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PROLOGUE

LOIRE VALLEY, FRANCE NOVEMBER 1565

CHAUNCEY WAS WITH A FARMER’S DAUGHTER ON the grassy banks of the Loire River when the stor wander in the meadoas left to his oo feet to carry him back to the château He tore a silver buckle off his shoe, placed it in the girl’s pal on her skirts Then he tugged on his boots and started for home

Rain sheeted down on the darkening countryside surrounding the Château de Langeais Chauncey stepped easily over the sunken graves and hu he could find his way hoht, but the darkness and onslaught of rain were deceiving enough

There was e of Chauncey’s vision, and he snapped his head to the left At first glance what appeared to be a large angel topping a nearby ht Neither stone nor s His torso was naked, his feet were bare, and peasant trousers hung low on his waist He hopped down fro rain It slid down his face, which was dark as a Spaniard’s

Chauncey’s hand crept to the hilt of his sword “Who goes there?”

The boy’s mouth hinted at a smile

“Do not play gaeais,” Chauncey warned “I asked for your name Give it ”

“Duc?” The boy leaned against a twistedtree “Or bastard?”

Chauncey unsheathed his sword “Take it back! My father was the Duc de Langeais I’eais now,” he added clumsily, and cursed himself for it

The boy gave a lazy shake of his head “Your father wasn’t the old duc ”

Chauncey seethed at the outrageous insult “And your father?” he de the sword He didn’t yet know all his vassals, but he was learning He would brand the family name of this boy toa hand down his face to clear away the rain “Who are you?”

The boy walked up and pushed the blade aside He suddenly looked older than Chauncey had presumed, maybe even a year or two older than Chauncey “One of the Devil’s brood,” he answered

Chauncey felt a clench of fear in his stoh his teeth “Get out of my way ”

The ground beneath Chauncey tilted Bursts of gold and red popped behind his eyes Hunched with his fingernails grinding into his thighs, he looked up at the boy, blinking and gasping, trying toHis er his to command

The boy crouched to level their eyes “Listen carefully I need so from you I won’t leave until I have it Do you understand?”

Gritting his teeth, Chauncey shook his head to express his disbelief—his defiance He tried to spit at the boy, but it trickled down his chin, his tongue refusing to obey him

The boy clasped his hands around Chauncey’s; their heat scorched him and he cried out

“I need your oath of fealty,” the boy said “Bend on one knee and swear it ”

Chauncey coh harshly, but his throat constricted and he choked on the sound His right knee buckled as if kicked froh no one was there, and he stumbled forward into the mud He bent sideways and retched

“Swear it,” the boy repeated

Heat flushed Chauncey’s neck; it took all his energy to curl his hands into teak fists He laughed at himself, but there was no hu the nausea and weakness inside him It would not lift until he took the oath He would say what he had to, but he swore in his heart he would destroy the boy for this humiliation

“Lord, I become your man,” Chauncey said venomously

The boy raised Chauncey to his feet “Meet me here at the start of the Hebrew month of Cheshvan

During the teeks between new and full moons, I’ll need your service ”

“A … fortnight? ” Chauncey’s whole frae “I aeais! ”

“You are a Nephil,” the boy said on a sliver of a smile

Chauncey had a profane retort on the tip of his tongue, but he sed it His next words were spoken with icy venom “What did you say?”

“You belong to the biblical race of Nephiliel who fell from heaven

You’re halfChauncey’s “Half fallen angel ”

Chauncey’s tutor’s voice drifted up froes froels cast from heaven mated with mortal women A fearsome and powerful race A chill that wasn’t entirely revulsion crept through Chauncey “Who are you?”

The boy turned, walking away, and although Chauncey wanted to go after hi there, blinking up through the rain, he sao thick scars on the back of the boy’s naked torso They narrowed to form an upside­down V

“Are you—fallen?” he called out “Your wings have been stripped, haven’t they?”

The boy—angel—whoever he was did not turn back Chauncey did not need the confirmation

“This service I’m to provide,” he shouted “I demand to knohat it is!”

The air resonated with the boy’s low laughter

CHAPTER 1

COLDWATER, MAINE PRESENT DAY