An Angel's Ascent (32 page)

“
Fine, I'm hungry.” I told the others sullenly who stood there while I talked to myself.

Nanna fed the others and me, and then began cleaning up.

I told Aries I was tired, and he walked with me to our room. I hadn’t paid much attention to anything when I was down there last time.

Aries took my hand with a side look at Michael who glowered. Raven cleared her throat, and he looked away.

I followed Aries to the stairs. The first story was kitchen, dining, living room, bathroom, and our library. The living room was the room you first entered and then the dining room was the central area, with the bath, kitchen, and library in the other rooms, making the plus sign.

The spiral stairs were the central room on the second and third stories, with the bathroom and walk-in closets as the second room, split. Our room was on the third story. The central room was our bedroom, with the stairs. One room was to be Kali's, and so on, giving us an empty room for storage.

The second was Raven, Michael's, and Nanna's. The central area was more or less a hall but set up the same way. Had Michael and Raven not shared a room she would have had our spare storage room.

Aries sat me down on our queen-sized bed. I sighed and looked up at him.

“
Feel better?” I asked although I already knew the answer.

“
I feel defended that’s for sure.”

I smiled and patted the bed. I sat back and held my arms out. He laid his head in my lap and wrapped his arms around my waist. We sat that way for quite some time.

Aries kissed me after he sat up and then went upstairs to bring more of our stuff down.

I wandered over to the walk in closet. It had shelves and drawers on one side, and a pole on the other with those hangar things like they have at hotels. Everything was either hard plastic or metal, environmentally friendly. Some of our stuff was already here. This hut was most likely built just for us. They made this level just for Aries and me. The second level had smaller closets; I assumed, in each of the rooms, like there would be in Kalis room. Another door led to a bathroom.

I went and laid back down just as Aries came back in. After putting some things away, I dozed.

My schedule was all screwed up at this point. This might have been a good thing, so that I could get back on days.

When I woke back up, Aries had put all our things away or in the storage room for me to go through. He was lying on his side looking at me. I rolled over toward him and smiled.

“
Hi sleepy,” he said.

“
Hi.”

I kissed him and rooted closer as gently as I could. I was still tender but could tolerate it now.

Aries held up a bottle, Nanna's potion. I took it and drank it down eagerly. It reminded me of an energy drink in a lot of ways.

“
I think someone talked to Michael, he has calmed down and isn’t so mad with me anymore. He may be right. If you had been with him, you wouldn’t have been hurt. I told Switch and Thorn to be careful if they mate mortals. Lykan’s should be fine, though. They are built tougher.”

“
Well Michael may be my friend, but he needs to talk to me about it first unless someone is beating the hell out of me on purpose.”

“
Well, I think Raven and Michael is officially a couple, he got to experience first-hand what we have been talking about. He seems well, more understanding.”

I thought about those things for a minute. I wasn’t jealous in any way. I thought it was about time for them. Then Aries spoke again.

“
Frank and Arch are sending in more troops who should be here anytime. Some of the animals are here, and medical supplies. I have people working on the monastery, getting it arranged, and the storage rooms ready. I also have people working on the hotel. It won’t take long to get things set up. Singles will be in dorms, couples in one-bedroom apartments, and families in huts. It should all be ready in a week or two. The band and I’ve been working on it whenever we can. It has sped things up immensely. The Lykan’s can work around the clock. Sen already found an area outside to start classes, which gives the kids something to do.”

“
Is there anything I can do?”

“
Well if you’re up to it, we need you in the nursery at the church. Whoever you replace can help paint or clean,” Aries replied.

“
Of course,” I told him.

I dressed quickly.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

We trooped upstairs and told Nanna who joined us. Michael and Raven were already at work. I had slept until eight this morning. I needed to stretch so I did a short session before we all went to the church and hotel. Aries kissed me before he entered the latter. Nanna and I went in search of the nursery, happening upon a nun who showed us in no time.

“
We need two people at the hotel to help paint, clean, and whatever else comes up,” I told the women in there.

“
We’re already short staffed as it is,” one woman said.

“
We’re here to help out.”

Two younger girls left. There were fifteen babies but only four adults, which meant two to three babies apiece. I’d never really done this so I was nervous at first. Nanna handed me a small newborn and indicated a rocker. She handed me a bottle and showed me where to put the nipple. The baby seemed to know what to do from there so I relaxed.

Nanna smiled and moved on to diaper changing, from the smell I was grateful that I wasn’t there. She got four out of the way when two more babies were brought in. Both were wet and hungry from the trip. One was the son of a single dad, and the other little girl belonged to a Lykan couple that was immediately put to work on finishing their home and moving in. No sooner did the one I had burp than he was replaced with another. Nanna kept them coming in between diaper changes. I got to rest as she felt I still needed it.

After three hours of feeding and burping, I was ready for a change. So I got put on playtime. There were two infants on the floor who needed a little supervision, and also to allow their keepers a break from chasing them. I pulled them to a pillow filled corner and read to them, and before long three older toddlers joined. Half were asleep by my third story. The other half sprawled on top of me in various places. I was rescued five stories later by an older nun. She put the ones who had fallen asleep in cribs and took over.

I went back to feeding and burping the newborns. Several hours had gone by with no break, and I was starting to get a little hungry and tired. Aries sent some sandwiches in around that time anticipating this. I found a spare moment to eat and relax, before a four month old woke crying. She was teething and wasn’t happy unless she was held. If one started crying they all did, so I picked her up and found a spare rocker where I held her and hummed softly.

