Free The Human Side (The Demon Side Series) by Heaven Liegh Eldeen Page A

want to be near me right now.
    The disaster I had created seemed far from a fairytale ending. Like a fool, I jumped the gun with no thought as to what it would mean to the ones involved. Yes, Gabriel insisted he accompany me but I didn’t give him much of a fight.
    Heaven’s defenses were now short two Arches during the busiest time of year. Attacks on Etta were not only increasing in number, but had become more brazen. With the guardians pulled from her detail, John had been left to stand alone against any threats, which I’d been sure put a huge target on his back.
    I understood John’s anger, but for him to accuse me of only caring about my rank, wings, or an arm charm of a woman—those were the furthest thing from the truth. Etta wasn’t a prize for me to win for the sake of winning. She’d always been much more than that.
    When all seemed lost, she had seen a spark of light inside of me. With her determination, faith, and love, she had saved me from a wretched existence. Putting her life on the line, she pulled me from the depths of my inner hell, and she returned me to the path I had long strayed from. Giving her my undying affection for her sacrifices was a small price to pay in return. But that wouldn’t be enough. I needed to give her more. Then it hit me as if I had waited on the tracks for an oncoming train. Suddenly, everything Father and John said made sense. I knew where I had gone wrong, but most importantly, I realized how to clean up after my destructive storm. I would have to leave Etta…for good.
    With everything I had, I ran back to the Divads’. Bursting through the door, I found Etta, John, Rene, Tristan, and Gabriel at the dining room table.
    “What is it, Brother?” A concerned Gabriel raced from his chair to me at the foyer.
    “I know what I have done wrong. You must forgive me, Brother, for what I am doing, but it is the only way to fix what I have done.”
    “What are you talking about?”
    I slid past Gabriel to the table. Tristan pushed back in his chair as I approached. The black ring around his left eye contrasted against the white strip of bandage across his nose. I had hurt someone who looked out for Etta, as I had failed to do.
    “Tristan, I am sorry for attacking you in your home last night. I can make no excuse for my poor behavior. And though I do not expect your forgiveness, I hope you can accept my apology.”
    “Apology accepted,” Tristan stammered.
    I sensed his hesitation. I should have put him at ease a little more, but he hadn’t made it high enough on my priority list at the moment. With that being said, I turned to John.
    “May I speak to you privately?”
    John got up from his chair and walked upstairs. On his heels, I followed him into his bedroom. “What do you want, Ra?”
    “Look, I get it. I understand why you are upset, and you have every right to be. Take my deal with Father out of the equation. I’ve never cared about my wings, my title as an Arch, or if others envied me because of the woman by my side. I have only ever cared about Etta and her safety. But I realize now, my blind passion has done nothing more than put her in harm’s way. Like you said, every visit cracks the veil, which is why I am leaving. Never again will I try to make contact with her. I am out of her life for good.”
    “I realize we got into it pretty heavy earlier, but do you even know what you’re saying, what you’re giving up?”
    “I do.”
    “You’re going to leave, give up all you worked so hard to gain back in Heaven, live out the rest of your days on Earth and for what? I don’t understand the logic behind your decision.”
    “For your family’s safety…for her peace. You all deserve a normal, happy life. I know that now. But if you would like me to stay and help, I will, even if it’s from a distance.”
    “I don’t need your help protecting my daughter. That I can handle. So, if you feel you must go, I can’t and won’t try to stop you, but you’ll