“Jude,” the original cloaked figure speaks. “You may escort the girl out.”
For a heartbeat, I hope he is talking about me. Unfortunately, the massive Fallen, Jude, gestures for Mrs. Hutchins to come with him. The Council must be pretty old if they call a grown woman “girl”. Then again, I acknowledge Nephilim would be much younger than the original Fallen angels.
Mrs. Hutchins follows Jude out a door concealed by a floor-length painting on the side of the room. The painting swings closed, and I am forced to return my attention the twelve Fallen on the other side of the room.
“Come.”
This time, I listen. Each step is a struggle, but I manage to walk to the center of the room. I stand in the middle of an elaborate pattern painted on tile. My eyes are trailing the scrolled design when I’m addressed.
“So, you are the bashert.”
Hearing the angelic word for soulmate snags my attention. I can’t tell which person to look at. I decide to scan the sea of hoods as I speak. “I’m sorry. What are you talking about?”
“I wonder how long they have kept you hidden,” the male in the middle says. I get the feeling he is talking to himself more than me. “How long have those boys kept their Nephilim from joining our ranks.”
They think I’m Nephilim.
I force myself to not react, careful to keep my surprise from showing on my face. The Dark Council is run by powerful Fallen. How can they not sense the truth of what I am?
My memory provides the answer. All four of my protectors believed I was Nephilim. It wasn’t until they felt the bashert connection that they knew I was more than that. And the only reason Lukas knows is because he witnessed my Resurrection power. No Nephilim would be capable of such strength.
For some unknown reason, despite the fact my powers are no longer contained by the ward placed on me at birth, no Fallen is able to deduce the truth of my parents’ identities. All they can sense is a soulmate connection and, I’m assuming, some hint of underlying angelic power.
I permit myself to feel a semblance of relief. But I’m still standing in front of twelve of the most powerful Dark Fallen, being asked about a soulmate connection I’d only recently begun to accept. According to Mrs. Hutchins, the Dark Council had sent out some sort of angelic memo, telling their followers to be on a lookout for such a mark.
The question is: why?
“Not for long,” the raspy voice on the end replies to his colleague. “Look at her. She is young.”
Then, to me, he asks, “How old are you, child?”
“Eighteen.” I’m proud of myself for not stuttering.
Murmurs travel among the cloaks.
“Recently fledged, then,” the raspy Fallen observes. “Tell us, why haven’t your basherten brought you to us?”
I’m confused. “Basherten?” I repeat the unusual version of the word I’ve heard the Fallen say.
“Your Fallen lovers,” the Fallen in the center explains. “Your devoted male angels. Why have they not presented you to the council?”
The word lovers conjures images of my heated kiss with Zeke. I can practically feel his hands pressing against my bottom, holding me as close as possible while he devours me with his mouth. I can’t help but blush.
“I-I don’t understand the question,” I continue to glance between all twelve of them. “Why would I need to be brought here?”
“Your Honors.”
I frown. “What?”
“’Why would I need to be brought here, Your Honors’,” raspy voice states with nothing short of disapproval. “Show some respect, girl.”
I bite my cheek. How was I supposed to know what the Dark Council considered respectful?
The female Fallen shares my thoughts. “She is young, Paul. I doubt she’s been instructed in our ways.”
Again, the Fallen mutter between themselves. Eventually, the raspy one says, “Regardless, I demand respect.”
I keep my mouth shut. I know a tight-ass when I hear one. I make a point to no longer look in that Fallen’s direction.
I face the center of the table, glancing between the male and female Fallen who’ve been speaking the most. “If I may ask,” I strive to come off as polite as possible, hoping it will increase my chances of getting a straight answer, “why should I have been brought to the council… Your Honors?” I almost forget to add the strange title.
“You do not know?” The female confirms.
Obviously.
“No,” I withhold my snarky reply. “I do not know much. I only recently found out I was Nephilim.”
“Indeed?”
“That’s absurd.”
“How convenient.”
Several other replies spill out from the dark hoods. Clearly, I shouldn’t have offered that information. Great going, Veronica.
“Did your father not tell you the rules?” The question comes from a previously silent council member. The voice belongs to a female, and she sounds older. Almost frail with her wobbly syllables.
I part my lips, prepared to admit I do not know who my father is, when I am interrupted.
“Do not say another word, Angel.”
My shoulders roll forward with relief. I turn and see Adrian and Zeke standing in the entryway to the room. I’m so happy to see them.
But they aren’t looking at me. Both of the Dark Fallen are glaring at the Dark Council with nothing short of loathing. That’s when I see the flaming swords in their hands.
