The coarse sand scratched at the thin skin on the top of her feet. Nyx stretched out, burying her toes in the warm sand. The large rock under her back radiated a soft heat, soothing against her bare skin. She tied a flannel shirt around her waist. The t-shirt she had worn to the beach sat crumpled in the sand between herself and Angel.

She closed her eyes to listen to him play guitar, singing softly to the sound of the waves and wind. The sun turned the back of her eyelids a blazing tangerine.

The past two weeks had gone by quietly. She could almost believe nothing had happened at all. Everything was normal, or better than normal actually. Angel had stuck true to his word, genuinely trying to get his powers under control. After work, he’d go with Kismet to the woods, then come to the cabin in time for supper. Which also meant he no longer had time for The Barn.

Today was the first time in a while they were able to go off on their own. Under cover of the rocks, the secluded beach allowed them both solitude.

Nyx opened her eyes to look at him. Angel’s black wings slouched behind him, lazily folded, half spread so he could lean against the rocks. He cradled an acoustic guitar in his lap, strumming gently with such well practiced ease it appeared effortless. Almost like an act of magic. A soft blue haze glowed around him as he sang. So close, she could feel the heat. The waves of life-force emanating from him tingled her skin from head to toe, prickling her scalp. Any tension left lingering in her body melted away.

Her heart ached deep in her chest to see him for everything that he was, everything he hid from the world and she loved him for it all. Despite everything, this was who Nyx knew Angel to be.

I can’t ignore the other pieces either. Those are the parts of him that need love most of all, but I wish he could always be this way. I wish he didn’t have to hide his powers.

The song ended and he propped the guitar against the rocks. Nyx took a cigarette out of her shorts and lit it. Angel scooched closer and she passed him the cigarette so she could lean into him. Even though the glow had dissipated, the life-force he had absorbed still radiated, similar to how the sand under her bare legs remained hot from the sun.

Nyx cuddled close, pressing her skin to his, practically sliding into his lap. He snaked an arm around her shoulders, tugging her closer and kissed the top of her head, then forehead, her cheeks, and lips. The life-force flowing off him enveloped her in a soft, euphoric cocoon. She melted into the embrace, caressing his chest, feeling the taunt muscles beneath her hands. There was no yield. His fingers carefully stroked her back, while he hungrily explored the crook of her neck with his mouth. Teeth gently grazed and nibbled at her skin. Heat escalated between them, and so did the sense of bliss until they both softly glowed.

Eventually, she pulled away. Still, he kept his arm around her and relit the cigarette he’d tucked in the sand. She rested her head against his shoulder as the energy dissipated or Angel absorbed it, she couldn't tell which. It all took so much getting used to, but she had to admit, this part was nice. Being close to Angel had always given her a sense of ease and comfort, but this was something else entirely.

“I love you,” she whispered. The words made her chest feel tight, but it was worth a shot.

He ran his fingers through her hair, briefly stroking her cheek with his thumb and passed the cigarette. It frustrated her that he would not respond, but she chose not to push the issue and ruin the moment.

She took a drag and blew the smoke into the wind. “How’s training with Kismet coming along?”

“She seems to be getting better adjusted to her powers,” he said.

Nyx nodded. “I’ve noticed. She’s a bit more relaxed lately, or at least she seems to be. It’s not like she says anything about it. But how are you doing?”

“Better. I think I’m getting the hang of it, or the basics at least,” he said, plucking the cigarette from Nyx’s fingers. He exhaled a plume of smoke. “Living beings seem to emit life-force like steam, or smoke.” Angel gestured to the dissipating cloud. “I can gather that up and use it. It’s different from pulling at the core of a being, that’s like tugging out the root of a hair rather than the piece ready to be shed. When I healed Kismet that time, I took it directly from myself and I think that’s why it made me so sick. If I pull on the loose life-force floating through the air, it’s infinite, but less concentrated. Especially since I’ve started to gain a tolerance for it.”

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

“I’m glad it’s going well,” said Nyx. Which was an understatement at the relief she felt. Every ounce of control he could muster would keep him safer. “You haven’t been drinking either.”

“It blocks the sensation too much,” he said. “I wasn’t able to work with it when we went out to the woods, so I figured I’d better cut back.”