“
You’re a natural,” Nanna whispered in her odd accent.

“
I don’t feel like it. I feel out of my league.”

“
Are you irritated, angry, or feeling depressed?” She asked.

I thought it a weird question but answered truthfully.

“
No, why?”

“
Most women are by dis time. Look at de other two. One has a headache. De other has a nasty look 'bout her. Dey hasn’t been cruel, but dey is far from happy on dealing wid so many babies. Ye look tired but content. I be right, don’ I?”

I nodded.

“
Dee's babies mommas will be here soon, we be done in no time chile.”

I smiled.

Not even an hour later three of those mothers came and left with their babies. That left only twelve.

Before I knew it, we were down to the five orphans and the other two ladies were back.

They were feeding those five and preparing them for bed. I was ready for bed myself.

Aries was at the door when I walked out. He wrapped an arm around me, supporting some of my weight, which I was grateful for. I had been up going on ten hours and was ready to eat and go to bed. If Kali were here, I’d have to still feed her and lay her down. At that moment, I was glad I had roommates.

Nanna made leftovers and added in whatever Michael and Raven brought in. When Aries brought me a bowl of stew I didn’t care if it had anchovies. It was good, even though I barely tasted it. I showered hoping I didn’t smell like baby spit up anymore, obviously not because Aries wouldn’t leave my side. By the time we got downstairs, I had to ask.

“
Do I still smell like babies?”

“
No, why?”

“
I can still smell them. Not all of it is a bad smell, but with everything that comes out of those little things it tends to not smell great. I didn’t know more comes out than what goes in.”

Aries laughed and pulled me into his arms. He kissed me and then pulled us down towards the pillows and under the blankets, just holding me.

“
I missed you today,” he whispered.

“
I missed you too, I felt anxious with you so far away. I think, though, we are getting better at the distance thing.”

“
I wondered. We’re more or less in the same building though, so it wasn’t so bad. Had I gone to the docks like I started to I think it might have gotten nasty.”

“
If you have to be at the docks let me know. I can come with you if necessary.”

“
How did you like working in the nursery?”

“
I’m stiff from sitting most of the day, but otherwise it was okay,” I told him honestly.

“
Well, I think tomorrow they might need you, but after that, we should have more women and teenage girls. Another boatload will be here in the morning. We got enough of the hotel done that there should be room. This load is Lykan families. So if I can, I’ll send the nursery some help. You might be there half a day. We need to sit down with the guys and see where else we need people. Thorn has people in charge of this, and we need to see who needs more help. We also need someone to make quick decisions and make sure things are getting done that needs done. I will have Thorn get all the info he can together and someone to help you, if you’re willing to do this.”

“
If it’s where I am needed. This is what I’m here for.”

“
There’ll be a lot of walking. You’ll have to sit some of the time to go over plans and help them take stock. But it seems we need more shipments of fresh food soon.”

“
Sure, I’ll be almost back to normal tomorrow. I need the exercise.”

Aries kissed my head.

“
Just take it easy, please. I don’t want to see you hurt like this again.”

I mmm-hmm'd him and dozed off. I had assumed Aries left me at night to go help where he could, and was right. I woke up around three in the morning and found him gone. I rolled over and went back to sleep. When I woke the next time he was beside me again.

“
Where do you go at night?”

“
You woke up?” he asked, cuddling up to me.

“
Yeah, I was just curious.”

“
I try to be here as much as I can, but I don’t have to sleep. I can see really well in the dark, so Thorn, Switch, and I work on the hotel as much as possible. I get two rooms done by myself in a night. They get more, but they work from sundown to sun up.”

He wanted to stay with me but knew how much he was needed elsewhere.

I kissed him and wrapped a leg over his waist. He tensed up figuring where I was headed with this. My hands tried to move his shirt up. He held my hands firm but gently.

“
Angel...”

“
No, we can’t avoid this forever. Every day I get stronger. I’m more durable than most men.”

He sighed.

“
Don’t you want me?”

“
More than you know. I could hurt you again, though, but don’t ever think I don’t want you.”

I tried again.

“
You’re not giving up are you?” he asked. I could sense the hesitation, and worry.

“
Nope, not without a fight, and I will win!” I said smugly. I was nearly purring which helped my cause.

“
Arrggghh, my witch, you will undo me,” he groaned but pulled me up to him.

“
That’s the plan...”

“
We will, but you are doing all the work. I’m your prisoner.”

“
Done!” I whispered. I stripped us in mere seconds, lit the candles with only a thought, and straddled him. I realized then it was not even dawn yet.

He controlled my movements, guiding me through it until I caught on. It was the most amazing thing. It was like emotional fireworks, spectacular. His emotions mirrored mine, basically doubling what I felt, which was almost enough to send me into an uncontrollable power surge again. I kept the rhythm steady, and just as the sun came up we had our third orgasm.

I collapsed on top of him. He was breathing wildly, emotions off the charts. He wrapped his arms around me.

“
I love you. I never thought I'd find anyone, especially someone who made me feel this way. I kind of thought I’d spend the rest of my life celibate, always hoping, but empty and lonely. You kind of saved my life.”

“
No, Kali did,” I told him.

“
She brought us together love, but she didn’t make you, you. Perfect.”

I kissed him and rolled off.