RISING SHADOWS (Shadows Book 2)

Chapter 20

Azrael gave no reply to what he would tell the Angel Council, if he would tell them anything at all. I shivered my way back into the main part of the castle, the part that had heating. Unable to keep still, my bones rattled together and Rafe insisted I had another bath, though this time it was to warm up and not remove weeks of grime and blood.

Rafe guided me to one of the family bathrooms explaining it was near to Matthew's suite of rooms. Here Niamh had opted for opulence with copper-accented fitting and a centre piece black bath curved like a shy smile.

The water was so hot it clouded the mirror and drenched every surface in a cool layer of condensation. But I barely felt it, my stolen fire element had lined my veins and increased my tolerance to heat.

My words to Azrael rolled around and around in my head.

I have a deal of my own to make.

And I did, and just like Rafe I had only one thing to offer. I just hoped it would be enough.

A frantic series of knocks sounded out on the other side of the door. "Riley? Are you okay in there?"

"Yeah, fine," I lifted my hands out of the water to examine the pads of my fingers. It looked like a pink bed of deep carved trenches. I'd been longer than I thought. "I'm getting out now." With one hand on either side of the bath's rim, I heaved myself out, water rippling as it waterfalled down my body.

Niamh had lent me one of her nightgowns. Saying it wasn't to my taste was an understatement, but I was grateful nonetheless. I shrugged it on, tugging at the silk garment when it clung to the dampness of my skin and refused to be guided easily over the curves of my breasts and hips. It fell begrudgingly, landing mid-calf.

With my hair still dripping in a tangled mess around my shoulders, I opened the door to find Rafe leaning against the opposite wall. He took one sweep of me, his throat bobbing and held out a fluffy, cream robe.

"Niamh's I'm guessing?"

Eyes fixed on the floor, Rafe nodded.

"Thank you," I pulled it on, already feeling more comfortable. "You're still mad at me, aren't you?"

His eyes rose. "I'm not mad, Riley. I'm worried. It isn't a minor thing to ask for a meeting with the Angel Council."

"Are they really that bad?"

Rafe snorted. "Yes, they're that bad. There's no grey areas where an angel is concerned. Things are black and white with no in between."

"I can handle it," I said sternly. If I survived Nova then I could survive a bunch of angels.

"I don't doubt it. Come, you need to dry your hair before you catch your death."

"Isn't it strange for you, saying things like that?"

Rafe shrugged, a hint of a smile on his face. "Maybe."

Back in his room, I found a hairdryer on the bed. Strangely, it took me by surprise.

"What is it?"

"I don't know," I glanced at the dormant fireplace, black from centuries of use. "I guess I expected to be kneeling by the fireplace to dry my hair. Must be the surroundings."

"You can if you want, I could light it for you but I thought this would be quicker," he picked up the hairdryer and plugged it into a socket. "This may be a castle but we've had electricity for decades."

I sat on the edge of the bed and started dragging the brush through the tangles. Wet, my hair was nearly down to my elbows, maybe it was time for a cut. Rafe took up position in the armchair by the window, watching me through heavy-lidded eyes.