We wait there for the entire game in silence, and though I worry it will be awkward holding his hand the entire time, it’s surprisingly not. Turns out, as long as I’m not talking to Callan, or looking at his stupid handsome face, he’s somewhat tolerable. Even as he runs his calloused fingers over the back of my hand idly, as though he doesn’t realize he’s doing it.
The most action we get is when two fae sneak under the bleachers to make out, before being shooed away by one of the guards. They run off with their shirts half-on, and I cover my mouth to suppress a giggle. Out of the corner of my eye I see Callan smile a little too.
The angels lose the game, despite Marcus’s best efforts, and then the fae gather outside the field to depart. I stand up, dragging Callan with me, but can’t see what they’re doing. We move closer as a large portal opens up, shimmering and circling while the fae walk though it and vanish. The guards huddle closely around the portal with their spears raised to prevent anyone else from entering. One by one the fae head back to Faerie, and I think about my brother, and how Jonah must have disguised himself as one of them to join their group, then followed them inside. What I don’t know is what happened after that. How long could he pass for one of the fae before being discovered? Did he find the Staff? And most of all, is he still alive?
Chapter Twenty-Five
Olivia
I have a shadow, and his name is Callan.
He follows me between classes with a glower on his face, like he hates me for existing, and hates himself for having to protect me. At one point I ask him, "What is this, the fifties? Want to carry my books for me too?"
He gives me a scathing look. “I’d rather impale myself on my sword.”
I’m so over it.
During Ishim class, we’re learning how to conceal larger group of people by making a chain of hands. We each practice turning the rest of the class invisible, but only Grace and I can do it with ease. Nariel promises everyone will get their eventually, but his eyes linger on the two of us. Not with lust though, but something else. Pride, maybe? I can’t tell.
This trick will come in handy when I go to Faerie, because I’m starting to realize I won’t be able to go by myself. I’ll need other people to help me, and I’ll need to conceal them. Plans form in my head. The trick is opening one of those portals somehow.
As class ends, Grace walks out with me. “You did great in there. You’re very powerful, which I guess is no surprise, with Archangel blood in your veins. Jonah was strong too.”
“Yeah.” I corner her in the hallway and lower my voice. “Is that why you let him go to Faerie?”
Shock registers across her face, and then it twists with sorrow. “Let him? I begged Jonah not to go. I did everything I could to stop him. I even tried to go with him, in the end. But he wouldn’t listen to me. He was determined to go, and to go alone.” Her eyes water with tears she tries to blink back. “Every day I wish I’d tried harder. It kills me wondering if I could have done something more.”
Her grief is so sincere, I feel bad for even questioning her. “I’m sorry. I had to know.”
She dabs at her eyes with her knuckles. “I understand. I would want to know too, if it was my brother.”
I spot Callan hovering out of the corner of my eye and grab Grace’s arm, leading her in the other direction. “Is there anything else you can tell me, like why he went?”
“To get the Staff for the Order, so that we can return to Heaven and begin to rebuild,” she says, as though it’s obvious.
“And to send demons back to Hell?”
“That too.”
“That doesn’t sound like my brother.”
She gives me a kind smile. “I’m sure he didn’t think it would work on you. Your angel blood probably protects you.”
“Probably?” Seems like kind of a big risk to take on a probably. One I seriously doubt Jonah would take, unless he changed a lot in the year he was at Seraphim Academy. What did the Order do to him?
Grace loops her arm with mine as we walk. “You seem so stressed these days, Liv. Let’s ditch our next classes and go to Angel Peak for some shopping therapy.”
Getting away from campus does sound good, especially if I can ditch Callan in the process. “Is it safe there?”
“Definitely. The coffee shop attack was weeks ago, and security has been beefed up since then. No human is getting in that town now.”
“All right, I’m in, but we have to go invisible before we fly off. I need to ditch my tail.”
She follows my gaze to Callan. “Not a problem.”
We head outside and agree on a place to meet, since we can’t see each other while invisible, and then set off for Angel Peak, leaving Callan behind.
You probably think we’re going to get attacked there, but it doesn’t happen. We spend the next couple hours buying new clothes for summer, before heading back to campus. It’s exactly what I needed to unwind after a stressful couple weeks, and I’m so glad Grace suggested it. I’m still wary about her involvement with the Order, but I know she’s a real friend.
I open the door to my dorm, but then a large hand slams into it and closes it in my face. I spin around to face Callan, because who else could it be?
“Don’t ever do that again,” he growls. His hand is still on the door above me, causing him to lean in close.
I glare up at him. “You can’t protect me 24/7.”
The hatred in his eyes burns with an inner light. If I’m not careful, he’ll set us both on fire. “What if something happened to you? How would I explain that to your father? You know it’s not safe out there, not for any of us, but especially not for you.”
“Nothing happened. I was fine.”
“This time.” He grabs my shoulders like he wants to shake some sense into me. “Do I need to put a tracker on you again?”
“No!”
“Then don’t be so fucking difficult!”
