17

HAZEL was fast enough to catch the flying boy mid-air, her arms wrapping around him instinctively. The impact made her stagger back a step, but she laughed anyway, a wide smile breaking across her stressed yet undeniably beautiful face.

“Hey, little monk,” she said fondly as she steadied herself and lowered him back onto his feet. “How are you?”

“I’m fine,” Gaddiel replied quickly, then pointed behind him with urgency. “Gabriel had a cut on his left hand. See?”

Without waiting, he grabbed Hazel’s hand and began dragging her toward Gabriel’s bed.

“Alright, alright, I’m coming,” Hazel said, amused but alert now.

Gabriel sat upright as they approached, his...