Free Fallen: Celeste by Tiffany Aaron

trembling.
    Celeste didn't react to him. She kept on eating. William chuckled.
    "I'm not just 'some guy.' I happen to be very important to
her."
    Celeste glared at him. You aren't making this better by acting
like that .
    William quirked an eyebrow at her. Angel, he certainly acts
like he owns you .
    Adam whirled around to face William. "Who the hell are you
really?"
    "My name is William Bradford. I am one of Celeste's oldest
friends." William bowed slightly.
    Adam ran a hand through his hair. "Hell, you're one of them,
aren't you?"
    "One of them?"
    "A fallen angel."
    William shrugged. "I really no longer think of myself as
anything."
    "You're not a fallen angel?"
    "Yes, I am, but I am also an Enforcer." William rubbed
his hand over the mark on his chest. "To be honest, though, I try not to
involve myself in any of the petty squabbles going on between our
brethren."
    "Then why are you here?" He moved to stand beside
Celeste. He placed a hand on her shoulder, a silent signal to William that he
claimed her.
    Celeste didn't move to shrug off the hand. It wasn't worth the
energy to fight him over this. She could feel her power drain from her. William
pushed Adam out of the way in time to catch Celeste as she toppled over.
    Lifting her in his arms, he told Adam, "Stay there. I'll be
back and explain some things to you." William headed off down the hall to
Celeste's room.
    Adam wanted to follow, but understood that he didn't have the
right to do that. He didn't really have any rights at all when it came to
Celeste. He prowled around Celeste's living room while he waited.
    "All right, Adam." William joined him. "Do you want
to hit me now or talk like civilized people about this whole thing?"
    "There's nothing to talk about. Celeste doesn't owe me any
explanation. What she does when she isn't with me is none of my business."
    "Now you say something like that. Why didn't you say it while
she was awake and could hear you? Not that it matters. Even if you had every
right to yell and stomp about, you shouldn't do it. Not with Celeste. Don't
cling to her or she'll run." William waved Adam to the couch. "Sit
down. Get me up to speed about Tomas. We need to catch him soon or we'll be in
big trouble."
    "If you don't consider yourself a fallen or an Enforcer, why
the hell are you even here?" Adam demanded.
    William sighed. "A mutual friend suggested that Celeste might
need some help. Since she is my only friend in this God-forsaken world, I
decided to heed his warning and come for a visit. Just in time, too."
    "What's that supposed to mean?"
    "She's running herself to exhaustion. She's dealing with you
and trying to get a lead on Tomas at the same time. I have never understood
this attachment she has to mortals."
    "You don't have any human friends?"
    "I only use mortals for one thing and it isn't friendship. So
tell me, what do you know about Tomas so far?"
    "He picks the women up at the hockey games."
    "Hmmm ... there's a game tonight. I wonder if he'll kill
again. How far apart has he been killing?"
    "Every three or four days from what we can find out. It
doesn't help that the Wings have been playing at home a lot."
    William didn't answer. He stared out the window, thinking about
something. "Even if you two fucked like bunnies all day, Celeste isn't
going to be up to full strength by tonight. I guess I'll be the one out
gathering clues."
    "Full strength?" Adam was puzzled. They had mind-blowing
sex last night. Why didn't she gather power then?
    "Why do you think she collapsed a few minutes ago? She ran
out."
    "But last night..."
    "Her mind must have been on something other than gathering power.
And that's why she needs me here. You're distracting her. Why don't you go home
for a while? She'll be up in a couple hours. Then come and get her. Take her
out for a relaxing afternoon. Try and keep her mind off of Tomas. I'll be out
looking around."
    Adam started to head for the door. Stopping, he turned around to
ask something. Then he shook his