Loved by Light (Wings, Wands and Soul Bonds Book 4) Read online

  I’ll give myself just a moment of self-pity before I decide to be strong again.

  But sometimes it’s in the quiet moments when no one is around that it’s hardest to be strong.

  I let the tears fall, knowing they won’t change anything. I’ll still have an upward battle in the morning.

  But I can’t afford to lose hope.

  Things will get better. They have to. I’ll sell another painting to the gallery, get some more supplies since some of mine were destroyed when the landlord changed the locks and invaded my privacy…

  Tomorrow… I’ll make everything better. Or at least start to.

  I put my arm over my eyes, using my sleeve to dry the tears, and smile as I think of that blond-haired angel again.

  See? Tender mercies. If you look amongst the chaos, you’ll always see some good shining through.

  The night wind blows through the bad seals of my car doors, and I pull my jacket tighter around me, my cheeks dry, my resolve firm once again.

  I just have to get through tonight. Then—

  “Hello? Are you in there?”

  I jolt upright, almost hitting my head on the roof of my car as a deep, soulful voice calls out, muffled by the closed door between us.

  Then I groan as I look up and see the handsome man from before staring down at me through my window, his hand up to the glass.

  I push the door open and step out, and the trees all around us rustle in the night air.

  “You a stalker or something?” I ask, grinning as I look up at him. “Not that I mind. I’ve had worse.”

  His eyes widen. Then a hint of irritation firms his jaw as he takes a step back and faces me. “No, I was just making sure you got home all right.” He looks around us. “This is an odd place to sleep.”

  My cheeks heat in embarrassment, and I wrap my arms around myself. “I’m, uh… between places.”

  His brows draw together as if he’s never heard of such a thing. Then his jaw drops. “You’re homeless?”

  “Bingo,” I say. “A temporary situation, I can assure you.”

  He glances around us. “And this is safe? Just… sleeping here in your vehicle?”

  There’s an oddness to the way he talks. Slightly stilted, as if he’s watching everything he says. Also, deep stress lines under his eyes, marring his otherwise effortless beauty.

  “I hope so,” I say softly. “Because I don’t really have any other choice.” I kick at a spare piece of dirt on the asphalt. “But I’m really not in the mood for being lectured by a stranger, and though I am thankful you helped earlier, I really shouldn’t trust anyone to just hang out with me in the dark. Where no one can see.”

  He takes another step back, folding his arms and looking darkly at nothing in particular. Lost in thought.

  Then he nods as if he’s decided on something. “You can stay with me.”

  My jaw drops. “What?”

  “I have a spare bedroom in my apartment. You can stay there until you find something else.” There’s that look in his eyes again like he’s hiding something.

  Whoever this guy is, he’s kind of terrible at keeping secrets.

  “Uh, no thanks,” I say because going to a stranger’s place would be crazy. “I’ve got my car. I’ll figure things out in the morning.”

  “Have you no family? No friends? Anyone who could help you?”

  I glare at him now, anger surging through me. “Not everyone has those things, okay? Not everyone has a support system. Now if you’re just going to look down on me—”

  “I don’t. I’m not.” He shakes his head. “But I can’t just leave you here in a parking lot.”

  “I’ll be safe,” I insist, though I actually have no idea. I’ve been safe up until now, though.

  He lets out an aggrieved sigh like I’m the one ruining his night or something.

  I smile at him sadly. “Go save someone else, angel.” Then I turn back to my car.

  “I’m not an angel, and I’m not letting you sleep in a parking lot,” he says, pulling out his phone as he walks over to a bench under a clump of trees.

  I’m tempted to get back into the car, but even if I drove away, I have a feeling this guy might follow me.

  So I just lean against the car door, trying to figure out my argument for when he gets back.

  2

  Ian

  Stubborn human. Stubborn beacon.

  Stubborn me for being unable to leave her here unprotected.

  I already saw what a human male might try to do to a female alone in a car.