His mouth crashes down on me, and that pent-up lust and hate and rage all mix into a kiss that scorches me in the best way. I claw at his broad shoulders, his blond hair, his strong jaw, kissing him back hard, until I’m gasping for air.
When we pull back, we both look shocked and dazed by what we just did. Callan steps back, and the menacing glow around him dies down a little.
“I gave my word to your father, and I intend to keep it,” he says. “He cares about you and wants to make sure you’re safe. Do you know how lucky you are to have that? Instead of throwing it in his face, accept it and try to let him take care of you, however he can.”
I jerk back at his unexpected words. I’m not used to people caring about me, especially not my father. For so long I was on my own, with only Jonah looking out for me, and even he wasn’t around much. Now I have family who want to keep me safe. And friends. And…Callan. Whatever he is.
Callan’s voice sounds tough, but I sense something beneath it, some hidden pain. I remember how he was alone at Family Day, and I swallow my pride. “All right. I’ll try to be less difficult about you protecting me, if you agree to be less of a dick about it too. Give me a little space, or I’ll lose my mind.”
“I’ll do whatever I feel is necessary to keep you safe. Trust me, I don’t like it either. I’d rather be as far away from you as possible.”
“That kiss just now proves otherwise.” I can’t help but taunt him. “Or were you recording this one too? Was this another trick?”
“You’re the one with the recording. What are you planning to do with that?”
“Nothing. I’m not going to use it. I don’t want to hurt the other guys.” I run my hand slowly down his chest and speak to him like a lover. “I only want to hurt you. I want to hurt you so bad.”
“Then do it already.” There’s hunger in his eyes, and we both know we’re not talking about getting payback. “I’m waiting.”
“Oh, it’s coming.” A new plan is forming. One that involves the two of us and that nanny cam. Seducing him won’t be too hard. Not with the am
ount of lust coming off him, and the pent-up desire in that kiss. He wanted the school to believe that he only kissed me because I used my succubus powers on him, but soon everyone will know he wants me, the half-demon, all on his own.
“And it’s going to be good,” I say, before stepping inside my dorm. “Real good.”
I slam the door in his face.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Olivia
I have a hard time sleeping that night as Callan’s words replay in my head. They remind me of a time when I was seven years old and playing on the swing at the park.
I wasn’t scared as I flew through the air. Not until I saw the ground rushing at my face, anyway. It all passed in slow motion, like in a movie. The sounds around me faded, the other kids' voices disappeared as I watched the wood chips under the swings get closer and closer.
But at the last second, arms wrapped around my chest and legs, and I was flying up again, in a circle. Silver wings flashed around me, flapping through the air. My fear turned to delight as a male voice said, "It’s all right, I’ve got you. You’re safe."
Something about the voice sounded familiar, though I couldn’t place it. The man set me on the ground and stepped back. For a second I saw the outline of his silver wings, but then they were gone, and I wondered if I only imagined it. "That was a close one."
"Thank you." I tucked my dark, wild hair behind my ear. The counselors at school said not to talk to strangers, but something about this man made me instantly trust him. He had brown hair that looked soft, and his eyes crinkled as he smiled at me. Sunlight seemed to shine down on him, highlighting his profile, and I felt a sense of awe when I looked at him.
"You're very welcome, Olivia."
I flinched when I heard my name, and a small stab of fear hit my heart. I looked around the playground, but nobody was paying any attention to us. Almost like they couldn't see us at all. Weird. "Are you a social worker?"
"No, I’m not." He backed up to show me he wouldn’t hurt me. "I just didn’t want you to fall.”
“Who are you?” I asked.
“My name is Gabriel.”
“Are you an angel?”
He gave me a warm smile. “I’m someone that cares about you very much, and will always make sure you’re safe.”
Those weren't words I'd heard very often in my young life. The family I lived with at the time was pretty good. They fed me regularly, and I was never cold or neglected or beaten. But they didn't love me. I didn't know if anyone ever had.
“Like a guardian angel?” I asked.
Another smile lit up his face. “Yes, a lot like that. Please don't jump off of the swings anymore, okay?"
Oh, yeah. I’d been trying to fly. I’d always wanted to fly. I turned to look at the swings so I could explain why I’d jumped out, but when I looked back at my new friend, he was gone. I glanced around the park, but didn’t see him anywhere.
"Olivia!" My foster mother ran up to me. "There you are."
Uh-oh. She looked mad. "I've been right here the whole time," I tried to explain.
She grabbed my hand and dragged me out of the park toward our house. "Come on. You can't play at the park if you're going to disappear on me."
I forgot about that moment until tonight. That was the first time Gabriel visited me. Now I realize he was protecting me from the time I was a child, and that maybe he always did care for me after all.
The next morning, Uriel cancels all classes and calls an emergency assembly.
“What’s this about?” I ask Marcus, as Araceli and I sit beside him in the auditorium.
He shakes his head. “No one knows, but it can’t be good.”
A nervous buzz moves through the crowd, and the place fills up quickly. I spot Callan moving down the aisles, but he takes a seat a few rows behind me. Bastien stands to the side of the stage, his hands clasped behind his back. Kassiel and the other teachers form lines along the walls, almost like guards.
