Exclusive Extra: Deleted Scene From Archangel's Light

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Illium and Aodhan: The (Infamous) Incident with the Paint

by Nalini Singh

Author’s Note: This was a scene from Illium and Aodhan’s childhood that didn’t make it into the final manuscript of Archangel’s Light but that makes me smile. I thought you might enjoy it too. As it’s set in the past, it’s not a spoiler for the book, so you can read it even if you haven’t yet read AL.

~

Sharine rubbed her forehead as she looked down at the two miscreants standing in front of her, their faces long and their wings drooping. “Which one of you decided this was a grand idea?” she asked, not for the first time.

“Me,” they both said.

Meanwhile, Illium was covered in splotches of multihued paint from where he’d fallen into her supplies while climbing onto the roof and accidentally falling through an open window instead! It was a mercy that he was safe. She’d hugged him endlessly, kissed his cheeks, and checked him for broken bones.

Now, she had to deal with the fact that he’d flagrantly broken the rules.

“Aodhan,” she said, meeting the shattered blue-green of his eyes. “Did you truly dream this up?” She knew full well it had been Illium who'd come up with the plan—Illium always came up with the heart-stopping plans that risked his life and limbs, but Aodhan had immediately taken the blame when Sharine finally got around to punishing Illium for his actions.

Aodhan's little forehead scrunched up. “My idea,” he said.

Beside him, Illium said, “No. It was mine.”

“No. Me.”

The two boys stared at one another, almost as if they were communicating without words.

Sharine threw up her hands. “Fine. Illium, you’re in the bath first so we can scrub you clean, then you’re going to weed my entire garden by yourself.” It was a large garden and the task would keep him out of mischief while Sharine's heart calmed down. “Aodhan, you have to go home and think about your actions. No playing with or helping Illium until he’s done.”

Shocked faces.

Because the two would take any punishment over being separated. And truth be told, she found their loyalty toward one another a gift. But truly, for Aodhan to just refuse to admit he hadn’t been the one to devise the plan when she knew he'd never put Illium in danger… And to think she'd once believed Aodhan in danger of being overwhelmed by Illium's stronger personality.

Ha.

It was clear to her now that the boys were equals in stubbornness. Dear Sleeping Ancestors help her!

© 2021 Nalini Singh

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