“This can’t be easy.”

“It’s not dealing with my powers that’s hard,” he sighed. “The more I work on it, the less I want to hide it. I understand the risk. It’s just not fair, is all. I can’t seem to control how or when I heal an injury. Even if I’m careful, accidents happen. Then to top it off, if I do anything I enjoy, like even playing my guitar, I glow. Someone is bound to notice something eventually. It feels kinda futile.”

Nyx sighed, digging her feet further into the sand. There wasn’t anything to say. She couldn’t tell him that he’s wrong. All she could do is hope Ivy would have mercy if, no, when, the day came.

Maybe she won’t be as bad as we think. Maybe Watcher Liz is right.

“I can stop it eventually by pulling it back in,” Angel explained, “but I can’t stop it from happening in the first place. I don’t really even go out anywhere anymore.”

She looked up at him. “I thought that was because you were busy.”

“I’m no stranger to a late night,” he said. The cigarette had burned down to the filter and he crushed it out. “I’ve been staying in to reduce risk. I’d fight Carl again if I could. Alice says the pot is up to forty-thousand now. If Ivy comes, I could really use that kind of money in a pinch.”

“Then what would you do Angel?” she asked, unable to keep the heat from her voice. She dug her fingernails into the sand. “Where would you go?”

He shrugged. “The mainland I suppose. I’d figure something out.”

Nyx clenched her jaw and he took her hand.

“It’s not something I want to do,” he said. “I want to stay here, with you and Alice, and Kizzy, but if Ivy or her Watchers come, what am I supposed to do?”

“Go quietly. Co-operate. Anything but that.”

“I can’t be her prisoner,” said Angel.

“You don’t know for sure -”

He met her eyes. “Be real Nyx.”

She chewed the inside of her cheek.

“I’ll have to run. That’s the only alternative to direct confrontation.”

Nyx grabbed her t-shirt and tugged it back on. “I don’t want it to come to that.”

“Me either. I’m being careful, really, I am. I just don’t know how long I can keep it up.”

One way or the other, I can’t imagine life here without him. Would I go with him if the time came?

“Maybe it’s not inevitable,” Nyx said. “You’ve only been practicing for a few weeks now and you’re already doing so well. Maybe it’s possible you’ll get so good at it that hiding it will be no problem. You can still feel it, and enjoy it, but maybe glowing won’t be an issue.”

“I appreciate your faith in me, but I’m not so confident I won’t fuck this up.”

“Angel -”

“It’s also not beyond me that there’s gotta be some kind of connection between me and Ivy. I don’t know what it is, but there’s more than coincidence going on here.”

Nyx wrapped her arms around him. She’d do anything to keep him here, away from Ivy’s grip or from running off - whichever came first.

No matter what I do, he’ll be lost to me. What can I do to tether him, to keep him with me? If I’m up against Ivy, or Angel’s own will, both are forces of nature I have no hope of competing with.

“Maybe we should say something to Daisy, or my parents? I was stupid for suggesting Julian earlier, but there’s a chance one of them must know something.”

“Sure, there’s a chance, but they won’t tell me. I used to ask about my mother all the time, but no one would tell me anything. They just say she died before they got to the island. Julian has them all on strict hush orders. I don’t know why they all listen to that asshole anyway.”

“If we tell them what happened, maybe -”

Angel withdrew his wings and leaned back against the rock, folding his arms behind his head.

“We can’t guarantee they won’t report me,” Angel said.

“Mom and Dad -”

“Have never taken my side. I’m sorry. Molly and Jay are great. They’ve been there for me a lot when I needed them, but I’m not stupid. They won’t give me the benefit of the doubt. Not with this.”

Nyx’s heart broke to realize he was right. Her parents cared for Angel, but they also didn’t trust him. They were on their own with this.

Angel pulled her closer, hugging her tight. He stroked her hair gently as if she might break. Nyx closed her eyes against the soft touch. He caressed her cheek, cupping her face.

“You’re all I have.”

Her heart twisted. At one time, she may have been thrilled to hear him say those words, but now they only made her realize how alone they truly were. Angel was adrift in open water with only her to cling to for a raft.

It had always been this way and she was so tired of treading water, but if she were to stop, he would surely drown.