I’m not the only one who hears the subtle accusation in his statement. Joseph doesn’t trust Sarah to not fabricate evidence. I wouldn’t either.
A peek at Sarah exposes frigid, furious eyes.
“Very well,” Maximus says. “So be it. If Lady Sarah provides substantial evidence of her claims, the Light Council shall come to her aid, just as she came to ours.”
I watch Sarah tilt her head, but her mouth is pressed in a tight line. “Thank you, Maximus.”
The leader of the Light Fallen waves a hand. “It is the least we can do. Now, if there is nothing else.” He claps his hands together then pushes his chair back. “I believe we have a banquet to attend.” Joseph, Gabe and the other Light Fallen rise with their leader. They follow him out of the room without a single word or glance at the rest of us. The meeting took less than five minutes, and I’m astonished. That wasn’t what I expected.
Zeke stands. “Veronica, shall we return to the banquet?” I take his hand, letting him help me to my feet.
“Actually,” I swallow, feeling the sense of foreboding which plagued me earlier. “I think I need some air.”
In a blink, Adrian is at my side. “I’ll take her. You got to walk her into the banquet.” Zeke doesn’t object, and I am mercifully whisked away from the room.
I don’t take the time to wave goodbye to Freddy. Maybe I will run into him when I return to the banquet. If not, it’s no big deal. We’ve already promised to not share each other’s secrets with Annie. We’ve parted on good terms.
Rather than descend the stone steps, Adrian walks me down the hall until we reach an open space, lined with two sets of French balcony doors. Adrian opens the door and we step onto a balcony lined with ornate stone railings, facing immaculate gardens. Flowers are carved into the hard material, and I trace my fingers over one of the vines when Adrian clears his throat.
“I am sorry about my mother.”
I turn around. “What for?” There are a few things he may be apologizing for.
“Revealing our connection.” His face hardens. “She had no right. I plan on speaking with her about the matter at the next opportunity.”
“It’s not that big of a deal,” I shrug. “I kind of anticipated them finding out about us tonight anyway.” Surely, someone at the banquet would’ve let it slip that Adrian and Zeke found their soulmate. We are fresh news. I don’t have to hear the gossip to know people talk about us.
“But my mother shouldn’t have been the one to share the information.” His eyes flash, and I don’t argue with him. It’s his right to be angry.
I stare out into the night. Purple and red streaks paint the horizon, following the departed sun. Soon, the only light will come from the moon and stars. I look up, then frown. The smog from the city dims the stars overhead. Back in Valley Lake, we are an hour away from surrounding major cities. Our night skies are lovely.
I take a breath, then look back at Adrian. “Do you believe her?” I stare into his eyes. “Do you think your mom is really worried about an enemy on the council?”
Adrian leans on the stone railing. “One never knows with her. My mother is ambitious, but I do not know if she would go so far as to levy false accusations in order to seize power. Then again, I can’t deny there may be some motivation for such a thing.” He shakes his head. “I honestly don’t know what to think.”
I nod, expecting as much. “Is nothing simple anymore?”
“Nothing is ever simple in this world,” he murmurs. “Life is a game of chess. You make a move, and your enemy counters. With foresight, strategy, and a hint of luck, you come out the victor.”
“That’s… bleak.”
“I can’t think of better word to describe life.”
“You don’t mean that.” I turn and lean my hip against the edge.
“Unfortunately, Angel, I do.” He’s not messing with me. The evidence is in his forlorn expression. My chest aches.
“You have a good life, Adrian. I know you’re one of the most powerful Dark Fallen alive.” I hold my breath, realizing I may have just played my hand and revealed I know the identity of his father. Fortunately, Adrian seems not to notice.
“What do you think is the source of all my problems?” He huffs an unamused laugh. “Maybe things would be better if Zeke and I were typical Fallen, but we aren’t so fortunate. My entire life has been surrounded by stifling expectations and power-driven Fallen. We avoid the politics as much as we can, but the Dark Council proves resourceful in pulling on our puppet strings.”
