Rage and Redemption (Rebel Angels) Read Online Free PDF Page A

would surrender nothing more.
    Centuries had passed and still the images remained vivid and painful. Gideon stood obediently by, a reluctant soldier in Michael’s army, as he watched his best friend Fall.
    Lucifer, the morning star, the brightest and most powerful of all the angels, shrieked in agony as he plummeted to earth. The Angel of Light hideously transformed into the Father of Darkness.
    With a muttered curse, Gideon moved to the other window and stared out into the gathering night.
    Everything changed after the Fall. God revealed His new creation and poured out His unconditional love on the ungrateful race of humans. Angels became servants, messengers expected to protect and counsel the very creatures who had displaced them.
    Lucifer had been damned for the sort of rebellion God allowed mankind to express freely.
    And Gideon would never forget.
    Raking his hair with both hands, Gideon lifted his face to the sky.
    Naomi.
    He whispered her name in his mind and pictured every detail of her lovely face. He would awaken her to passion, make her crave it, make her burn.
    She would surrender to darkness. And her seduction would be all the sweeter because he knew how her “father” would mourn.
    * * * * *
     
    Naomi tried all night to convince herself she didn’t care what dark purpose drove Gideon. The conflict raging between the brothers had nothing to do with her.
    But this morning she’d awakened restless and confused. Brother Gabriel never kept secrets from her. Why would he neglect to mention something so fundamental? She hadn’t seen him since she told him of Gideon’s arrival. Was he intentionally avoiding her? The entire situation made her uncomfortable.
    One day in seven Naomi was free to do as she pleased. When she couldn’t locate Brother Gabriel, she decided to visit Zarrah in the Maronite village to the west of the Krak des Chevaliers. Zarrah was a young widow who lived with her father and small son. Her brother Jonah had often hinted that he would like to take Naomi to wife, but she had never given his offer much consideration.
    Naomi found the brisk walk to Zarrah’s home calming, but a day spent fending off Jonah’s advances and watching Zarrah with Benjamin left Naomi achingly aware of all she would sacrifice were she to enter the Order of St. John. All too soon Naomi was saying her farewells and striding swiftly toward the Krak, anxious to return before the sudden desert nightfall.
    You will marry. Your nature would never tolerate celibacy.
    Gideon’s words echoed back to her and Naomi smiled.
    Could you live without the touch of a lover forever?
    The prospect hadn’t seemed nearly so desolate before Gideon took her in his arms.
    You would be utterly wasted in an abbey.
    A warm tingle ricocheted through her and Naomi hurried her pace. Perhaps she should think more seriously about Jonah’s offer. If Jonah took her in his arms, would her heart beat so hard she could barely breathe?
    The soft thump of hoofbeats drew Naomi from her musings. She watched the horseman coming toward her in the distance. Riders seldom used this path, but Naomi simply stepped off, intending to let him pass.
    He drew his horse to a halt directly in front of her and Naomi tried not to panic. He might only wish a word with her. His long leg swung over the saddle and he slid to the ground.
    Fear crept over her, weakening her limbs and lodging in her throat. She looked around for a weapon—a stone, a stout stick—anything to ward him off.
    The man approached, his stride lazy, leading his large bay stallion. The animal wasn’t adorned with the trappings of war, but Naomi recognized it as a destrier by the defined musculature and the sheer size of the beast.
    She had a similar impression of the man. Though he was dressed simply in a plain tunic and chausses, Naomi could easily picture him in heavy chain mail and brightly colored surcoat. His hair was a sun-streaked brown and his dark gaze met hers boldly. She searched for