More thunder and rain poured over Gabrian for four days following my talk with Cybele, and I still hadn't heard from Finn or even seen him yet. It had been nearly a week, and my worries were inflating with each passing day.

Had Cybele been wrong about Finn's feelings for me? Had he kissed me and decided that we weren't going to be anything, just like he and Cybele had done?

Ugh, they kissed. It didn't feel right even after Cybele's attempt to comfort me, making me more flustered that she'd brought it up at all. What happened between them to decide that they wouldn't be a couple? They were the best of friends, and they got along so well that anyone could have put the two together. I did before all of this mess.

Cybele was gorgeous, breath-takingly beautiful and charming. She had a radiant energy, was sweet, and quick to laugh. She was the closest thing to perfect I'd ever seen. How could Finn have picked me over her? It just didn't make sense.

She was much prettier than I was, and this was just undebatable. It wasn't a matter of even feeling bad about myself, because I didn't when I was around her. She looked like a supermodel, and that was a fact. While looking like a princess from a storybook, she was a guardian of the people: courageous to fight away demons, kind to defend others, loving with children, and honorable.

When Finn had met her, how could he have ruled her out after seeing all of these qualities? If my idea of their timeline was right, then Cybele wouldn't have been with Secta so his strange relationship rules wouldn't have restricted them. So why had they not even tried it past just one kiss?

The issue with Secta was another thing that concerned me. If Finn and I did end up together in the end, how were we going to keep it a secret from the god himself? Was I going to be under Secta's lock and key forever?

"Give me ten more push-ups!" Raphael snapped at me, walking in front of me from where I laid in the grass. His arm rested in a sling as he narrowed his eyes with a sigh of disappointment. "You're already tired? This is just pitiful, Stratton. I've only made you do forty."

I set myself up into a push-up position before dropping into the first one, an ache running through my arms that made me wince. "You've made me... run and fight for weeks, not do... push-ups."

"You have to get arm strength to punch harder and currently your arms look like noodles. We'll take a few trips to the weight room, because if you think this is torture, be prepared to meet the grim reaper."

"5... 6... 7..." I muttered under my breath, feeling sweaty beyond belief as my arms shook. This felt very close to torture as my lungs burned. When reaching ten, I let out a gasp of relief before falling face first onto the ground. Rolling over onto my back, I smiled up at Raphael. "Proud of me, Coach?"

He grumbled, shaking his head. "I don't care. Get up and stop rolling around in the dirt like an animal."

"Fine, I'll stop embarrassing you."

"For the next few seconds. What a gift." He retorted as I stood to my feet, brushing off my back. I flashed him a smile and I could have sworn I saw the corner of his lips rise just a millimeter. His face hardened back to its original expression of iron in the next moment.

"Why'd you come back to teach me in your sling? Charlie could have taught me and you could still be in bed."

He snorted, "I will not stay in bed for weeks. That's absurd. You aren't difficult to order around and at this rate, I need to be getting in at least some walking cardio or else I'll get out of shape."

"I think you just missed me."

"You broke my arm. I missed you hardly."

I raised an eyebrow. "It was not because of me! We have been over this, Raphael. Blame Archer for your arm, not me."

"Not another word or I'll make you run that attitude off." I sealed my lips closed as Raphael nodded. "Good."

I brushed off my pants as Raphael walked towards his bag, but I stepped forward ahead of him, slipping it onto my shoulder. "I can carry it for you."

He snorted, trying to take it from me. "I carried it down here. I'm not completely disabled."

"You have a broken arm." I gave him a smile. "Just let me give you a hand."

He narrowed his eyes. "If that was a joke..."

"Unintentional." I laughed. "Just nod your head and let me take it, Raphael. You can insult me the entire way up the hill if you want."

"I don't need anyone thinking we're friends." He snorted, "but it will give you more exercise. Best of luck. It gets heavier." And he wasn't lying because at the top of the hill, I was panting trying to catch my breath as he took the bag off my shoulder.

"I gave you a fair warning."

"I thought... you were exaggerating... making a joke about my noodle arms..." I coughed, resting my hands on my knees. "What the hell is in that bag? Fucking boulders?"

"Get some water and some sleep. Weight room starts tomorrow morning." Raphael said before walking off, leaving me in the middle of the courtyard alone. Sucking in a breath, I straightened up, wiping the sweat from my forehead.

A blur blew past the corner of my eye before I was swept into the air, a scream leaving my lips. I was twirled in the air, seeing the white glimmer of wings before I landed back on my feet. Gabriel stood in front of me with a cheeky smile as he winked. "Surprise! It's your favorite person ever. What are you doing right now because Samaria is striking up a game of pool in the basement of the West building which you cannot miss out on..."

