Wounded Wings (Cupid Chronicles) by Shauna Allen

finally admitted.
    “Well, it can’t be easy matching up one of our own kind, Michael. What did you expect?”
    “He’s not one of our kind anymore.” He yanked the string a little harder than intended and pulled it free, along with a chunk of fabric.
    “No, Brother, he’s not.” Gabriel spoke with the patience of a parent speaking to a child. “But you need to remember this human existence is new to him. Everything about it is a new experience and probably a little scary. Including falling in love. Maybe especially falling in love. Be patient with him.”
    “I’m trying. I just wish I knew . . .” He couldn’t say it. The circumstances of a casting down—even if it was self-inflicted—were a closely protected secret, known only to Father’s heart.
    Well, other than the Dark One, whose demise was public knowledge for obvious reasons.
    “I know. But his secrets are his own. You must do your job and trust Father to do His.”
    “Of course. But a little direction wouldn’t hurt, and so far my prayers have led to nothing but remarkable silence.”
    “Ah.”
    “What do you mean, ‘Ah?’” Michael hated that he sounded petulant, but Gabriel could be frustrating when he got all Jedi Master on him.
    “Father trusts you to find your way. His silence doesn’t mean He’s left you. It means He’s listening, but letting you choose your path on this. You’ve been preparing for this for centuries, Brother. You know what to do.”
    “I do?”
    Gabriel laughed. “Sure you do. Tell me what you’ve accomplished so far.”
    Michael scratched his chin. “Well . . .” He proceeded to detail his trip to New Destiny, how he obtained his job at the diner, his little oopsie with Elijah’s car, the festival, encouraging the couples wanting love advice to seek Elijah out while denying him all other opportunities for doing good.
    “But,” Gabriel interrupted him, “why would you do that? What’s that got to do with your assignment?”
    “What? That’s got everything to do with it.” Michael couldn’t believe he had to explain what he thought was the most ingenious part of his plan. “It’s obvious to me that Elijah is trying to heal something within himself by doing good deeds. Well, I’m trying to remind him that love is the ultimate healer. And if I have to get there by letting him heal others with the power of love first, then that’s what I’ll do.”
    Gabriel’s silence concerned him.
    “I believe Father had him on Love Detail for a reason,” he continued. “I would like to tap into that part of his soul. Don’t you think that’s a wise thing?”
    “Well, Michael,” Gabriel finally said. “I do believe you might be a genius. I don’t know that I would’ve thought of that.”
    Michael felt himself flush a dozen shades of red. “Of course you would’ve.”
    “You’re going to be a wonderful leader, Brother.”
    Michael’s heart seized in his chest. He didn’t know what to say.
    “So,” Gabriel continued, oblivious to Michael’s emotional turmoil. After all, it wasn’t every day your mentor spoke of handing the reins over to you so nonchalantly. “What’s next on the agenda? I’m assuming you have plans to get them alone, right?”
    Michael snapped out of his mood. He wasn’t leader, and Gabriel hadn’t moved on yet. He smiled. “Alone? Oh, yeah. I got that covered.”

Chapter 9
    The following Saturday dawned bright and crisp, highly unusual for that time of year in Arizona, but Elijah was thankful. It reminded him a bit of New York and happier days as he sucked in the brisk air and took in the beautiful landscape Father had painted so many millions of years ago. From his single window above Sharla’s garage, he could just make out the layered ridges and rock formations native to the area bathed in the pinks and oranges of the rising sun, and the sight was breathtaking.
    Luckily for him, Sharla had hired a part-time cook named Raul who could help out on weekends and give him a