  My heart is still pounding from seeing that. From punching him, almost before I even understood what was going on.

  I’m not sure why I followed the human here, aside from the fact that I wasn’t sure she was safe yet.

  I made excuses to myself about it being part of my job to make sure the beacon was safe, but I didn’t sense any chaos.

  I should have just gone back and told Tanner I found the beacon. That was my job.

  Instead, I’m here pretending to talk on my phone so I have a moment to figure out what I should do next.

  The flash of lights interrupts me as I see a cop car pull into the lot.

  It parks a few spaces from Liz, and I stand ready to intervene as necessary, since Liz is already straightening, looking afraid.

  If anything happens, I’m here for her.

  Helping her makes me feel a bit like my old self again. Though, that’s a dangerous feeling.

  A human cop in a dark-blue uniform gets out of the car, going over to talk to her.

  Liz gestures and I can hear her voice rising, and as the cop reaches behind him for something metallic, I stand, thinking something isn’t right.

  “What’s going on here?” I ask, stepping in between Liz and the cop, who shrinks back when he looks up at me.

  “She’s trespassing,” the cop says. “The hours for public use end at midnight. I’m arresting her, as she’s a transient and states she has nowhere else to go.”

  “She’s with me,” I say quickly.

  “Where’s your car?” the cop asks.

  I blink, realizing I probably should have driven rather than moved at the speed of light. It’s a trait of light fae.

  I glance at Liz, hoping she won’t blow my cover. Her pretty, dark-brown eyes just stare up at me in shock as if she’s surprised I would intervene again.

  How could I not?

  I liked this little human instantly.

  “I drove her here,” I say, rubbing the back of my neck. “We came to see the view. I’m sorry if we broke the rules, but I’m the one you should arrest, not her.”

  The cop looks almost disappointed as he glances between us, and I think I sense some chaos on him as he checks out Liz.

  A part of me thinks he wanted to arrest her for reasons other than justice.

  Then again, she is beautiful. Like Brett’s soul bond, Liz is a Black woman with beautiful deep-brown skin.

  Liz’s hair is short and curly, cut shorter at the sides and longer on top. Her eyes are big and round with long, curled lashes. She’s short, and her body is curvy, dressed in a jacket and casual jeans.

  Her lips are pressed together right now as she looks between me and the cop, probably deciding the lesser evil.

  “That’s right. I’m with him,” she says, apparently picking me.

  I don’t know if I should be offended that she’s only going with me due to her fear of this cop, but I’ll take what I can get.

  It feels like I won’t be calm until I have her safely indoors with me.

  The cop looks suspicious. “I don’t know…”

  I take another step forward, not afraid to let my height do the work for me now that I sense that this cop isn’t a good man. “If you want to arrest someone…”

  The cop’s head tilts back as he looks all the way up at me. Then he shakes his head. “No. It’s not a problem.”

  “Huh,” I say, folding my arms and nodding. “Imagine that.”


  The cop looks at Liz, who is now standing behind me, peeking out at him. Her hands are on my jacket, and I can’t help but grin at the almost playful way she’s behaving.

  “Fine,” the cop says. “Don’t let me catch you here again.”

  The cop walks back to his car but sends a glance over his shoulder that says he’ll be watching us.

  “We should go,” I say to Liz.

  She nods, walking over to the driver’s seat. “I’m not saying I’ll stay with you, but I appreciate the cover. I’ll give you a ride wherever you want.”

  “Okay,” I say, walking over to the passenger side.

  As soon as I sit down, a musty smell wafts over me and dust goes into the air. The entire frame creaks beneath me, and as I close the door, I’m careful, as it seems a bit loose on its hinges.

  She gives me an apologetic smile as she starts up the car and the engine makes a horrible noise before sputtering to life. “Sorry… it’s not exactly a luxury vehicle. But hey, any vehicle is a luxury, right? Otherwise, we’d be walking.”

  I can’t help smiling because there’s just something about Liz that makes me think in a way I haven’t before.