Guilt, hard and fast, punches me in the gut. I’m a major cause of their problems. I find myself saying, “I’m sorry.”
“No. Don’t.” He snatches my hand in his, so quick his hand blurs. “Angel, you have to know you are the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”
I don’t believe him. How could I? He and his brother were forced to give up their nomad life because of me. They returned to the embassy and work for the council to keep me safe.
I hate when I feel moisture gather in my eyes. “You wouldn’t be involved in any of this if it weren’t for me.”
“That’s not true.” He squeezes my hand. I feel his strong pulse through our laced fingers. “Whether Zeke and I wanted to or not, we’d be pulled into this mess. The Darkness isn’t a threat to take lightly, and even if we never met you, we would’ve returned to aide our fellow Dark Fallen.”
My guilt refuses to be alleviated. “What if The Darkness is my fault too?”
I remember the sorceress saying I’m the “cursed one”. I’m an abomination. What if the fact I exist throws off the balance between good and evil? What if my life tips the scales in favor of evil?
“Stop being ridiculous, Veronica.”
Uh oh. He used my full name. If his tight grip didn’t already tell me, I’d know my words angered him.
“It may be true,” I say. “We don’t even know who my parents are. Other than your mom claiming my birth mother is Light Fallen, we have no information about her or my father.”
The mention of parents makes me want to ask Adrian about his father. I mean… he’s admitted he and Zeke are different. He hasn’t explicitly told me about his father, but I’m starting to believe he will if I ask again,
I’ve decided I’m no longer angry he and Zeke kept the secret. I understand the urge to keep your cards close to your chest. Now, I just want to know what he thinks about his father’s heavenly status. But this isn’t the time. There are more pressing matters to address; like how to free him and Zeke from working for the council. If Sarah is right and the council is evil, we need to put distance between them and us.
Adrian steps closer.
“Don’t.” I cover his lips with my index finger. “Don’t say anything. I know you think I’m wrong. Let’s just drop the subject.” His eyes flash, but not with anger.
Suddenly the feel of his lips causes sparks to fly across my skin. His breath brushes against the pad of my finger, heightening the sensation. I release a tiny gasp, then lower my hand, but Adrian still holds my other hand, and he isn’t letting go.
Again, he steps closer. I swallow, feeling desire flow off his body and mold itself against my body. My mind goes fuzzy.
“How long are you going to make me wait for a kiss, Angel?”
My mind clears, and my lips part. “I’m sorry?”
He tugs my hand until it is pressed against his side. Less than an inch separates my chest from his. “How long are you going to make me wait for a kiss?” He stares at my lips. Fire dances across his expression.
How did the conversation come to this?
“A-are you waiting for me to make the move?”
“I’ve been waiting since the day we met.”
I remember Adrian joking for me to not make him wait too long until it was his turn for a kiss. That’s what I thought it was: a joke. Adrian doesn’t strike me as the kind of guy to wait for the girl to make the first move. He’s bold and brave, but also respectful. He’d
never force his advances on someone who didn’t want them, but he’d have no problem being the first to initiate a kiss. Or so I thought.
Now, looking at his expression, seeing the hint of insecurity flickering behind his smoldering eyes, I think I may be wrong about him.
I lick my lips. Feeling bold, I murmur, “What if I was waiting for a kiss from you?”
“Then you should have said so.” His lips crash into mine like waves breaking on the shore, and I see stars. Not the stars of the sky, but stars of lust and hunger. Adrian presses me against him. The satin dress glides against my skin, taunting me with pleasurable friction.
Kissing Adrian feels like I’m in Heaven. A licentious and impassioned Heaven, but still the kind of Heaven I wouldn’t mind spending the rest of my days.
Adrian’s tongue darts between my lips, brushing against my tongue, and I feel my knees buckle. A muscular arm holds me tight, keeping me from sagging to the floor in a puddle. I mimic his move, and our tongues dance around each other in a frenzy of desire. Raising onto my toes, I wrap my arms around his neck. I never want to let him go. I never want him to stop kissing me.
