Free Until Next Time The Angel Chronicles Book 1 by Amy Lignor Page B

nightmare.
    Liz jumped into the bright opening…but there was no peace. As her eyelids fluttered open, Liz found herself back in her small, candlelit bedroom. Uncontrollable sobs racked her body. She knew, in her soul, that she had been denied passage into a world where pain ceased to exist.
    What she didn’t hear was the angel crying inside her soul.

CHAPTER EIGHT
    Jason rocked quietly in the comfortable chair, but he was anything but peaceful. Anger consumed him. He couldn’t believe the lack of patience he’d shown. He was nothing more than a rogue, taking advantage of a beautiful, kind girl—inside her own home, no less! Jason was so mad at himself that he remained silent while Charles and Faith chatted away at the table.
    They were talking non-stop as Faith laughed at the tales his friend was spinning. Strangely, tonight all of Charles’ stories were true. Jason was familiar with this tone Charles used for wooing as his friend subtly determined just how far a young lady was willing to go. Charles had a gift for making things up in order to win the attention of a female admirer, but oddly enough, tonight he was telling the truth.
    Jason didn’t blame him. Charles used his brain for fantasy because his reality was so revolting that the only place he could find beauty was in his mind. Even with all of his money, Jason had watched his friend get pushed aside most of his life. Growing up, Charles was forced to disappear most of his life until his sleazy father chose to display his golden boy around town.
    Jason sighed. He had a hard time remembering love or warmth anymore, especially considering how badly everything had ended. Maybe that’s why he felt so close to this beautiful girl now fast asleep in her bed. She probably hated him right now. She was like one of his childhood dreams come to life.
    Closing his eyes, Jason resurrected the image he loved so much—the only place where he’d ever known peace. Located on the outskirts of Dublin were the remains of an old cemetery; a resting place taken over by the lush Irish countryside. In that place, sitting high atop a hill, stood a beautiful sculpture of an angel.
    He’d first seen her when he was out for a ride, and he’d crossed the dirt road to get to her. As he’d ridden closer, Jason grew enthralled by the faint smile on her lips. Her head was tilted toward the ground, almost as if she were bending down to whisper a secret in his ear. The expression that her maker had carved was absolutely perfect. Not a frown, or even a smile exactly, just a look of deep thought. It seemed like she was just on the verge of telling her story, but her marble lips were frozen and she was unable to utter the words.
    The phrase— until next time —was carved at the base.
    Taking a deep breath, Jason shook the lovely picture from his head. It was ridiculous to compare a cold, inanimate object to the incredibly warm—and very much alive—girl who was asleep upstairs. The only resemblance between the two figures lay in their mysterious eyes.
    A hand pushed against the back of the rocker sending Jason’s legs into the air. He turned to glare at Charles. “ What ?”
    “Faith has asked you repeatedly if you want anything more and you continue to ignore her.”
    “Perhaps there’s a ghost up in the loft with Liz,” Faith remarked.
    Charles raised an eye to the ceiling. “You may be right. There must be some kind of demon up there to hold his concentration for so long.” He punched Jason in the shoulder. “Don’t tell me you hurt that nice girl’s feelings.”
    “I’m going to sleep,” Jason grumbled, ignoring his friend’s teasing. He pulled the blanket tight around his shoulders before closing his eyes.
    Charles snorted, as Jason burrowed into the blanket like a small child. “Don’t get too attached. That chair won’t fit on your horse.”
    Jason remained still, hoping that his friend would take the hint and turn back to the lovely female at his side.
    “It