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Sabrina flinched when she turned her face up to the shower nozzle and let the hot water stream over her. Her cheek was throbbing. Damn Bryce. He’d really done a number on her. He’d caught her good with a direct punch to the face. With a shiver, she knew she got away lucky. If Seth hadn’t shown up, Bryce would have done a lot more damage.

Never in her life had Sabrina needed saving. She’d always faced adversity alone and head-on. With her mother in and out of hospitals, Sabrina had been forced to practically raise herself as she was tossed around foster homes whenever her mother had one of her psychotic episodes. How ironic that she’d learned her mother wasn’t as insane as everyone believed. Oh, she’d been good and crazy, that was for sure. It just turned out that much of what her mother had been babbling about proved true.

Sabrina wrapped her arms around herself, unable to stop the shudder of cold dread that worked its way through her. Given what Bryce had said to Seth, it was obvious he knew there was more to her than met the eye. Damn. If he knew what she was, it was going to cause all kinds of problems. If being the target of Bryce’s obsession wasn’t bad enough, she was also out of a job. Not that working at the museum had paid much, but it had been a necessary evil.

Knowing the unpaid gas and electric bills were sitting on her desk, rent was due in two weeks and the phone would need to be paid any day now, she had every right to fear the repercussions of this one night.

The weight of loneliness suddenly bearing down on her, Sabrina felt the sting of tears in her eyes. She fought them back, knowing they were useless. Crying wouldn’t get her anywhere. It wouldn’t change her situation, and so she wouldn’t indulge in a useless endeavor such as wallowing in self-pity.

When her thoughts went to Seth, Sabrina couldn’t help but think of her father. She’d never met him. He’d died just before she was born. She’d grown up believing her father had been a cop who’d been shot in the line of duty. That had been a lie her mother had told her to keep the unbelievable truth from her. But on her deathbed, Sylvia had confessed the truth, and now that knowledge festered within Sabrina. It’s what made her seek out Bryce, beg employment in his museum and put up with his shit for the past year. It’s what brought her to Seth Raleigh and it’s what set her apart from the world around her, yet brought her closer to him.

Letting the water run down her body, Sabrina remembered the feel of Seth’s hands on her. He’d been amazing, bringing her to her first orgasm in a matter of moments when others couldn’t in twice the time. She knew his ability to affect her the way he had ran deeper than mere sexual attraction. There was an undeniable connection between them. It had been almost electric when they’d touched. If she’d felt it, it stood to reason so had he.

If anyone would understand what Sabrina was going through, it would be Seth, yet she kept her secret from him. She wondered if he’d seen through her deception. Most likely he had. Why he hadn’t called her on it, she didn’t know. All she knew was that she was grateful he hadn’t. She wasn’t ready to talk about what her mother had revealed. It was just so…bizarre. She hadn’t given voice to it yet, and honestly, she wasn’t sure she was ready to.

How could she talk about something she herself didn’t fully comprehend? Of course, she knew Seth was the one person who could make sense of her life. Still, she didn’t want to talk about it. Not yet—not with anyone.

Once she’d rinsed the last of the conditioner from her hair, Sabrina shut off the water and stepped out of the shower. She dried herself and donned a long T-shirt and a pair of men’s boxers. Not the most attractive of pajamas, but they were comfortable. After turning off the light, she crawled into bed, swearing that she still felt Seth’s touch all over her. It was as if he’d left a remnant of himself with her.

She closed her eyes and saw him. Only instead of looking like a modern man, in her mind, he appeared a fierce warrior standing on the edge of battle. His long, straight black hair billowed in the wind and sun gleamed off his armor. He wielded a sword that had to be as long as she was tall. But what caught and held Sabrina’s attention were the glorious black wings fanned out behind him.

Flanking him were two other angelic warriors. Behind him, legions of Heaven’s soldiers lined up, stretching out as far as her eyes could see.

Gasping, Sabrina opened her eyes and bolted up in bed. Had that been a dream? It had certainly felt as if she’d glimpsed something all too real—something she had no business seeing.

Pressing her fingers to her temples, Sabrina massaged her suddenly aching head. She didn’t want to be a part of this. She didn’t want to be caught up in a world that was as fascinating as it was frightening. Yet she knew that choice was out of her hands. She was at the mercy of God, who had plotted out her life long before she took her first breath.

Though Sabrina never believed in the expression “ignorance is bliss”, in her case, it proved true. She’d believed the lie her mother had told her about her father and had been blissfully ignorant of what he was and what it meant to her. Now, her life was turned upside down and inside out and she no longer even knew who she was anymore.

Before lying back down, Sabrina had the unnerving sensation she wasn’t alone. She searched through the darkness, almost expecting Seth to step from the shadows. Not that there were many places for him to hide in her sparsely furnished room. Nevertheless, she felt him all around her.

Settled back down, Sabrina closed her eyes and tried to do exactly what she believed Seth was doing—putting the events of the night far from his mind. Though, as hard as she tried, her dreams were filled with the glorious image of a black-haired, black-winged warrior of God.