ForsakingEternity Read online

  Forsaking Eternity

  Voirey Linger

  Sequel to Risking Eternity.

  There are some things an angel shouldn’t do…

  Renatus is a legalist and knows the rules better than most. But knowing the Law doesn’t stop him from imagining the press of a hard male body against his, or remembering one forbidden kiss that left him hungry for more. He leaves Heaven to mingle with mankind, hoping that satisfying curiosity will quell desire. He finds Adam, a college professor who has given up on love.

  Adam once dreamed of finding the perfect man and settling down. His dreams and trust were shattered when he found out the truth about his ex. Meeting Renatus seduces Adam into taking another chance on love. But Ren is keeping secrets, and the only promise he will make is that he will leave.

  Now the Most High has commanded Renatus to retrieve the Law of Men and Angels, and a vengeful demon is circling, waiting for her opportunity to strike. Staying is impossible, leaving unbearable, and Ren wants to succumb to temptation, forsaking eternity for a life on Earth with Adam.

  An Ellora’s Cave Romantica Publication

  www.ellorascave.com

  Forsaking Eternity

  ISBN 9781419933226

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

  Forsaking Eternity Copyright © 2011 Voirey Linger

  Edited by Grace Bradley

  Cover art by Syneca

  Electronic book publication February 2011

  The terms Romantica® and Quickies® are registered trademarks of Ellora’s Cave Publishing.

  With the exception of quotes used in reviews, this book may not be reproduced or used in whole or in part by any means existing without written permission from the publisher, Ellora’s Cave Publishing, Inc.® 1056 Home Avenue, Akron OH 44310-3502.

  Warning: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be scanned, uploaded or distributed via the Internet or any other means, electronic or print, without the publisher’s permission. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000. (http://www.fbi.gov/ipr/). Please purchase only authorized electronic or print editions and do not participate in or encourage the electronic piracy of copyrighted material. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.

  This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. The characters are productions of the author’s imagination and used fictitiously.

  Forsaking Eternity

  Voirey Linger

  Acknowledgments

  A very special thanks to Peachy for throwing me a lifeline.

  Marguerite Labbe, I couldn’t have done it without your encouragement.

  Inez Kelley, this whole thing is your fault.

  Sasha Devlin, KJ Reed, Mira Lyn Kelly and CM Torrens, thanks for straightening out my screw-ups.

  Glossary

  Angel of Annunciation: A messenger angel. Duties are to bring statements of Truth, to convey messages from the Most High, and to interpret and define known Divine Law.

  Archdemon: Highest rank of demon. All archdemons were angels before Hell was created and they Fell.

  Cherub, (p. cherubim): A female angel.

  Corporeal: Having physical form and mass. An angel can choose to be noncorporeal, to mask their presence by removing their physical mass and existing on a spiritual level.

  Divine Law or the Law: A set of rules put into place by the Most High to protect the Realms from evil. Over time many Laws have been forgotten or misinterpreted.

  Free Will: The inherent freedom for any rational being to make his or her own decision. Demons do not respect free will and will cloud one’s thoughts to influence choices. In the end, however, the individual must choose their own actions.

  Host: Collective term for a group of angels.

  Judgment: The Most High’s ultimate ruling on the Law. There is no appeal from His final decree.

  Mezuzah: A small case which holds a prayer scroll. According to Jewish tradition, this case it to be fixed to the side of the door to the household so it is on the right as one enters. When entering the home, the observant brush their fingers over the case, then their lips.

  Nephilim: The child created in the union of angel and human, named for the ancient village of Nephil, where most lived. The people of Nephil were strong warriors because of their angelic heritage and became feared mercenaries in their time.

  Power: A form of pure energy. It originates from the Most High and trickles down through life on Earth. Power feeds infinite beings and may be used to mask their presence, disguise their appearance, affect objects in the physical world and heal injuries. It may also be used as both weapon and defense in battle. Demons are cut off from the Most High and must steal power.

  Seraph, (p. seraphim): A male angel.

  Shamash: The candle used to light the other candles in a menorah.

  Welkin: Old English term meaning Vault of Heaven. This is where the souls of those who have died exist on the Heavenly Plane.

  Chapter One

  Renatus frowned at the people filling the small café and rethought his plans.

  They all looked so common. So human. He should not be here, mingling with them.

  But if he left, how would he ever know? A possibility had been raised, a question within him went unanswered. Somewhere in this congregation, there could be an answer waiting to be found.

  Gathering his courage, he stepped into the crowded sidewalk seating area. The beautiful autumn day had enticed customers outside, leaving few seats available. While this might be an inconvenience to some, it served his purposes perfectly, as did the restaurant itself. This tiny shop was a meeting place for a certain kind of human.

  Men who sought other men as lovers.

  And now, Ren stood among them. To their eyes he would appear as nothing more than another human. Another male who joined them in a place of open intentions.

  One particular man caught his eye. Black hair brushed his jacket collar and his blue eyes crinkled at the corners when he smiled.

  Ren’s breath caught.

