It would’ve been much nicer to hear him say he was ecstatic that I exist, so I try to ignore his comment and ask, “So I can’t tell anyone?”

“It’s better for now if you don’t tell anyone anything. Not just because it’s forbidden, but also because we want to keep your existence as secret as possible for as long as possible. I’m trying to keep you safe,” he says as his hand reaches out to stroke my hair.

“That makes sense.” I say, trying to resign myself to his logic. “I don’t even know what I would say that wouldn’t sound absolutely ludicrous.” I am quiet for a while, but something is nagging at me, something that has been bothering me for a while. “Reed, can I ask you something?”

“You’re asking me that now, after you’ve been peppering me with questions for hours?” he asks with amusement in his voice.

“It’s about Russell.” I say evasively.

“No, I don’t want to talk about him,” he replies immediately, his tone is no longer amused.

“Why not?” I ask, wincing.

“I don’t want to discuss your soul mate with you,” he says blandly.

“Reed, am I supposed to know what you mean by soul mate?” I ask him gently now because he’s less than pleased to have had the topic of conversation turn to Russell.

Reed is silent again, looking stone-faced that I had brought Russell into our conversation. I wonder if he knows that we’ve drawn first blood on Russell last night with our kiss. I move then, sitting on Reed’s lap so that I’m facing him. I begin toying with the button on his shirt, saying, “I hope that it doesn’t take the next thousand years for you to be able to trust me enough to explain things to me.”

A millisecond or less passes and I am lying flat on my back against the soft green cushions of the sofa. Reed hovers over me with the predatory stare of a cat about to pounce. His thrilling strength startles a low, breathy gasp from me. I feel his fingers tighten on my hip, while his perfect face prowls nearer, lowering to brush his lips against mine. Wrapping my arms around Reed’s neck, a kittenish sound escapes from me. I return the kiss coquettishly at first, flirting with him, but it rapidly builds, biting me with fire.

Reed lifts his lips from mine, and looking into my eyes, he murmurs, “I want those thousand years with you, Evie, you have no idea how much I want them. I want a thousand years, and then I want a hundred thousand more.”

When Reed pulls away further, breaking from my embrace, I want to groan in frustration. His arm goes around my shoulder, lifting me to sit next to him as he continues, “There are so many things that you haven’t seen, so many places you’ve never been. I want to show you everything and experience it all again with you, through you. But, I’ve been thinking about it, and right now this place, Crestwood, seems to be the safest place for you, the place you’re supposed to be. I want to protect you from everything that is dangerous to you. Unfortunately, right now, I am dangerous for you. I have to be careful and make sure that I don’t hurt you now, so we’ll have those years later.”

My eyebrows arch as I ask in frustration, “Because I’m too fragile now?”

“Yes. I’m afraid I could crush you without meaning to,” he explains softly.

“Oh,” I say in a small voice. “How long…”

Reed gives me his sexiest smile as he says, “I don’t know… whenever you’re ready…”

“But,” I mumble, “What if sooner is good for me…”

“It’s not,” he replies with a smile, touching my cheek. Reed is quiet for a moment and I become aware that he’s in the grip of some inner conflict. I see the war going on in his mind, playing upon his face in shades of black.

Reed sighs, like he lost the battle, before saying, “When I say that Russell is your soul mate, that is exactly what I mean. You are two souls that follow each other wherever the other leads. I imagine that you have shared many lives with Russell, judging by the way in which your two souls call to one another. If he had not come here, you would have followed him someplace else, wherever he was in the world. You would have found each other because that is what you are to each other, almost like two halves of a whole,” he states morosely.

My eyes widen as I listen mutely. A ghost of a smile forms on his lips as he adds, “Except things are different in this lifetime. You are no longer entirely human. You are also angelic, and so his soul and your soul will be parted by eternity, until, that is, you meet again in Paradise if that is your destiny,” he states as if that is the worst scenario possible to him.

“You’re saying that Russell and I have been here on Earth before…in other lifetimes? Together?” I ask incredulously.

“Yes,” Reed replies.

“Soul mates?” I say, trying to understand what he is telling me.

“Yes,” he says, gritting his teeth.

“As in reincarnation?” I say, fumbling now with the concept that was clearly not taught in my Sunday school classes.

“Yes,” he says, plucking imaginary lint from the sleeve of his shirt.

“What happens to Russell’s soul if mine is not available anymore?” I ask him, extremely alarmed by what he might tell me next.

“Maybe he’ll find a new soul mate,” Reed says unconvincingly.

“What are the odds of that happening?” I ask him, feeling ill.

“I don’t know,” he replies.

My eyes narrow as I stand and restlessly begin pacing in front of him. “Let me see if I understand you. You’re saying that Russell and I are soul mates—we spend our lives searching for each other. Only this time, I’m an angel. Since I’m an angel, I’ve become immortal, so unless something should kill me and my soul gets into Paradise, Russell will be left without a soul mate?”

“Yes,” he replies as his eyes scan my face, seeing my pain. “Although, he could choose to come back again and find you in his next life,” Reed admits, and by his expression I know he is not thrilled about that scenario.

I stop pacing as I say sarcastically, “Wow, this just keeps getting better and better, Reed. So what you’re telling me is that I’ll not just be breaking his heart in this lifetime, I get to keep on breaking his heart for eternity, is that it? Is that about right?” I am nearly ranting at this point, clearly taking out my frustration on Reed for the situation I am in.

“He may choose a new destiny—you are not in control of every aspect of this.” Reed explains compassionately. “Russell may have already chosen before coming here…I should not have told you this. I can see that it will torment you.” He sounds contrite for telling me what I had insisted upon knowing.

“I’m sorry,” I say, rubbing my aching forehead. “Reed, you had to tell me. I need to understand all of this.”

What am I supposed to do? Rsed has a pull on me that is almost lethal in its intensity. I want him… need him. Then, there is Russell and being with him is so natural, like I’ve always belonged to him.

“Have dinner with me tonight,” Reed says, less as a question and more as a command.

His mention of dinner reminds me that I have obligations. “Oh no! What time is it, Reed?” I ask frantically.

“It’s three forty,” he says, looking at his watch.

“Three forty! I’m late for the portrait!” I say in a panic, while searching for my bag.

“Evie, what portrait?” Reed asks as he stands, handing me my bag.

“Mr. MacKinnon asked me if I would sit for him so he can paint my portrait. I told him I would and that I would be at his studio at three thirty. I’m late! I have to go!” I don’t stop to explain more, but put my arms around his neck, giving him a quick kiss goodbye. I turn to leave, but his hand snakes around my waist, holding me to him.

Reed frowns. “You plan on going there alone?” he asks in disapproval as I glance up at his face.

“Yes. Let’s have dinner tonight. I’ll be done by five o’clock— you can pick me up here when I’m finished because I’ll just be upstairs in the art studio,” I explain, seeking a compromise that would allow me to speed things along.

Reed doesn’t let my anxiety affect him at all; instead, he seems more determined to take his time. “When did you agree to this?” he asks.

My eyes narrow, “Why?” I ask.

“I’m curious,” he says with his eyes narrowing a bit more.