"i sneaked out." her smile twisted up on one side. "i had to see you again. i've been trying for a long time, but security-well, you know. it's not exactly lax. your kind and my kind-we aren't supposed to mix. but you know that."

"coming here was a bad idea."

"i know it's been a while, but i was hoping for a slightly more friendly reaction," she said, pushing her lips out in a pout.

patch didn't answer.

"i haven't stopped thinking about you." dabria dimmed her voice to a low, sexy pitch and took a step closer to patch. "it wasn't easy getting down here. lucianna is making excuses for why i'm absent. i'm risking her future as well as my own. don't you want to at least hear what i have to say?"

"talk." patch's words didn't hold a shred of trust.

"i haven't given up on you. this whole time-" she broke off and blinked back a sudden display of tears. when she spoke again, her voice was more composed but still held a wavering note. "i know how you can get your wings back."

she smiled at patch, but he didn't return the smile.

"as soon as you get your wings back, you can come home," she said, speaking more confidently.

"everything will be like it was before. nothing has changed. not really."

"what's the catch?"

"there is no catch. you have to save a human life. very judicious, considering the crime that banished you here in the first place."

"what rank will i be?"

all confidence scattered from dabria's eyes, and i got the feeling he'd asked the one question she'd hoped to avoid. "i just told you how to get your wings back," she said, sounding a touch condescending.

"i think i deserve a thank