Tom first felt the freezing water engulfing him like the jaws of some giant ice beast. He held his breath when his head submerged, but the icy pond shocked his senses, and he gasped a mouthful of water. When his head surfaced, he spluttered before he sank again. Tom desperately kicked and flailed his arms around, splashing his way back up.

He was too panicked to figure out how to stay afloat. Each time his head bobbed up enough to inhale a sharp breath, fighting was underway at the edge of the pond. Tom saw the tall demon's leg snap in a gut-wrenching way before he sank down again.

He kicked, reaching out for anything, but his arms were tangling in the weeds. When he surfaced again, the tall demon was gone and the one who had pushed Tom into the water was pinned to the ground.

Ezra was taking her soul.

Tom sank underwater once more. This time, his ankle tangled in the weeds and no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't surface again. His lungs were burning, his skin was numb, his eyes stung from the murky water, his muscles ached, and his heartbeat wrang loud in his ears.

He was running out of time, until Ezra was suddenly grabbing him around the waist and pulling him up with enough force that the weeds snapped around his legs. Tom wheezed an inhale when they broke through the surface, still panicking. He grabbed onto Ezra's shoulders, needing nothing more than to be on dry land.

"Calm down," Ezra said, trying to swim with him to the side. "Calm down! You'll drown us both!"

Tom clung to him, realising Ezra wasn't going to let his head go back underwater. They reached the side and Ezra hauled him up first. Tom crawled away from the water, coughing until he could breathe with ease. He rolled onto his back and Ezra was crouched beside him, watching with uncertain fright. His hands hovered in the air, hesitant of what to do.

"Can you breathe?" he asked.

Tom nodded. His heart was thumping, and he was breathing heavy, but at least he was safely out of the water. He was too stunned to say anything, and focused on the tree canopies above them, and the occasional star peeking through.

Ezra took off his wet jacket and it hit the ground with a wet slap. He sat down, waiting patiently until Tom finally calmed down enough to sit up too. He held a hand to his chest and gasped as deeply as he could manage. "I'm so sorry for summoning you," he said, pausing to cough. "I didn't know what else to do. I've broken the contract."

"You did the right thing by summoning me. You would have died if not," Ezra said, reaching out to untangle some of the weeds from around Tom's ankle. "You didn't break your contract. You promised not to say my full name in front of humans. They were not humans."

"Thank you so much for saving me . . . again. I swear I'm not usually in situations like this."

"Lately you've been in nothing but situations like this."

Tom managed a smile. Water dripped down the back of his neck and he shivered. His jeans and coat felt twice as heavy. "Those demons were so sure we were up to something. They kept talking about you as if it was expected for you to do something like that."

Ezra turned to stare at the pond behind them. The water had settled as if Tom hadn't just fought for his life. "Other demons are always hateful of soul strippers." He then looked up to the sky. "Angels."

As soon as the word left his mouth, one angel landed beside them. His glorious white wings rustled the earth, blowing mud over Tom's wet jeans. "Two demon souls were taken without angel supervision, explain yourself," an old angel demanded, looking down on them with drooping old eyes. Tom had once seen the elderly angel in the library. His presence was just as tranquil.

"Demons were threatening a human life," Ezra said, standing up and stepping away from the angel. He never met his eyes, looking down at the ground instead. "They pushed Tom in the pond, knowing he couldn't swim. To save Tom, I had to take their souls."

The angel stared at him, then stepped closer with narrowing eyes. "Ezrakhell. I never thought I'd see you back here."

Tom felt the tension rising when Ezra glanced towards the pond with dark loathing in his dark eyes. "What's your decision, Othrowan? Are you going to condemn me again?"

Tom's hairs stood on end. He felt a wave of hatred pouring out from the demon in the form of words. When he glanced to the angel, he showed no emotion. "No," Othrowan said calmly. "You did the right thing saving this humans life. If there is a next time, call on an angel too." He turned to Tom and rested a hand on his shoulder. Tom stopped tensing and embraced the sudden peace of an angel's touch. "You will be okay, child. Was there a reason these demons attacked you?"

