Hearts Aflame Collection: 4-Book Bundle Read Online Free PDF Page B

inside
him. He didn’t have a name for what he was feeling, but he knew
from speaking with other angels that it wasn’t something that was
common to their kind.
    A slight noise brought him out of his
reverie. He turned then and saw Meena, his superior. She was a tall
angel, her hair almost as white as the short dress she was wearing.
She had piercing green eyes and an air of purpose about her.
    “How are you, Adrian?” She greeted him
quietly.
    “I’m fine, thank you, Meena. I hope I meet
you well?” He asked in their traditional polite fashion.
    She merely inclined her head before ushering
him into her office. Adrian frowned in confusion; the debriefing
sessions were usually held in the waiting area. So why were they in
her office? He was curious, but he decided to hold his tongue.
    Seated in Meena’s office, Adrian felt his
wings stir with restless energy. He waited for the signal to begin
speaking but it never came. Instead, his superior stared at him
with a considering look, as though she were searching for something
although he knew not what. Finally she began to speak.
    “How do you feel about the earth realm,
Adrian?”
    He stared at her in consternation. How did he
feel? “I have not thought about it other than as a destination for
most of our messages.” He replied somewhat untruthfully.
    She quirked an eyebrow at him, “Well, you
will have to think about the earth realm because you have a choice
to relocate.”
    Relocate? A wave of shock went through him as
he sat there, dumbfounded. Relocation was permanent, wasn’t it? Had
he failed in the last assignment? Was he being punished for
something he had no idea about? The questions ran through his mind
as he tried to keep his face expressionless.
    “No, this is not about you, Messenger.” She
stated firmly, folding her hands atop her large golden desk.
“Cassel has fallen in love with his mortal and has appealed to the
High Commission to remain with her. The commission has decided that
if his companions, that is, the warrior angel Kaine and you, could
also meet and fall in love with mortal women within two weeks, then
his request shall be granted.”
    Adrian stared at her, at a loss for words.
What was there to say? The fact that Cassel had fallen in love with
his mortal was the first shock. A guardian angel falling for their
mortal was not a strange happening, but Cassel… Then there was the
fact that he’d actually cared enough to petition the council and
worse, he was being given a shot at actually experiencing this love
with the mortal. That’s what blew his mind away. But why did Cassel
have to drag them into this? He had no idea he’d spoken aloud until
Meena replied.
    “It’s simple, really. The love between
brothers is a strong bond. If it can’t endure this then there’s no
hope that the love he shares with the mortal will endure.”
    Adrian failed to see the logic in that but
decided not to argue. “Fine. When does this incarceration start?”
He could not even begin to see it as anything else.
    “Immediately, Messenger…you are being
redeployed to earth, pronto.”
    “I…What!”
    “You have two weeks to meet and fall in love
with a mortal. You are not allowed to use your powers on her and
she must love you back, even in knowing you’re an immortal
being.”
    “Two weeks.” He muttered in a daze.
    Meena opened her mouth to say something then
shut it again. She took a deep breath, then seemed to make up her
mind.
    “Adrian, see this as an opportunity for you.
I’ve watched you since you were a Messenger in training and you are
an excellent messenger. But you are not completely fulfilled here.
Each member of this realm needs to find their utmost completion and
fulfillment in who and what they are. That has been missing from
you. Take the next two weeks to find out who you really are and
where you’re happiest, and I’m not speaking about the geographical
location.”
    Adrian was stunned at her words. He thought
he’d kept