  “Sure,” I say.

  She looks at the cop who is glaring at us over his steering wheel. “What’s your address? We’d better head out before Officer Creep gets any ideas.”

  I nod and give her the address to my apartment, wondering what Tanner will say when I bring the beacon home.

  She pulls out and shakes her head, and I realize her hands are trembling slightly on the steering wheel. “Gotta admit I’m glad you were there for that.”

  “Why?” I ask. “Cops are there to help you.”

  She frowns. “Yeah, well, there are bad apples in every profession. And bad cop apples have guns.”

  “He didn’t seem like a very nice person,” I say. “You weren’t hurting anyone by staying in the park.”

  “No,” she says. “But anyway, I’m not going to think about it. I’ve had as much bad luck as I can handle today.” She gives me a smile as we pull to a stop at a light. “And some good luck too, thanks to you. Thanks for saving me. Again.”

  I nod. “It’s not a problem.”

  I like saving others. It’s what I thought I’d be doing the rest of my life.

  Fighting for justice.

  “So does this mean you’re going to stay at my apartment?” I ask.

  She shakes her head. “I still shouldn’t. I don’t even know you.”

  I bite my lower lip because there isn’t even anything I can say to convince her.

  I don’t think she knows she’s a beacon with latent fae blood. I doubt she has any idea of her powers.

  “Why shouldn’t you stay at my apartment?” I ask.

  “For one, I don’t know you,” she says.

  “Yeah, well, am I really more dangerous than living on the street? Dealing with cops?”

  She shakes her head. “I also couldn’t pay you rent, and I wouldn’t want to be a burden.”

  “You wouldn’t be,” I say. “The room is empty.”

  “Still,” she says. “You have no reason to help me.”

  “What do you do for a living?” I ask.

  “Art,” she says, looking almost apologetic as she says it. “I’m a painter. Usually, I sell okay, though I’m not the fastest. But the gallery I’m working for put my paycheck in wrong this last time, and I had an unexpected repair on my car, plus a microburst knocked over and broke my easel… And now I’m just making excuses.” She gives me a smile.

  “That’s quite a bad string of luck,” I say, staring at her aghast as we pull up in front of my apartment building.

  She looks up. “Whoa, nice place.”

  “Thanks,” I say. “Extra bedroom?”

  She laughs this time. “Almost got me, you handsome devil.”

  I blush at her words, still trying to figure out how to convince her. “Wait,” I say. “What if you stayed with some friends of mine? They’re married, and they have an extra room.”

  She purses her lips. “You aren’t going to let this go, are you?”

  “No,” I say. “In fact, you’ll be doing me a favor, keeping me from staying up all night, wondering if you’re safe out there in the dark.”

  “But why me?” she asks. “Why are you helping me?”

  I’m not sure what to say just yet. “Because you need it,” I finally say. “And because I can.”

  She smiles. “If only the world were that simple.” She turns off the car, her brown eyes glittering in the dark. “Well, if it’s going to worry you, I suppose I might as well meet your friends and see if it’s really okay. It’s not like I want to sleep in Big Red.”

  “Big Red?”

  She points at the car. “It was red. At some point, I think.”

  I laugh, thinking that no one has ever entertained me like this human. “Maybe many years ago.”

  Now it’s a faded brown with splotches of bared, rusty metal.

  She pushes the door open and steps out, frowning at Big Red. Then she runs a hand along the car gently, as if soothing it. “Don’t worry, baby. I love you just as you are.”

  I can’t help grinning as she opens the door and pulls out a large duffel bag, which she hands me when I reach for it.

  “A gentleman, huh?” She puts her hands on her hips as she shakes her head, following me to the door leading into our building. “Maybe I passed out in the back of Big Red and I’m just dreaming you.”

  I let out a snort as I hold the door open for her to enter, realizing that for the first time in days, I’m able to think of something other than the devastation in my kingdom.

