Court of Virtue (Age of Angels #3) - Milana Jacks Page 0,1

Entranced, I can’t quit staring at him. This is all inappropriate and wrong. I should acknowledge the divine beauty before me and move on with my life. That’s what normal people do when they interact with him, but I can’t seem to pull my shit together.

Suddenly, my brain is blank and I’m a human statue, devoid of all feelings and sounds, and I’m standing there inside the vacuum of space where the only thing that exists is Gabriel before me. He’s all I can see, hear, think about, and then, as if a switch has been flipped, the sounds return and the scent of incense penetrates my nose.

“Good morning, Your Highness,” I say, feeling much better once I can speak. Knowing something happened just now, I frown in confusion. I can’t quite put my finger on it.

A small smile plays on his lips as he steps forward and to the left. “Tell me why you’re sneaking around my private space.”

“I really have to talk to you.”

“Talk, then.”

Easier said than done. I square my shoulders. “Luna’s birthday is coming up,” I say. Luna and Mary, the two energetic sixteen-year-old teens, always find ways to cause trouble. This time, they joined with Mike, an eighteen-year-old boy whose looks and charm would break through anyone’s defenses. The trio is up to something no good.

Gabriel steps closer, and his shoulder is practically in my face. I stare up at him, my lips parted.

“Excuse me,” he says.

Dear Lord, the male is trying to get on with his day, and I’m standing here like a lusting idiot, gaping at him and wondering if we could make out in the hallway. Facepalm. I step aside so he can pass, and his midnight-blue wing brushes the front of my body. A shudder runs through me, and my left nipple perks where the wing brushed it.

Conclusion? I just need to get laid. At this point, anyone would do, archangel preferably, but beggars can’t be choosers, so I’ll take what comes. I’m twenty-seven, and the last time I had sex was three years ago with a Court of Command soldier who stayed at my lodging for a total of three days.

It was a great three days, but it didn’t cover my needs for the next three years.

As I follow Gabriel back to his office, I keep my gaze glued to the floor, and when we make it to his office, I stand before his desk, head bowed so I don’t stare at his oiled maleness.

His loincloth hits the hardwood floor.

Shit.

What is the etiquette here? Is this something he does and nobody told me about?

I’m gonna look. I shouldn’t, but I am, for one thousand and one reasons. I peek from beneath my bangs. Too late. He’s donned his usual attire, a plain pale blue robe that does nothing to showcase his body. Boooo.

“I’m aware,” he says.

“Of what?” Where were we and why did I come here? I truly can’t remember anymore.

Gabriel leans on his desk, his eyes dark pools of midnight, twinkling. “That Luna’s birthday is coming up. The entire school or perhaps even the entire realm is aware.”

Luna is a spirited girl, and I adore that about her. “Then you’re also aware of the tradition.”

He glances at the clock. “You have a class in seven minutes.”

I don’t know how he knows my schedule by heart, but I’m not surprised. Gabriel is said to know everything. He’s a walking library, and people are the books he reads every second of his endless time. “I’m gonna be a little late, but this is important.”

Gabriel opens the double window and hops onto the ledge, ready to fly off.

My shoulders slump. I’ll have to deal with the trio of my students on my own. “Thank you for your time, Your Highness.”

The angel extends a hand. Fresh gashes mar his palm. I don’t ask about them, just stand there confused. Is he inviting me to come along for a ride? I want to ask, but I don’t, because if he’s not, that’ll make me feel like a presumptuous hopeful fool, so I get back to Luna’s birthday before he takes off. “The tradition is to ask permission for an unsupervised birthday party. She intends to ask, and if you refuse, she intends to”—I air quote—”raise hell.” I feel like the weight left my chest. Yes, I ratted out my students, but I have a feeling Luna really will raise hell and that isn’t an idle threat.

“Ms. Combs, I know what you came here to