Wounded Wings (Cupid Chronicles) Read Online Free

the reservation, with not a lot to distinguish it from any other small desert town in this state. Save one thing.
    Elijah.
    Michael had been waiting for him to settle there these past three months, though he’d had little idea the trek from his last assignment in Texas would be so long and . . . lonely. He left all he’d known behind to take on Elijah’s case, but this was unlike anything he’d ever done. For the first time, he’d have no support system to lean on or superiors to come to if things went badly. And on the most important assignment of his lifetime.
    He swallowed and wiped his sweaty palm on his jeans as the significance of the case weighed upon his soul. Father was counting on him. Gabriel was counting on him. They were all watching for his potential promotion to leader of Love Detail.
    A flutter flew from his stomach to his throat as the diner came into view and he switched on his turn signal.
    An angel playing cupid to another angel.
    A fallen brother.
    The absurdity wasn’t lost on him. But, it was what had been asked of him, so he resolved to see the assignment through.
    Michael parked and stared at the bustling diner.
    Oh, Father, help me pull this off.
    He stepped out of his car and smiled at the Sheriff who’d pulled in next to him. “Okay,” he whispered to himself. “Here goes nothing.”
    As Michael entered the diner, he recognized Elijah the moment he laid eyes on him. He might not be an angel any longer, but he still had a faint, shimmering aura that only another angel would recognize. As if his essence hadn’t quite dissipated yet. Fascinating.
    “Can I help you?” a slip of a waitress asked, her smile bright and open.
    “I . . . uh . . .” Michael could barely take his eyes off of Elijah as he worked in the kitchen, hustling around and flipping things on the grill, totally oblivious to anything going on in the diner. He knew from his research that Elijah had been a chef in his previous angelic work, but he hadn’t considered that he would retain that skill in his human form and use it for gainful employment. But then again, what else did he expect of him? He had fallen after his first long-term earthly angelic duty. All he truly knew were Heavenly tasks. As wondrous as those were, they wouldn’t be useful to him in this existence.
    Michael shook his head. Poor Elijah. His first assignment on Love Detail, and it’d gone so terribly wrong. But, as he watched him working so efficiently in the diner’s kitchen, he realized that Father had equipped him well and he’d adapted beautifully.
    This experience was getting more enlightening by the moment.
    Michael glanced down at the petite waitress when she cleared her throat. “Oh, yes, I’m sorry.”
    “You wanna seat? Lunch?” She smiled sweetly.
    He nodded as the scent of the fried chicken lunch special tempted him and she ushered him to a countertop stool where he had a front row view of the kitchen. Perfect.
    He ordered the special and continued to watch Elijah work. He seemed to have acclimated to human life well, but Michael was itching to talk to him.
    A few moments later, a little girl with chestnut curls came scampering by, her sneakers squeaking on the linoleum floor.
    “Emma!” his waitress called after her. “Stop running. Go finish your lunch so Grammy can get you back for a nap, or none of Miss Vi’s cookies for you.”
    The little girl skidded to a halt and spun around, her blue eyes twinkling and full of mischief. “’Kay.” She lifted her gaze up to Michael and whispered, “’S okay. Miss Naomi gave me two cookies this morning. But don’t tell my mommy.”
    Michael grinned. “I won’t.”
    She tilted her head. “Why you glowin’, Mister? You a superhero or sumpin’?”
    Uh oh. “I . . .”
    “Just like Mr. Eli, the new cook man. But you’re brighter. And prettier.” She giggled and stepped closer, reaching out as if to touch his wings, even though they were tucked safely away.
    “Well,