"I'm headed to bed." I confessed, blinking my eyes as I gave him an apologetic smile. "I've been working out all day, mentally and physically. I'm exhausted, so tell her maybe another time?"

"Ah, come on, Kate!" Gabriel stepped forward, standing very, very close to me until I felt the need to step back. "I haven't gotten to see you and talk in so long..."

He studied my face as I let out a nervous laugh. "Another night, I promise, Gabriel. Just not tonight. I would hardly be any fun for you half asleep."

"You'd be fun no matter what." He gave me a smile. "I can at least walk you back to your room? I can get a little of your time that way."

"Actually, that's my job." The deep voice made Gabriel jump in surprise, but it didn't startle me as I turned around to see Finn standing a few feet behind me. He was leaned against one of the stone walls, wings curled behind his back and jaw clenched.

He looked extremely hot for some reason unknown to me, perhaps the tighter, black shirt that strained against the muscle in his biceps or the way his Adam's apple bobbed. He made me swallow as I looked over his body before back up to his face.

"Of course, Commander. I only was offering my help."

"Noted. I can take it from here, Gabriel." Finn stood up straight, towering over the two of us as Gabriel nodded before looking to me.

"I'll see you soon, Kate, yeah?"

I smiled at him. "Of course, Gabriel. Goodnight."

He returned my smile before flashing me a quick wink as he walked backwards. Turning around, he walked off with his hands in his pockets before I looked back at Finn. He was studying Gabriel with an interesting expression on his face before staring at me as I cleared my throat.

I met his blue eyes. "Well, haven't seen you in a while. I take it you aren't sick anymore?"

Finn looked deeply into my eyes. "Yes, I'm back to my regular self, and I'll spare you the details. I believe that we need to have a talk, don't we?"

My heart began to hammer in my chest as I nodded my head slowly. "Yes, we do. My room?"

"Agreed. Your room it is."

I opened the door to my bedroom, shuffling in as Finn followed me inside. I shut it behind us as he walked into the center of my room. His height and large frame with his wings made my bedroom appear much smaller than usual, his blue eyes catching my breath when he turned back to look at me.

Leaning against the door to my room, I crossed my arms over my chest as I tilted up my chin to fake my confidence. "Well? I'd like some kind of explanation. I haven't heard from you for a week, Finn."

He bit his lip, turning to fully face me as he put his hands in the pockets of his black sweatpants. "I've been very sick, Kate. I really have. It's hard to explain what really was wrong with me, but I couldn't leave my room or my bed so that's where I stayed. Cybele and Raphael were there for me and those two were the only ones."

I blinked, staring at him. "Finn..."

"I didn't know I was sick for a week. I'm actually surprised that I've been out of it for that long." He confessed, watching me with his deep, attentive eyes. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry but I truly wasn't in my right mind. I would have come to you sooner, but I truly couldn't. That's what I needed to tell you, and I can leave you alone if that is what you wish. You have every right to be furious with me, but please know it wasn't intentional."

We stared at each other as I took a breath, studying his facial features. My eyes came up to meet his before biting my lip. "Do you feel... well?"

He seemed surprised, but nodded his head. "I'm completely well now. Not contagious either if you were worried."

This made my lips curl in the corners as Finn gave me a small, boyish smile. "I wasn't worried about that." Sucking in a breath of courage, "I was worried about you. About what happened during Shadowthief... and after..."

"I don't regret it, the kiss, if that's what you're thinking. You have to know that you are very far from the truth regarding that moment."

I blinked in surprise. "You don't...?"

Finn smiled wider at me. "Of course not, Kate. And I'd like to do whatever I can to prove it to you after this terrible week."

I stuck out my hand towards Finn, palm up as I stared into his blue eyes. He watched me closely before reaching out, his fingers intertwining with mine. I pulled him a few steps closer to me, giving his hand a squeeze before I released it with a sigh. My brain was lulling itself to sleep and I couldn't concentrate on a single thing.

I could still feel the warmth of his fingers and the tingle they left on mine as I opened the door. "I can't think. I'm sorry, I'm exhausted." I took in a breath as I closed my eyes for a moment. "It's been an intense week, but I'd like to... keep talking. Just the two of us when I can actually keep up."

"Get some sleep, Kate. I'm not keeping you up any longer, and I'll be here whenever you need me." He said before sliding out of my bedroom door and into the hall. Finn turned around to look at me. "Goodnight, Kate. I hope you sleep well."

I stepped forward into the hall, giving a quick glance about. No one was there besides us two. Resting my hands on either side of Finn's face, I stood up on my tiptoes and placed a soft kiss on his forehead. He let out a soft breath of relief as I felt him slowly lean into me, and in the next moment we were apart, our eyes watching the other.

"Goodnight, Finn." I said. "Tomorrow, I promise."