Adrian bends down. Not breaking our kiss, he lifts me off the ground, placing me on the stone railing. My legs part, and he slides between them. I like the elevated position. I’m slightly higher than Adrian. Tilting my head to the side, I deepen the kiss, holding the sides of his head in my hands.
His palms are on my hips. One travels down my thigh, finding bare skin where the gown has bunched up. His fingers trail over my skin lightly, eliciting pleasant shivers. My legs press against his hips, and I draw him even closer. I could kiss him the rest of my life.
“You’re going to have to be the one to stop, Angel,” he growls against my mouth. He presses another kiss. “I won’t be able to.”
“Then don’t.” I crash our lips together again. There isn’t a part of me which wants this moment to end.
He growls. Strong hands wrap around my wrists and pull them away. He leans back, allowing air to flow between our chests.
I pout with swollen lips. “I thought you said you couldn’t stop.” I try to kiss him again, but he dodges with frustrating success.
“Angel, have mercy. There is only so much a male can take.”
I grin. I like knowing I affect him as much as he affects me.
“Kiss me,” I command in a breathless whisper.
His face twists in agony. He jerks his head. “The first time I ravish you won’t be on a balcony.”
Ravish?
A thrill courses through me, and I press my legs even tighter. “What if that’s what I want?”
He growls, again. In a show of unfathomable self-restraint, he shoves away from me, leaving me chilly and alone on the railing. He pants on the other side of the balcony, looking at me like a lion depriving himself of sinking his teeth into his prey.
“Come back here.”
“No.” He huffs.
I hop off the railing, not bothering to fix my twisted gown. I glide across the space, intent on picking up where he so rudely cut us off.
A loud crash reaches my ears, and the embassy shakes. I lose my balance and fall down, scraping my palms on the rough concrete.
Adrian leaps on top of me, just before bricks crash down around us, dislodged from the building’s walls.
I tuck my head under his chest. “What’s going on!”
Adrian grunts. A piece of stone crashes beside us. Worried for his wellbeing, I almost don’t hear him say, “The Darkness is here.”
Nineteen
“What?” Stones continue to fall. Adrian tucks his head next to mine, shielding himself as best he can while still protecting me.
Sirens blare from inside the embassy. I want to look and see what’s happening, but Adrian’s hold is unrelenting. A rock hits my shin, and I hiss.
“Angel?” His body presses down.
“I’m fine.” Adrian is protecting my most vulnerable body parts. Yelling to be heard over the alarm, I ask, “How do you know this is The Darkness?”
The moment the words pass my lips, I feel it. A dark, coiling power circulates in the air above us. Warmth envelops me as Adrian enacts a ward. Pieces of the embassy continue to fall, but they don’t land within three feet around me.
“Sorry,” he pushes up, relieving me of his weight. He sits back on his heels. “I should’ve done that sooner, but I was—”
“Distracted,” I finish for him. Looking up, I see objects collide with Adrian’s ward, only to dissolve into harmless flecks of powder. The wind carries them away. “What’s going on, Adrian?”
He stands and holds out a hand to help me to my feet. “This is the first wave of The Darkness’ attack. We need to get you somewhere safe inside the embassy.” His hand grips mine and I’m dragged through the balcony doors and yanked down the nearest hall. I have no idea where we are in the massive building, but Adrian seems to know where he’s going.
“How do you know this is their first wave?” I pant, winded from the fast pace, and our recent make out session.
“Because they used the same tactic on the Light Council. Strike fast to incite chaos, then send in their legions for direct combat.”
Why would The Darkness let us know they’re here? Why not just invade and attack immediately? Catching your opponent off-guard seems the most reasonable strategy.
Shouts grow louder as we continue down the hall. I’m not sure where we’re going until we round the corner, and I see a familiar row of marble busts lining the walls. “We’re going to the library?”