Cyrus and Isaiah grab the seats next to Araceli. “There’s been another attack,” Cyrus says, leaning over Araceli to make sure we all hear him. “It has to be.”
Uriel comes out onto the auditorium stage, looking every inch the powerful, immortal being he is. His eyes scan the audience, which quickly falls into silence, and then he speaks. “I’ve called you here today with some grave news. Three of our students, Gwen Svava, Favelyn Kyrja, and Marila Thruth were killed last night in a pattern consistent with the previous attack in Angel Peak.”
My jaw drops at the names, and a shocked murmur goes through the crowd. All three of those names belong to Valkyries, and everyone knows they were fierce warriors. I didn’t know any of them well, although I watched Marcus heal Gwen once, Favelyn was in a few of my classes, and Marila was dating Tanwen for a short while, although rumor had it they broke up last week.
Cyrus leans over again and whispers, “Told you.”
We all shoot him a sharp look, and he shrugs and sits back, taking Isaiah’s hand.
Uriel clasps his hand together on the podium and continues. “All of them were on their way back from having dinner in Angel Peak, when they were shot down between the campus and the town.”
Oh shit. That wasn’t long after Grace and I went to Angel Peak. I feel like the biggest idiot ever for ditching Callan now, especially after all my big words about not needing protection. If I glance over at him, I’m sure his face will convey his grim smugness at being right. Instead, I look over at Tanwen, who sits with the other Valkyries. Her eyes shine with unshed tears, but her jaw is clenched and her face is hard. She and the other Valkyries look like they’re ready to go out and avenge their fallen sisters as soon as this announcement is over.
“Rest assured, we are doing everything we can to both investigate these attacks and prevent them from happening again,” Uriel says. “However, until we are certain it is safe, we are locking the campus down. No one is allowed in or out without my permission until the threat is over, not even to visit Angel Peak. We also encourage you to wear a weapon on your person at all time. Hilda can assist in providing you one, if needed. Remain vigilant, and we will get through this threat without losing any more lives.” He nods to the audience. “You are dismissed.”
Panic grips the crowd as everyone stands and rushes out of the auditorium. A few more people shoot me angry or fearful looks, and I realize Uriel never mentioned who they suspected might be behind the attacks. Do some people actually think I could do this, or are they just looking to me because of my demon blood? We don’t even know if demons were behind these attacks, but then again, how could humans take down three Valkyries?
I spot Grace talking with her uncle Nariel outside the building, and I’m relieved to see she’s safe, even though she came back with me last night. People rush across the lawn, some carrying weapons, while others huddle in groups with heads together as they talk. The worry in the air is infectious, and I have a feeling it’s only going to get worse, especially as people go stir-crazy after being cooped up on campus for weeks.
Classes start up again the next morning, but it’s hard for anyone to focus when three of our peers were just killed. Combat Training is especially tense, with Hilda reminding us to carry a weapon on us at all times. I have a dagger in my bag, but probably need to come up with a better solution at some point. Tanwen spars with Callan, and the rest of the class stops what they’re doing to watch, especially as she grits her teeth and goes at him with everything she’s got. They’re both so skilled in combat it’s like watching a performance, but then Tanwen begins to glow with an angry light and Hilda barks out an order for her to go outside and calm down. Tanwen drops her sword and stomps outside, giving me a glare as she goes.
In Fae Studies, Raziel tries to teach us about the Faerie Wars, which we’re also covering in Angelic History from the angel side, but no one is really listening, including me. During Light Control, our professor Eileen bites her nails and keeps glancing at me, like I might attack her at any moment. A fight breaks
out in the cafeteria between two Erelim during dinner, while the dorm’s common room is packed with people sitting in little groups, gossiping over the latest rumor.
And the week just keeps getting worse and worse. My mug from Marcus goes missing, and I can’t find it anywhere in the dorm. Kassiel cancels our lesson with a note that he has to leave campus for the weekend, which shouldn’t bother me, but I find such comfort in our extra hour together. I wonder if he is investigating the attacks, or if he has some other demon-related business.
Then I receive an invitation to the next Order meeting, and remember the task they’ve given me. I’m still no closer to getting Araceli’s dad to come visit her. Still no closer to getting to Faerie. And still no closer to rescuing Jonah, dammit.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Kassiel
It’s a short airplane flight to Los Angeles, and then I’m in the glass elevator heading up to my father’s penthouse condo, staring out over the sprawling city below me. I’m reminded of my last time visiting this city, when I met a gorgeous bartender and took her back to my hotel room, something I’d never done before. I recognized Olivia as a succubus and she ran from me in a panic. Only later, when I met her at Seraphim Academy, did I understand why.
To keep up my disguise, Lucifer and I always meet in Los Angeles, instead of his domain in Las Vegas. This city is a hotly contested zone between angels and demons, although our two kinds battle it out in business instead of war these days. Lucifer has been opening nightclubs across the city as part of a new venture to gain control of it, and he’s looking at a blueprint when I enter.
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