  Despite the fact his wings were now hidden, noncorporeal, he could feel the tingle of one particular feather. In his mind, he could see the inky smear of that lone black feather against his own plumage.

  No. He was not doing this because of that feather. His actions had nothing to do with it or the one who gifted him with it, nor was he interested in the human because of his physical similarities. The man was simply attractive and seated alone.

  Ren shoved stray thoughts of what would never be aside and approached the man.

  “Is this seat taken?” he asked, mimicking what he had observed over the last few months while studying the gathered humans.

  The man assessed him in a head-to-toe sweep with startling blue eyes before breaking into an inviting grin.

  “No, it’s not. Would you like to join me?”

  “Thank you.” Renatus tried to return the smile, but his face felt stiff and he suspected the inviting expression he attempted appeared as something closer to a grimace. He dropped his gaze to the mug of coffee he held and sat down.

  “My name is Douglas.” The man stretched an elegant, long-fingered hand over the table and Ren stared at it for a flicker too long.

  “I am Renatus.” He reached out and took the other man’s offered hand.

  “I don’t think I’ve seen you around before.” Douglas flashed that smile again. One corner of his mouth curled up and he had a dimple. Renatus couldn’t help but think that dimple should not have been there. Dom didn’t have a dimple.

&n
bsp; But this man was not Dom.

  “This is the first time I’ve eaten here.” Ren tried to smile again. He’d forgotten how to converse with humans. How long had it been since he’d approached one in a conversation that didn’t begin with, “Fear not”?

  “Do you work nearby?” Douglas finally asked.

  “No, I don’t.”

  Ren turned his mug in a circle, fidgeting while he tried to think of what to do next. Silence fell, an awkward entity which made the scant distance of the table seem to stretch into an unbridgeable chasm. What happened next? Maybe he was to reciprocate with a similar inquiry?

  “Do you, perhaps work nearby?”

  The effort obviously came too late. Douglas’ attention had wandered. His face relaxed into heavy-lidded invitation as he spied someone behind Ren.

  “Excuse me, Reynolds, but I see someone I need to talk to,” he murmured.

  “It’s Renatus.” But Douglas was already gone and he sat alone in the middle of the bustling shop.

  Ren pulled a small packet and a miniature straw from the holder in the center of the small table. He tore open the sugar with trembling hands and dumped the contents in the black brew. He glanced around him as he stirred. All around him, men went on with their conversations, ignoring him as completely as if he’d been noncorporeal.

  He should abandon the entire ridiculous idea of human dating and mating. Why had he even considered it? Angels belonged in the Heavenly Plane, where males mated females. He had been out of his mind even considering this.

  He would leave, and as soon as he was out of sight, he would return to his proper place, humbled but wiser. He glanced around, but no one watched him, no one seemed to notice the abandoned angel in their midst.

  He emptied three more sugar packets into his coffee and whipped them in with the little straw.

  “Is this seat taken?”

  Ren glanced at the newcomer, barely noting him before his gaze returned to the cup before him. Had this stranger seen his humiliation? “It is not. I was just leaving myself. The table is yours.”

  “Ah, well, then. Never mind.”

  Ren’s attention snapped back to the man standing by the table. If he didn’t want the table why did he ask to sit?

  “Oh, you wanted…” How was it these creatures could reduce him to idiocy with such ease? “I apologize. I would be honored to have you join me.”

  This man’s looks weren’t remarkable. He was actually quite ordinary, even for a human. His eyes were brown and kind and his curly brown hair was shot with a dusting of silver. Even his clothing was brown. A brown tweed jacket with strange patches at the elbows topped lighter tan dress pants. Only his shirt was white, a button-up with a hint of a white t-shirt peeking from beneath his opened collar. Surprisingly, Ren found the simple humanity of his features to be quite appealing. All the browns suited him.

  “Are you sure? I wouldn’t want to impose,” the man said, his eyes hopeful.

  “Please, there isn’t any imposition. Quite the opposite. Company would be welcome.”

  The man smiled, his pleasure at Ren’s words obvious, and Ren’s breath caught. Merciful Heavens. The smile had transformed his common looks into something extraordinary. He was actually very lovely.

  “My name is Renatus.”

  “Interesting name.” The man’s brow rose. “Latin.”

  “Yes, it means…”

  “Born again. Very interesting name. I’m Adam, which is a very uninteresting name. It’s nice to meet you, Renatus.”

  He held out his hand and Ren took it. Something flowed between them, something honeyed and warm. It was as if this man had somehow taken part of Ren’s essence, his power, changed it and returned it to him richer, more potent than before.

  Fascinating.

  Ren scrambled to remember what he was to do next. Ah, yes. The other one had asked him a question.

  “Do you work nearby, Adam?”

  “Fairly. I’m a professor at the university. I’m farther away than most of the lunch crowd but still close enough to walk. And you?”

  “I do not work nearby.” That line of questioning used up his conversational repertoire. Ren picked up his coffee mug and took a nervous sip.