“It’s the closest safe room.” Adrian tugs harder, and I nearly trip over my gown. I right myself and see Zeke running toward us.
“Thank The Creator, you’re alright.” Adrian drops my hand right as Zeke wraps his arms around my back, holding me tight against his chest, reassuring himself that I’m unharmed.
“I’m fine,” I mumble against his formal shirt. He’s lost the tuxedo jacket. “What’s happening?”
Zeke releases me. “Fighters are gathered in the banquet hall. We’ve secured the wards, but that won’t keep The Darkness from breaking in forever.”
“We need to ward Veronica in the library.”
“I thought the library was already warded.”
“We will make it stronger.” Adrian and Zeke say at the same time. The bookshelves blur as we rush through the library. Adrian shoves aside the podium blocking the entrance to the Ancient section. We snake through the aisles to the back of the area. Jude is there, chanting a ward over Vera. Her face is pale, and her hands are shaking. She doesn’t move to me, not wanting to disrupt Jude’s ward, but she offers a weak wave.
“What about other Nephilim?” I ask, worried for the dozens of people attending the party. We’re the only ones here. If this is such a safe spot, we should bring the others here, too.
“They will either fight or find their own location to hide,” Zeke answers. He touches my shoulder, and I feel warmth similar to Adrian’s flow over me. Adrian touches my other arm, adding to his brother’s effort. The protection around me grows, the invisible walls thickening. When they drop their hands, I know they’ve constructed the strongest ward they can manage. A bead of sweat runs down Zeke’s temple, and Adrian puts his hands on his hips and leans forward, trying to catch his breath.
A new dose of fear makes me ask, “Will you be able to fight?” Did my soulmates just drain themselves of power?
“Yes. We just need a moment for our reserves to replenish.” Zeke sits on the table behind him. He’s exhausted.
I gnaw the inside of my cheek. “What about the Light Fallen?”
“They will fight.” Adrian knows I’m asking about Gabe and Joseph. He stares deep into my eyes. “Everyone will be fine.”
I nod and swallow back my fear. “You should go. They may need your help.”
“We aren’t leaving you undefended, Angel.”
Jude steps forward. “I can stay. Veronica is right. You two are the
best shot we have to minimize casualties.”
“No,” Zeke and Adrian, again, speak at the same time.
“I’ll stay,” Zeke says. “Adrian, you know how to reach me if you need.”
Adrian nods. Then, without warning, he kisses me full on the mouth. In front of everyone. My hands curl into his chest. All too soon, the kiss ends, and he’s gone. Jude, too, departs. Only Vera, Zeke, and I remain.
I wrap my arms around myself. Dread returns, digging deep into my gut, twisting painfully. “Something feels wrong,” I whisper.
“What?” Zeke is in front of me, looking over me for any sign of injury. Other than my tender leg, where the stone collided with my skin, I am physically perfect. “Are you hurt?”
“No. That’s not what I mean.” I stare out through an empty spot on the shelf, looking at the center aisle of the library.
“What is it?” He pitches his voice low, leaning closer.
“I don’t know. It’s like… a bad vibe. I don’t know how to explain it.”
“Do you have the gift of Sight?” Vera asks. She draws closer.
I look at Zeke for an explanation.
“No,” Zeke answers, but he doesn’t look convinced. “Ron’s strongest gift is healing.”
“Oh.” Vera deflates, falling into the nearest leather chair. She chews on her thumbnail and stares off into the distance. If she’s anything like me, she’s worrying about Jude.
Zeke continues to watch me, his concern evident. “Describe what you’re feeling.”
How do I put this into words?
“Afraid. Worried.” I sigh. “Like I know something bad is going to happen.”
“When did the feeling start?” I’m glad Zeke is taking me seriously. I’m not sure I would if I were in his shoes.
“In the banquet hall.” I tell him the feeling began when his mother first approached our group. I’d attributed it to nervousness, but now I don’t know.
Protected by the Fallen: A Fallen Angel Reverse Harem Novel (The Fallen Harem Book 3) Page 13