  Thanks to her, it doesn’t feel like my world is falling apart.

  It’s an illusion but one that is welcome. And I can’t help feeling hope for the first time in a while as I pull out my phone to text Brett and Avery about what’s going on.

  3

  Liz

  Ian lives in a nice building in a better part of town where I could never afford the rent, even when things were at their best with my painting.

  I wonder why he has an empty room when this place is expensive enough that it’s a crime to leave half of an apartment empty.

  A breakup?

  Unbidden jealousy rises in me as I follow him up the stairs to the main landing, impressed by how easily he’s carrying my bag.

  I don’t think anyone has ever carried a bag for me before.

  Regardless, this feels like an adventure. And if there was ever anyone worth risking ending up chopped up in a freezer, it’s Ian.

  The tall, stoic angel sets down my bag in front of a door and knocks.

  When the door opens, I gasp as I see a man who is almost as handsome (at least in my opinion) as Ian standing there, his eyes darting from Ian to me.

  When his eyes meet mine, I feel an odd sense of cold, probably due to their ice-blue color.

  His hair is ash-blond, falling over his forehead, and there’s an imperious look to him as he steps back and gestures for us to come inside, wearing a robe over a tee shirt and lounge pants. “Come on in.”

  Ian holds the door for me again, and I step inside, thinking, This is it. This is the moment I could be murdered.

  Instead, a pretty woman a few inches taller than me, with dark skin and shoulder-length black hair, reaches out a hand. “It’s nice to meet you. I’m Avery. This is Brett, my… husband.” Her eyes twinkle at the odd pause, and she and her husband share a grin.

  “Recently married?” I ask.

  She nods. “Anyway, you’re welcome here. We have a spare room.”

  Ian sets down my duffel, and I take a look around at the modern, clean furnishings in white and stainless steel with dark accents on the light fixtures. “She isn’t completely sold on this yet. Can you tell her we aren’t evil?”

  Brett snorts. “Ian is the least evil person on the planet.” He walks to the kitchen. “Can I get you a drink?”

  Avery takes m
y hand and pulls me to the couch, and I can’t help but feel like, for a moment, I have a family.

  It’s almost too much to take, how kind these people are being without even knowing me. “Just water.”

  Avery shakes her head. “When did you last eat?”

  “Not too long ago,” I say. “Besides, you’re already giving me a place to stay. I couldn’t let you feed me as well.”

  “Ha!” Avery says, and I have a feeling people don’t say no to her very often. She’s wearing a black tee shirt with gray shorts, plus bunny slippers, and her legs are curvy but muscled as she strides into the kitchen.

  When she comes back, she hands me milk and a sandwich. “There you go. Sorry, I can’t help taking care of people.”

  I smile at her, fighting back the tears of relief biting at my eyes. How did she know I was hungry?

  “While you eat your sandwich, I shall elucidate the numerous reasons to stay with us,” Brett says, striding in front of the TV and raising his hand to count on his fingers. “One, you need not pay rent. Two, Ian will be just down the hall if you need him.”

  “But I don’t… I don’t really know Ian,” I say.

  “Don’t interrupt,” Brett says. “As I said, two, Ian will be down the hall. A better protector, person, or friend you would be hard-pressed to find. So whether you know him or not, it’s a benefit. Three, Avery likes you. I can tell. And the two of you will have fun together. Four, we have part ownership in some serfs—I mean cats—and you can visit them with us.”

  Ian lets out a snort, putting this hand to his forehead. “I told you to convince her, not tell her everything about your life.”

  Brett whirls on him, hands in fists. “Did you ask me for help or not?” I have a feeling this guy takes everything seriously.

  I glance over and share a look with Ian, and we both have to struggle to hide our grins.

  “Fifth, Ian likes you, and—”

  “Brett—” Ian shoots him a glare of warning, spots of color rising on his high, sharp cheekbones.

  This time, Brett seems to know when to stop. “Well, four benefits are enough anyway.”