Risen (Haunted Series Book 22)

good price for them, so there was no loss financially.  All that was left was having to explain why he sold the birds to someone else.  And what a someone else that was.  Crocker’s mind relived the feel of each curve he was able to access before he was interrupted.  The fact that she had used him or that she wasn’t from the house of Abigor didn’t matter at this point.  The memory of those stolen moments would sustain him for a long time to come.  Who knew?  Maybe she would sail back into his life again.  He had all eternity for this to happen.  He was satisfied with that.
Murphy was drafted for the night watch by the boatswain who was impressed with Murphy’s ability to follow orders while, also, being able to think for himself.  The farmer’s body had muscled out. Although, he was still too thin in the robust boatswain’s opinion.  In a fight, weight may make you a wee bit slower, but you could use it against a frailer opponent.  Stephen walked the deck, nodding to the crewman in the crow’s nest.  Having given away his axe, Murphy carried a short saber given to him by the quartermaster.  Evidently, this was a very unusual occurrence on the ship.  Murphy shook off the looks of envy as he did thoughts of Mia and the farm.
~
Nicholai had been waiting for her in the small, neatly kept yard of the hospital.  He was surprised by Mia appearing at his elbow.  “How?  Oh, that damned gargoyle invention.”
“Yes, no one was more surprised than I when Jeff showed up to give me a tune up,” Mia said. “I had just started the replanting when he tapped me on the shoulder.  At first, I thought it was the bookstore guy, but after he ran his finger along the bridge of my nose, I knew he must be the inventor Ted had told me about.  He was amazed by what the locket could do.  I joked about its limitations, and he smiled, thinking I was challenging him.  He pulled a tiny gem from his pouch.  Jeff tapped it inside the oval and then said simply, ‘Touch it when you’re in full armor and see its limitations.’”
“Come, Mia, we need to be in the south Atlantic when Victor arrives.”
Mia brought forth her wings and smiled as Nicholai inspected them.  “That demon had no idea what he was dealing with,” he said proudly.
“I do think it was unfortunate that I did have to show my might to the five generals.  Leviathan was there.”
“Fortunately for you, it’s common knowledge the bond you share with Stephen.  We took advantage of that.  They still see you as a weak woman.  Sure, you’re a warrior, but in their eyes, you lead with your heart,” Nicholai said.
The two flew into the GSD and shot high into the sky, far above the range of a certain trigger-happy captain.
“What are you going to do about your friend down there?” Nicholai asked as they passed over the Devil’s Pride.
“Nothing.  I left the light on and the door unlocked.  If he ever comes into his right mind, I will not bar him access to his farm.”
“But you have from your heart,” Nicholai noticed.
“A stint down in the Pit of Despair has taught me a few things.  One, I seem to have surrounded myself with insecure males.  I attract them like flies to shit.”
Nicholai laughed.  “I would have said sugar, but go on.”
“I seem to have wasted so much time reassuring them, taking care of them.  No wonder the demonic world really isn’t worried about me.  I’m too damn busy with hurt feelings.”
“Ah, but maybe these males aren’t insecure to begin with…”
“So, you’re saying it’s my fault?” Mia challenged.
“You’re a dynamo.  If it makes you feel any better, I think your husband seems to have grown up some.”
“Just some?”
“It’s the fate of a man who marries a beautiful woman.”
“But I’m not beautiful,” Mia argued.
“Not traditionally, but you have a way about you that only the strongest of us can manage to ignore.”
“Now you’re talking bird shit.”
Nicholai laughed again.  “Back to Stephen Murphy and the Pit of Despair…” he prodded.
“I’ve seen other women do it.  They can share childrearing with ex-husbands and partners whom they once loved.  They don’t let them creep under their skin and cause thoughts that shouldn’t occur.  I’m no better or worse than these courageous women.  I’ve decided to put an end to my childhood crush, grow up, and have one less insecure male to deal with.”
“Bravo, it sounds like a good idea in theory.  That’s Stephen sorted.  What about the others?”
Mia frowned.  “One asshole at a time,” she said.
Victor watched Mia and Nicholai fly into range.  He admired the way Little Bird had grown into the wings.  He knew that Nicholai had to work very hard to get her to be one with them.  His mentor had counseled, “Victor, be patient.  You were born with the wings and the knowledge of your soul bearer.  Mia has a lot of catching up to do.”
Victor had related, “You know, the first time I saw her, I was puzzled as to why Angelo lusted after her.  At first, it was the warrior he wanted for the Brotherhood, but then he couldn’t get past the woman - the demon inside her made that doubly difficult.  I didn’t like her, but I admired how she took all this horror that fate gave her and managed to find time to laugh.”
“Laughter?  Victor, you are many things, but a connoisseur of comedy isn’t one of them.”
“She finds joy in most everything.  This is why she attracts so many beings.  She accepts them as they are.  How many of us can say the same?”
“Not me. I try to mold and change them,” Nicholai said.  “So, when