Tom started fiddling with the weeds that were still tangled around his wrists. "No. I shouldn't have been out here on a new moon." Ezra looked relieved that Tom was keeping his business to himself.

"You best get home then. You're an O'Connell, yes?" Tom nodded. "Then your home is Glass Horns Pub. I will send angels to watch over the building for the rest of the night if it will help you sleep."

"Thank you, that'll really help." Tom matched the angel's warm smile, wishing he could feel so care-free for the rest of his life. But the angel let go of his shoulder, and his usual rush of human emotions circled his heart.

"Ezrakhell, keep doing the right thing and walk this human home."

"Go fuck yourself, Othrowan."

Tom awkwardly stood between them, not knowing what to do or what to say. The angel quickly vanished, and Ezra faced away, likely trying to hold his composure. "Um, I'm guessing you know each other then," Tom said uneasily.

Ezra kept his back to Tom for a long while. When he turned back around, the anger had been replaced with sadness, and the shyness returned to his voice. "Unfortunately. Let's go. It's cold." He picked up his jacket and they walked in silence back down the narrow country road. Not another person passed them. The Glass Horns sign with drink brands had been taken inside and the parasols were down, which meant that they were closing early. Tom knew he wouldn't make it to his bedroom unseen, and he would have to explain why he was soaked from head to toe.

Ezra looked up to the sky again, but before he had the chance to say that he was leaving, Tom grabbed his arm. "Wait," he said, as Ezra quickly looked down with surprise. "I feel like I haven't shown enough gratitude." From the madness of almost drowning coursing through his veins, Tom stepped close and hugged him. Ezra's clothes were soaked and cold, but underneath the warmth of his body seeped through. Tom pressed his nose into Ezra's collar bone and squeezed his arms around his back. "Thank you, thank you so much. I would not be standing here if it wasn't for you." Tom didn't expect Ezra to move, and he was pleased when he felt awkward pats between his shoulder blades.

He pulled away, smiling up at the demon whose cheeks had turned red. Ezra pursed his lips. "Do you have a warm place to go to?" Tom asked.

"Don't worry about me." Ezra didn't step away. Instead, his gaze curiously circled Tom's face before dropping to his jacket that was dripping onto the dry road. "I know I told you not to summon me, but if you are in a situation like that again, my name is yours to use."

Tom nodded, ignoring the excitement bubbling in his chest. Now was not the time to fumble on his feelings. "Thank you. I really am so grateful. If you need anything at all, don't hesitate to ask. I owe you so much."

Ezra nodded too, then looked back up to the sky. "We will talk tomorrow." He then left without another word. Tom stared up at the sky too, until he began to shiver, and his wet clothes felt uncomfortably cold against his skin.

He hauled himself inside, thinking about what to say to his parents. Lying was becoming easy when they rushed over to him, and he said that some demons were just looking for trouble and he wasn't rising to it. His mum dragged him to the bathroom and ran him a hot bath. His dad almost kicked Gerry out when he started commenting about Tom being careless. His sister made him a hot cup of tea, and as Tom sat on the couch with dry clothes on, a blanket over his knees, and a warm mug in his hands, he was thankful for not only Ezra, but for his family too.

They didn't ask many questions, and Tom chose not to tell them about Ezra's business, and the real reason why he was pushed into the pond. But he did mention that Ezra saved his life again and walked him home. His parents raved about the soul stripper having free drinks for life, while his sister stared quietly until they left to get ready for bed.

"You're being careful, aren't you?" Neasa asked, leaning closer so she could whisper.

"What do you mean?"

"The soul stripper. I've seen the way you watch him when he's in the pub."

Tom tapped a finger against his mug. Cal and his older sister were the only two people who knew he was bisexual. But he hadn't expected her to notice anything. "I want to be friends with him."

"Right, so you look at all your friends like you want to jump their bones?"

Tom's brows almost reached his hairline. He scoffed and declared, "I have never once looked at the soul stripper in that way."

"You have, and I don't blame you. He's hot." She grinned and nudged him but dropped the conversation when their mum returned. "Just be careful please," she whispered before ruffling his hair and going to bed.

Tom sank into the couch, with pink cheeks. It just wouldn't work between us, he thought, rubbing the ring finger on his left hand.