Chapter 2

The ringing came with Evelyn's frantic pounding on the door. "Adeline! Open the door! I know Elio's in there!"

I shuddered and shrank under the covers.

Adeline pressed a hand on my shoulder and gave it a soothing pat. "Don't be scared. I'll go see."

She stood, walked to the entryway, and opened the door.

Evelyn charged straight in. Her designer pantsuit looked slightly rumpled, and her eyes were bloodshot from a sleepless night. When she saw me propped up against the headboard, she strode over. "Elio, come with me."

She reached for my wrist. I flinched and pulled away from her touch.

Evelyn's hand froze in midair, and her face darkened. "Why are you pulling away? I'm your wife! Come to the hospital with me. Hudson's condition is getting worse, and he urgently needs your stem cells to rebuild his blood."

She said it as though it were natural, as though I were not a person but a blood bank.

I looked at the woman who had once taught me how to dress and how to eat, and spoke softly. "Evelyn, I'm so tired."

So much of my hair had fallen out from all the blessings that I knew I must look awful. "I don't understand why you're doing this, but I don't want to go anymore."

Evelyn's brows drew together sharply. She seemed to think I was being unreasonable.

"Elio, can't you tell what's more important right now? Hudson is mortal. He has leukemia, and he'll die! You're different. You're an angel! You fell from heaven, so you can't die! What's the harm in taking a little of your bone marrow? It'll grow back on its own in a few days!"

She looked down at me, impatience written across her face. "Once Hudson has fully recovered, I'll bring you home and we'll have a good life together, all right?"

I shook my head. I did not know what death was, but I knew pain. Each time the needle drove into my bone to draw out the marrow, I felt as if I were being torn apart alive. "I don't want to."

I threw back the covers and tried to climb out barefoot on the other side of the bed. "I don't want to stay here anymore."

I did not want to stay by Evelyn's side, and I did not want to stay here with Adeline either. I wanted to leave.

Evelyn lost the last of her patience. She stepped forward and clamped her hand around my arm. "You don't get a say in this! A life is at stake. You're coming with me!"

Her grip was so tight that the needle marks, which had only just scabbed over, began to bleed again. The pain made me suck in a sharp breath, and I started to struggle on instinct. "Let go of me!"

I looked to Adeline in the doorway for help. "Adeline, help me."

Adeline walked over. She saw the pleading in my eyes and let out a gentle sigh. Then she reached out, not to push Evelyn away, but to take firm hold of my other arm, which was still flailing.

Her voice stayed sweet. "Elio, be good. Ms. Sheridan is right. Saving a life matters more than anything. Just bear with it for now. As soon as the surgery is over, I'll come get you."

My eyes went wide with disbelief. She had said that she was the only one who would never hurt me. She had said that it was dangerous out there and that she was the only one who was good to me. Why was she helping Evelyn hold me down?

Evelyn gave a cold laugh. "Smart choice. Adeline, I owe you one."

The two women took me by either arm and hauled me up between them like a prisoner being led away. I kicked with everything I had, but I was far too weak. The impurity of the mortal world had crushed an angel's strength beneath it.

"Let go of me... Let go of me!"