  The hot brew hit his mouth and Ren’s eyes watered. Merciful Heavens, it was vile. The heat of it singed his mouth and the bitter taste made him recoil. Even the packets of sugar he had used did nothing to improve the flavor. His eyes watered and he forced himself to swallow. How could Maggie drink this? From her blissful reaction to a simple cup of coffee, he’d expected it to taste, well…good.

  “What’s wrong? Too hot?”

  Ren gasped and cleared his throat before speaking. “The taste was not what I was expecting.”

  “Are you one of the connoisseurs who likes their coffee to be just so? I have to admit to being underwhelmed by all the special blends. To me, coffee is just coffee.”

  “No, it’s not that. I don’t believe I like coffee at all, actually.” Could this trip have possibly been a bigger failure? No doubt he looked like a fool.

  “Ah, ordered the wrong thing then. What did you want? Hot chocolate maybe?” He turned to flag down a waiter.

  “Please, do not be concerned. I do not need anything.” He reached across the table and placed his hand on Adam’s arm to stop him. His fingers tingled where they touched the tweed of the jacket. The power flowing through their bodies shifted, aligned once more. Never before, in all the eons of his existence, had he ever experienced anything of the like.

  Adam’s hand eased back down and he stared at Ren’s fingers on his sleeve. His lips parted, his breath caught for one brief moment before he drew a shuddering gasp.

  Adam felt it, too.

  The knowledge went to Ren’s head in a giddy rush. Flustered, he pulled away. Clutching his coffee for dear life, he stared into the faint wisp of steam escaping it and tried to make sense of what just happened.

  Was this attraction? Something more? The beginnings of…what, exactly?

  “Adam?” Another man stopped by the table, claiming the human’s attention. “Sorry to interrupt, but we need to go or we’ll be late.”

  Adam checked his watch and grimaced. “Head back without me. I’ll be right behind you.”

  “He is a friend?” Ren asked as the man walked away.

  “Tom is a longtime friend and colleague. And I’m afraid he’s right. I have a lecture and need to get back to campus.”

  Adam gave Ren a thoughtful look before standing. “Do you have anywhere you need to be? If you have time I’d like it if you would walk to my office with me.”

  Ren examined the small brown bubbles floating in his coffee cup, flustered. His face felt unaccountably hot and he didn’t know where to look. “I am available and would like to accompany you.”

  Ren braved a glance at Adam’s face and was struck by the pleasure the human radiated. Had he done that, made Adam so incredibly happy just by agreeing to walk with him? The other man’s happiness seemed to spark an answering joy deep in Ren, a joy he hadn’t felt in seven thousand years.

  He stood, leaving his coffee on the table, and shoved his hands in the pockets of his jacket. Adam gestured in the general direction of the campus and the two of them started down the sidewalk.

  “You are an educator. Do you have many students?” he asked Adam as they walked.

  “Not really. The college is a small one, and ancient language studies aren’t very popular. Students take my classes because they need them, not because the subject interests them. I enjoy teaching, but translation work is more interesting to me.”

  “Translation?”

  “We’re sometimes sent old texts. Oftentimes it’s something that’s been translated before and we’ve been asked to confirm the interpretation. Other times it’s a new find. We’ve had a few partial texts to handle and identify but those usually go to larger universities.”

  “That sounds like interesting work.”

  “It is. What about yo
u?”

  “I am not from here.”

  Adam chuckled, and the sound sparked a warm glow of what might have been happiness in Ren.

  “Yeah, I did notice that.”

  Ren stopped, confused. “How did you know?”

  “The vaguely European accent, formal speech patterns, some of your word choices.” Adam smiled indulgently. “Your American accent is good but not perfect.”

  “I’ll have to work on that.”

  “No. Don’t. I like it. Come on, we’re almost there.” They began walking again, but this time there was a companionable silence, the simple satisfaction of being close to each other. How odd to have such comfortable familiarity when they’d only just met. He didn’t feel this at ease with beings he’d known since before time.

  They reached the college and Adam took him on a slow tour of the grounds, pointing out various buildings and bits of architecture. At almost two hundred years, the campus was old by American standards. Well-maintained lawns were framed by cobbled walkways and neat shrubberies graced beds laid to rest in anticipation of the coming winter. Trees, thick with the vibrant shades of autumn, overlooked red brick buildings which displayed a level of craftsmanship long dead.

  They reached the language studies building and Adam led Ren inside. Adam’s office held the same quaint charm and timeless appeal as the grounds. Dark wood floors squeaked under their feet as they entered. Two large windows dominated the wall opposite the door, stretching from knee-high to a handsbreadth of the high ceiling. Wooden shelves, their stain nearly black with age, lined the walls on either side of the room and matching wainscoting graced the bare walls. The plaster was a plain white which gleamed in the midday light streaming through the glass.

  “Is it too bright for you? I can close the blinds if you’d like.” Adam took a stack of books from a battered chair and set them on his overfilled desk. He began shuffling papers, straightening the desk. “I like the light so I keep the blinds up most of the time. Natural light is much better for working, at least it is for me, but if you don’t like it…”