Juno... Why does that sound familiar?"

"She is the one that granted your mother's wish and separated your soul from your body."

I frowned, "So, we're not friends."

"She also granted your wish and separated Isabell's mind, body, and soul."

"So, we are friends?"

"To her, you are a game piece and she is using you for entertainment."

"Well, that's not very nice," I said.

"Most gods aren't."

"So, how do we kick her ass?"

"We need to get the Aurora sword back."

"Why is that so familiar?"

"You had a run in with Karma. She made you go get it."

"Wait." Images of a clouded place and epic monsters ran through my mind. "A cyclops? Medusa?"

He nodded.

"I thought that was just a dream. Wait, did I get really sick after that?" Images of Angandriel and Remi fighting over me while I was in his lap crossed my mind.

Angandriel's face looked grave as he nodded.

I rested my hand on his cheek. "Thank you."

The look he shared with me filled me with fire. I quickly looked away. Remi had just kissed me and now I was looking at Angandriel. What the hell was wrong with me? It must just be the heat coming off him. That was it.

"I like you better when you answer my questions."

"I like being able to answer your questions."

I laughed. "When this is all over, I am going to have a lot more questions for you."

Angandriel's arms tightened around me. "When this is over."

That motion dragged me back to reality. I probably wasn't going to survive this, at least not as I was right now. After I merged, I would be someone completely new. I might lose all my memories. I might be completely erased and Kira would take over.

"So, how do we get the sword from Karma? You don't happen to have any fancy stones I can barter for it, do you?"

He shook his head. "You have me."

My jaw dropped. "Wait no. No, no. I am not going to barter you to get a sword."

"You have to. It's all you have."

"But I just got you. I haven't even had a chance to play with you yet?"

His blue eyes landed on mine. His lips twitched up at the corner of his mouth. "You want to play with me?"

My cheeks blushed red hot. I looked away. "That's not... that's not what I meant. You know it."

He chuckled. "You're cute when you run out of words. I like you more that way."

I glared at him. "Are you saying you like it better when I shut up?"

He just smiled as he looked ahead where he was flying.

I stared at him while he flew. I was going to have to give him up. He wouldn't be able to save me anymore. I may never see him again. My arms tightened around him. I buried my face in his neck. I didn't want him to see me cry.

He held me close. I couldn't help it. I didn't want to lose him. He may have always annoyed the crap out of me, but he had always been there. Just like he was now. And I had finally freed him of his obligations. I didn't want to sell him like an object.

"I can't do it," I said in his ear.

He stroked my shoulder with his hand. "Yes you can. You just have to sign the contract over to Karma."

"I won't."

"If you don't, you'll die. They will summon you and you won't be able to defend yourself. They will sacrifice you to Juno and then everyone will die. Do you really want Isabell to be that powerful?"

I shook my head against his shoulder. "Isn't there another way? Where is Kira? She could think of something better."

"I think the option is die trying to kill a force of nature or die trying to kill a goddess. Your odds are better against the goddess."

I pulled away from him. "I'll come back for you. I'll buy your contract back. I promise."

"If you even remember me."

"Or if I survive."

He looked down at me with so much pain in his eyes. Even he knew I was probably going to die. I couldn't stand it. I pressed my lips to his cheek. They lingered there for a moment.

He turned and found my lips with his. Then his tongue found mine. His kiss was rougher than Remi's. He pushed into my mouth and demanded my attention. It was like he needed it as much as breathing. And now I needed it too.

I kissed him back, moving my tongue over his with as much passion as he showed me. His hands moved down to my thighs, pulling my legs up around him. They settled on my ass as he held me against him. I could feel every breath he took and every movement of his hands on me as he ran them up down my ass and legs. I moved against him. I had no idea what I was doing, but everything felt so good. I loved how his body moved against mine. I wanted more of it.

He groaned and pulled way.

"What?" I asked.

"You're killing me," he whispered.

I shot him a questioning look.

He shook his head. "You can't present me to Karma like this." He looked down briefly between us.

My faced turned redder. "Oh, umm... sorry? Are we almost there?"

He kissed me on the forehead then nodded. He dropped down through the air into a forest. We landed in a circle of familiar looking pines. My feet gently eased on the ground as he set me down. I was suddenly incredibly cold without his body pressing against mine.

"I don't want to do this," I said.

"You have to."

"I'm going to get you back."

He pulled me in a hug then ducked his head down and kissed me once more. It was quick, but the heat of it left me breathless. I stared up in his blue eyes as he pulled away. "I am going to get you back."

His smile was forced. "Just do it. Time is running out."

My gaze lingered on him a bit longer. I was drinking him in and writing him to my memory. I never wanted to forget this. I finally turned to the circle. I lifted my hands and flicked them.

"Draw," I whispered.

The lines etched themselves in the dirt.

"I don't have any offerings."

Angandriel shook his head. "She'll come. She'll want to keep the balance."

I didn't know what that meant, but he didn't respond to my questioning look. I raised my hands over my head. "Karma, force of nature, I summon thee. I offer up an angel."

Purple smoke poured from the ruins. Her hard eyes narrowed on me.

"An angel?" Her eyes shifted to Angandriel.

"I offer you his contract in trade for the Aurora Sword."

She looked between the two of us. "That's not enough"

Angandriel stepped forward. "Yes it is." I had never heard so much heat in his voice. Was he angry?

She stared him up and down. "Well," she cocked her head to the side, "he is pretty."

I lifted my hand over the contract on my torso. "Reveal," I whispered. The contract pulled off my skin. I held it out to her.

She reached for it. I pulled it away slightly opening up my other hand. "Sword?"

Karma twisted her hand in the air. Purple smoke materialized into a small dagger.

I looked to Angandriel. "Is that it?"

He nodded.

She let the dagger in my open hand. She grasped the contract with the other. She pulled, but I couldn't let go.

"It's only a deal if you let me have him."

"I'll be back for him."

Her smile was evil. "Oh, so this is a loan?"

"I don't want the sword back. It's been more trouble than it's worth."

"Then I will find something you will want to trade."

She ripped the contract out of my hand and walked away from me.

"Good luck with that." She turned and walked away from me. Her form disintegrated into purple smoke.

I looked to Angandriel. His sad look etched into my mind as his form fell apart in purple smoke, too.