Free Archangel Rafe (A Novel of The Seven Book 1) by Lisa Hughey

The elder Angelina was an uncommon woman. “The granddaughter is uncommon also.”
    Uri snorted in disgust.
    “I need a creative solution.”
    “Why?” Uri took the towel tucked into the back of his pants and wiped the sweat from his face and neck. “She’s proved your complaint that humans want more, want the next best thing. I would think you’d be happy that she conformed to your expectations.”
    Uri had a point. But instead, Rafe was stuck. He could accept her decision. Find a new human to transition. As far as he knew, the Virtues were not monitoring his progress. He was only to report to them after the transition was complete.
    But if they knew that she’d rejected the power, the Thrones would take immediate action against Angelina. Her Vis viva would be transferred and she would begin a slow decline into poor health.
    “Have you tried to reason with her?”
    Their interactions had been brief and he’d been so careful not to touch her since that last dream. “Ah....”
    “Did you appeal to her duty to the human race?”
    Rafe was silent.
    “Did you tell her what would happen if she refused?” Rafe still didn’t answer. He hadn’t told her much. He’d been too busy sticking his tongue down her throat.
    “Jeez Rafe. What did you do with her?”
    “What do you mean?” Uri couldn’t possibly know that he’d had inappropriate contact with Angelina.
    “You haven’t told her anything, you haven’t reasoned with her, you haven’t explained her rights.” Uri wrapped the fire hose, using his hand and his elbow to loop the hose into a tight roll.
    “No.” Rafe’s voice was tight with concern but he could no more stop the emotion than he could stop his response to her. He knew what should be done. What had been decreed long ago. But he couldn’t stomach the thought. He would have to wipe her memory and her time on earth would be limited. “I haven’t done a very good job of communication.”
    Uri’s smile faded. His tan took on a grayish cast. “I don’t like what I’m thinking right now, Rafe.”
    “Yeah, well, don’t think it then.” Avoidance had worked so well for him.
    Rafe knew Uri had figured it out. If he was truthful, he wasn’t trying very hard to hide it. He needed a freaking solution.
    “You didn’t.” Uri didn’t say the rest out loud for which Rafe was grateful.
    “Not technically.”
    “How the hell did this happen?” Uri whispered harshly.
    Rafe didn’t know how to explain what had happened. He still wasn’t sure exactly why he couldn’t stay away from her. “It’s complicated.”
    “It’s more than complicated.” Uri paced back and forth, his gear forgotten. “It’s suicide.”
    Rafe nodded. Miserable.
    Uri crossed his arms over his chest. “Why did you tell me?”
    “You’ll kill me quickly?” Rafe quipped.
    “Not funny, my friend.”
    “Yeah. I know.” Rafe hesitated. “I need a little time.”
    Uri tunneled his fingers through his blond hair and pulled the chin length strands from the rubber band. “I knew you were disenchanted but aren’t there easier ways to quit?”
    Rafe heard what he didn’t say. And did you have to use me to do it?
    “Help me out.”
    “I can’t for very long. The only reason I’m agreeing to this is because you saved my ass and I have a soft spot for the old woman.”
    “I understand.”
    “I don’t think you do.” Uri shook his head. “This is bad.”
    “I know.”
    “Yeah but you were done with this life anyway. I love what I do, Rafe. I love my existence. I don’t want to screw it up.”
    Rafe’s indiscretion had put more than himself and Angelina in jeopardy. If the Virtues discovered that Uri had covered for him, he could be sanctioned. “I will not let that happen.”
    “How much longer does the elder Guerisse have?”
    “She’s stable for right now.” But her condition could change. It was her mind that continued to deteriorate, not her body.
    “You have a week to figure it out.” Uri gave him