Beyond (19 page)

Callum stopped.
“
Don ’
t be a fool.
”

“
You really want to take a chance?
”
Michael challenged, slightly piercing the blade against the nape of her neck. Claudia squirm ed as a drop of blood stream ed down. He needed to show Callum he was serious.
Take the bait , Michael thought as he expanded his wings , ready to enclose Claudia .
“
Release your hold on this place.
”

Callum felt he had no choice.
“
You may escape this time, but others will find her and others like her. You should take my offer. It ’
s the only way.
”

“
There is always another way.
Now…release it.
”

Callum
closed his eyes, looking heavy in thought, then opened them.
“
It ’
s released.
”

Michael could feel a new wave of energy. Without a second to lose, they disappeared .

Chapter
9

Michael took her to Island of Eden
, and t hey stood on the cliff. Claudia was completely engulfed in his wings, unable to feel the breeze.
A sense of warmth and comfort she hadn ’
t felt since she woke up from the accident rushed through her . Though she was with a stranger, she remained unafraid. The cut healed quickly, and she had figured out the reason why the stranger had nicked her.

Claudia ran her hand delicately up and down the soft, silk like feathers, allowing the light to peer though the layers. It all seemed familiar to her, like she had done this before. She was captivated , and a feeling of rapture consumed her.
Her back was still against him, and s he didn ’
t want him to let go.

It took every ounce of will power to hold Michael back from showing himself. What did it matter , anyway? She wouldn ’
t recognize him, but being alone with her and being this close drove him mad. His hands were just a touch away, wanting to lace his fingers through her hair and place his lips on hers, to take her in. Every second lost , they could have been together.

“
Claudia, ”
he sang her name softly, like a sorrowful melody, hardly audible, but she heard.

“
How do you know my name?
”
she asked.
“
You know me, don ’
t you?
”

Claudia slowly turn
ed toward him, inch by inch.
It suddenly dawned on her why his voice sounded so familiar.
“
I know your voice. I ’
ve heard you in my dreams !”

Michael
’
s heart burst with elation .
Slowly , he thought. She would have to remember him slowly or else it could all fall apart. It would be too overwhelming for her.
He ignored her question and continued.
“
I ’
m sorry. I didn ’
t mean to hurt you.
I needed to convince him that I was serious.
”
H
is voice was so tender, every word carefully spoken with sincerity.

“
I ’
m healed.
Don ’
t worry , and I ’
ve had worse I ’
m sure…I think.
What would ’
ve happened if you couldn ’
t convince him? Would you have hurt me even more?
”

“
N
o, of course not.
”
At first his words came out sharp and loud , then he quickly calm ed, keeping in mind that Claudia didn ’
t know anything about him.
“
It was extremely difficult for me to even cut you like that .”

“
Why do you care?
W
hy do I not know you if you know me?
”

“
I …I should go. You ’
re safe here, ”
Michael said flatly , unable to answer her question.

“
Where is here?
”

“
Island of Eden.
”

“
You know this place. Then you must be one of the venators who ’
s gone rogue . Is that why you won ’
t show your face to me?
”

“
Yes, ”
Michael agreed , thinking that was the best explanation.

“
Then you know how to release the shield from this place?
”

“
Yes. Once you ’
ve been here, it takes an imprint of you. It ’
s like the i sland is a being , and it knows who is a friend or a foe.
”

“
Yes…that is true. That is how Austin explained it. But w hy did you save me? My friends are more than capable of saving me.
”

Mi
chael stood still and didn ’
t say a word , because he had no explanation.

“
If you ’
re going to be my hero , at least tell me your name.
”

“
You don ’
t need to know .”

“
I promise I won ’
t tell. You can trust me.
”

Michael knew Claudia was
as good as her words. He wanted to tell her, but something was stopping him. He was more afraid to say his nam e , a name she couldn ’
t recall, a name that was long forgotten.
The pain was already too much to bear.
“
Maybe some day.
”

Michael was
so preoccupied with answering Claudia ’
s question s and trying to push away the pain that he wasn ’
t prepared for what Cla udia did next.
She turned, but luckily Michael was faster. Unsure if she caught a glimpse, h e held her tightly in his arms so she couldn ’
t move or turn to see his face. He f elt himself melt and burn in her touch.

He
lost his breath when her hair brushed again st his face.
Hi s emotions were running rampant—ever y emotion that could be felt was happ en ing all at once. Michael didn ’
t know what to do.
Closing his eyes, he took all of her in, trying to hold onto to her as long as he could.
He needed to leave, but couldn ’
t get his body to listen.

Claudia remained still, enjoy
ing his embrace but not knowing why , and was surprised that she felt some kind of mysterious connection to this angel .
He was a complete stranger, yet his touch gav e her comfort . She knew he would have to leave. Her friends wer e most likely on their way , hoping to find her here since they were split up.

“
I have to go. They ’
re almost here.
”

Claudia wanted to ask
a question, but she couldn ’
t open her mouth to speak. She felt lost in his hold. Slowly her right hand found it s way to his face.

“
You don ’
t give up , do yo u ?”
Michael chuckled lightly.

“
No, I don ’
t, ”
she said , and ran her hand to feel every inch of his face. His brows were thick, his nose nicely defined , he had high cheekbones , and lips as soft as his feathers.

Michael closed his eyes,
quivering, enjoying her car ess, bringing back the good memories.

“
Next time, I ’
ll know it ’
s you when we meet in the dark.
”

Michael grinned, happy to hear her words. “
Please b e safe. I may not be there next time.
”

“
Oh…, ”
she sighed , disappointed.

With one last tight squeeze, Michael soared into the clear blue sky and disappeared.

Beautiful
, Claudia thought as she watche d him ascend.
“
Just like S
uperman , ”
she giggled.

“
Who is like S
uperman ?
”
Austin asked, knowing who she was referrin g to, but pretend ing not to know.

Claudia
jumped at his sudden appearance and turned to f ace him. She was lost for words as her heart pounded with nervousness.
“
Ummm…n ever mind.
I ’
m just talking to myself. So… how about questions like…how are you? Or …
ar e you okay?
How about those questions?
”

“
I ’
m sorry.
”
Austin g ave her a hug.
“
What happened?
”

“
I…there was an angel…, ”
she star t ed to say. She wanted to tell him about the angel who saved her, but then she remember ed he had gone rogue and didn ’
t want to get him in more trouble.
But why was she protecting him?
Perhaps it was out of obligat ion since he saved her. The mysterious angel was not on her mind anymore. She needed to know the part s of her life Austin was not sharing.
She changed the subject .