Free Uriel's Descent (Ubiquity #1) by Allyson Lindt

just hopped into the nearest body a couple of hours ago. He knew too much about living life in general. Like Claire in Gabe’s coffee shop, he was acclimated to his surroundings instead of rampantly licking everything that looked interesting.
    Ronnie’s Ubiquity training tried to butt in and whisper she needed to take him, send him to hell, and move on. She was too captivated by the unexpected conversation. “I’m not easily offended. Ask away.”
    His smile returned. “I don’t suppose you’re old enough to remember this place in its original glory.”
    “I am. She’s not.”
    More memories tickled her thoughts. Of waiting for someone. Of her heart hammering against her ribs and her stomach fluttering. It all vanished with a growl and a flash of nothing, and she blinked at the rapid shift in her mind. “No, probably not.”
    “What a shame. It was gorgeous, I promise you.”
    He was talking as if he’d been there. That made no sense. Cherubs didn’t start popping into existence on Earth until the last century or so. This wasn’t right. Except he knew things. He knew why she was here. And he was talking to her.
    “Nice. You’ll spare him if he’ll give you answers? If not, then what? You’ll pout in a corner?” Venom filled Metatron’s words, but hurt and anguish lay underneath.
    Ronnie shouldn’t know what Metatron felt, but emotions rocked under her skin, as if they were her own.
    Ronnie’s fingers twitched at her side, and indecision pummeled her thoughts. She left Claire alone, but the queue didn’t send Ronnie to her. Then again, this stranger… What could he tell her? Was one failure really a big deal?
    He nodded at Ronnie’s hand. “Please don’t.”
    More ambivalence taunted her. His request didn’t make it any easier to take him.
    He took a step back. “I know you’re supposed to eliminate us, but I’d rather stay here. You don’t have to tell anyone you found me.”
    None of what he said made any sense. She knew on an intellectual level what the words meant, but couldn’t piece together why he said them. She could only think of one response. “It’s my job.”
    “It is. But I’ve already chosen my path.” He gestured to his clothing. “Do you think taking that from me will change who I am?”
    She swore she was missing a key piece of information in this conversation. At the same time though, he was right. The traditional clothing, the way he wore his hair. He already sought enlightenment and helped others find it. From his outfit, his preferred method of education was religion. Sending him to hell wouldn’t change that. “How do you know why I’m here?” she asked.
    He closed the distance between them, stopping less than a foot away and locked his gaze on hers. “You should probably ask the person who sent you. I stopped doing training centuries ago.” He grasped her fingers between his and kissed the back of her hand. “Just promise me you won’t tell them asking was my idea.”
    “I—” What was she doing? She had hold of him. A couple of seconds, and she could extract the stray cherub. Except the desire wasn’t there. Whether he spread the word with his followers or was a really horrible priest, he was doing more to help people delve into themselves than any angel or demon could. Was taking that from him worth getting a certificate of recognition at the end of the month? “I won’t.”
    “Thank you.” He turned on his toe and strolled back into the ruins of the temple, across the dirt-strewn floor. He disappeared from sight past a wall on the far end.
    What was that?
    Her phone vibrated in her purse again, and she fumbled for the device.
    You on your way or not? Ari asked.
    Be right there. As Ronnie phased back to Ubiquity, she tried to stash the onslaught of questions but couldn’t. What was going on?

Chapter Eight
    “I’m wounded you didn’t remember me.” Gabe’s low voice rumbled against Ronnie’s neck as his chest pressed into her back. He rested