I never thought I would truly amount to anything. I didn't think I'd get the happy ending I so desperately dream of, I didn't think I'd ever get to tell Tyler I was his mate, and I certainly never thought I'd be fighting three angels so my soul could go back to my body.

I guess 'expect the unexpected' fits everything that's happening right now.

The middle angel simply grinned as he watched the ones surround him advance on me, their silver armor protecting their torsos glinting against the sun. I twisted the sword in my grip, giving Tyler a grin before I shifted my visibility back to where they couldn't see me.

I growled before advancing, their sword coming into contact with mine. They moved the sword and shot their fist out, landing a punch square in my jaw. I gritted my teeth in the pain, using my wing and lashing it against his cheek.

Gold blood dropped from the cut, his face turning red in anger. I shot out with my sword, clashing against both of their armor as I fought with both my sword and my wings. I hit my wing at exactly the right place, one of their armor falling in pieces around their feet. I shot my sword out just as the one with armor did, digging my sword in his abdomen as the other sliced the bare skin on my arm.

I twisted my sword as my wing shot across the throat of the other, his hands flying up to his throats as gold blood spilled down the silver of his abdomen. I looked down to my own arm, smiling as I watched the thin cut heal itself. The middle angel smirked at me, before turning to Tyler and his family.

"It's truly a shame." I shifted myself again, circling him until I stood in front of Tyler.

"What is?" He gave me a toothy smile, his eyes set on the ones behind me.

"You left her body unguarded."

"No!" Tyler shouted as I took off, running up the long staircase with him not far behind me.

I never realized how long the stairs were until now, finally bursting through the doors to find a dark angel standing over my body, holding a small silver knife.

I leaped into my body just as he stabbed it through my chest, my eyes flying open just as the angel faded into air. I screamed as my veins hardened, tumbling out of the stiff bed. The sheets tangled around my legs, dark blood covering the ivory around me.

"No! It isn't supposed to end like this!" Tyler screamed from beside me, my eyes not focusing on him.

I couldn't feel myself, the tips of my fingers rowing numb as I held my hand in front of my face. I felt him prop me up on his knee, screaming filling my ears. Ashe stood in the doorway with Mariah, tears falling down their cheeks.

"Why are you crying?" My voice was weak, weaker than I had ever heard it before.

Was this dying? Was this death?

"Lena," Xander pulled his wife into his arms, Alex curling Mariah into his as she sobbed. I smiled back up to Tyler's green eyes reaching up to rub my thumb along his cheekbone one last time.

"This isn't how it's supposed to end! You were supposed to come home to me!" Tyler sobbed as I grew colder, a small smile filling my face.

"No! Take me!" Jessie pushed through the group surrounding the door, his golden aura surround him.

He was the protector of Angels, he had powers greater than even I. But I couldn't do that, I couldn't let another live simply for my sake.

I shook my head at his big brown eyes stood over me, watching them shut before opening once more, filling with pools of salty tears. "No Jessie, not for me."

"For once, this isn't your choice."

His palm opened over my chest, arching my back as he pulled everything from me. My eyes widened as the wound appeared on his chest, his eyes shutting as the golden air surrounded both of us.

His eyes shut as he fell off to the side, my back falling from the air I was lifted into back onto the floor. "No!"

I scrambled away from Tyler, grabbing onto Jessie's now lifeless body. I screamed in frustration, arms wrapping around me trying to pull me away.

I kicked.

I screamed.

But they wouldn't let me stay with his body. I punched the walls surrounding us, threw plates and broke wooden posts. I screamed until my throat was ragged and then screamed more.

I screamed and cried until I went silent, shutting my eyes as I tried not to collapse under the guilt that was crushing me inside out. I felt Tyler's arms around me, the sparks, his tears even, but I still felt numb. I slept for days afterwards, not bothering to leave the bed even when Tyler tried.

It wasn't that simple. It never was.

***

Jessie's funeral was held on the top of a mountain, right as the sun rose and hit the tip. I clutched onto Tyler, the closest contact he had with me in so long. You would have thought I kissed him by then, but all I could do was feel the wound in my chest leave me.

The feeling was like little prickles of light appearing on my skin. Like I was finally breathing again. The feel of kissing a child on the head, hearing their laughter after such a hard day.

And I hated that I felt that happiness. That light.

It was the same light I was feeling right here in front of Jessie's body. The Angels came from the Heaven to take their Protector home, their eyes not even giving us a second chance.

A girl came back down right as they lifted him in the air, taking a step to me. She placed her hand on my forehead, shutting my eyes. I breathed in her scent, warm honey and amber. Her thumbs traced along my face, her wings wrapping around me and her, protecting us from the outside world.

"It is not your fault. Nothing has ever been your fault." She spoke to me, her voice soft as rose petals under my fingers.

I shook my head, my face dry of any tears. "Yes it is." I whispered, more to myself than to her. "It always has been and everything bad in the world is my fault. I was a Protector, and I couldn't even protect him."

She breathed over me, her blow like a strong gust of wind. Every memory of Jessie and I passed through the front of my mind, us playing as children, training together, watching him fly off with his angels on his first day.

"It was his fate, just as living with Tyler and bearing his next heir is yours. Dance, be merry, and please, for Jessie's sake and my own; forgive yourself."

She released me from her wings, taking a step back. She smiled at me once, nodding as she bent her knees and pushed herself up. I watched her fly through the clouds, her white wings fading into the fluffy clouds.

I smiled and turned to Tyler, who had a hopeful look on his face. "I'm sorry."

He cocked an eyebrow, taking a small step towards me. "For what?"

"Shutting you out." I closed the distance and jumped on him, wrapping my arms around his neck as I pressed my lips to his.

Fireworks, explosions, hell even a supernova exploded under our lips. I missed him so much, loved him so desperately, I released everything I had through my lips. He grinned as he kissed me, pulling back to breathe as he rested his forehead on my own.

"For the love of god, mark me again."

His teeth sunk deep into my skin, but no pain came to light. Simply pleasure as our bond grew to such strengths, as high and thick as redwoods. He kissed me over and over again, little butterfly kisses along my pale skin. I cried again, from how much I truly loved this idiot before me.

His faults were as much my own. With his emerald eyes and crooked smile. His dimples set in his cheeks and dark hair that I ran my hands through ever chance I had.

This was my happy ending. He was my happy ending. He was my everything. He was my love.