Twenty-Five
I hold my breath. What do they think they are doing? All of the Fallen had told me they wanted to keep my existence from their respective councils. They didn’t want the powerful angels to find out about my parents. Obviously, the council members hold great power. So why would they walk into their domain threatening them? Are they nuts?
“Ah, just the angels we wanted to see,” the raspy council member says. “We were just becoming acquainted with your bashert. Tell us, how have you managed to keep such a lovely creature hidden?”
I keep my eyes on Adrian and Zeke, silently begging them to not do anything stupid. Neither of them spares me a glance. They sole focus lies on the Dark Council behind me.
“If you would be so kind, gentlemen, and please lower your weapons. We don’t want anyone to get the wrong idea.”
The words might sound like a suggestion, but it’s obviously a command. One which my protectors do not plan to obey. Adrian and Zeke move forward, keeping their swords slightly lifted at their sides. Their muscles flex with every step, and fury rolls off their bodies, filling the immense room with the dangerous emotion.
How Adrian and Zeke found me is a mystery, but Lord knows I’m thankful. Now if they would stop threatening the council members and take me home, that would be great.
They stop once they reach my side. I turn around and finally look back at the Dark Council. Even though I can’t see their faces, I know they are eyeing the three of us with intense scrutiny.
Silence reigns and a battle of wills begins between my protectors and the council. I wait for one of them to be the first to speak. I peek at Adrian from the corner of my eye, and I see his cheek twitch as he grinds his teeth. He’s absolutely furious.
“Gentlemen,” the female Fallen breaks the silence after several more seconds of loaded quiet, “Please excuse us. I should like to have a conversation with Adrian and Zeke alone.”
I am shocked when the rest of the council glide away from the table, leaving only one cloaked figure behind. Their cloaks brush the floor as they walk our direction. I stiffen, waiting for one of them to do or say something to piss of my protectors. Adrian and Zeke are wound tight, and one wrong move can spell disaster.
I’m not completely sure they actually leave the room until I hear the doors close with a heavy sound.
Adrian and Zeke lower their swords, and the flames disappear, but I don’t let myself relax. We’re still in a room with a member of the Dark Council.
Imagine my surprise when she says, “I ca
nnot believe you boys came in here with swords!” Gone is her regal tone. She sounds like a normal person—like someone I might run into on the street. If it weren’t for my fear, I may have smirked hearing her call the Fallen “boys”.
“I cannot believe the council called for the abduction of our bashert,” Adrian bites back. He doesn’t even try to sound respectful.
A gasp comes from beneath the cloak. Slender hands lower the hood, and a stunning, dark-haired Fallen stares at us in awe. “So it’s true. She really is your bashert?”
I’m equally stunned that Adrian would choose to reveal our connection. Again, he’d seemed adamant to keep everything about me a secret.
“I assume you already know the answer, or else she wouldn’t be here.”
Sincerity shines out of her eyes. “No one on the council brought her here. It was Claudia Hutchins.”
“The Nephilim?” Zeke asks.
Of course they knew my classmate’s mom was part-angel. But did they share that information before I went over to her freaking house? No. Of course, not.
“Yes,” the female Fallen says. Her attention lands on me with an odd expression. “Claudia said she detected the mark on her, but I honestly didn’t believe it.”
“What mark?” I finally voice the question.
“The bashert mark—the mark which signals you belong to my sons.”
Okay. There are a couple of things wrong with what she’s said. First, I don’t belong to anyone. Second… did she just say sons?
I look at Zeke. “Sons?”
He grits his teeth. “Veronica. Meet our mother, the leader of the Dark Council.”
I wait for someone to say “gotcha”. I expect a cameraman to come out from behind a pillar and reveal this has all been an elaborate prank—one to teach me not to wander away from my protectors or risk being kidnapped by jokesters. There’s no way this stunning Fallen is the mother of Adrian and Zeke. They’re messing with me.
Right?
When no one says anything, I’m forced to accept what they say is true. “This is your mother?”
“Sarah,” the beautiful Fallen says. She moves toward me, but Zeke and Adrian block her by stepping in front of me. She doesn’t come closer. “Pleasure to meet you, Veronica.”
This is insane. If she is really their mom, why are Zeke and Adrian acting like she’s the enemy? Is it because she’s the leader of the Dark Council?
I look to Adrian. “You’re serious?”
He nods. “Unfortunately.”
Ouch.
“But… but I thought Fallen females couldn’t have children.” I remember that was one of the reason’s my birth was so remarkable.
“You never mentioned me to your bashert? I’m hurt.” She doesn’t sound hurt.
Adrian ignores his mother. “Female angels can’t have children since the Fall. But before that… it was a relatively common occurrence.”
I didn’t expect angels to have children. Honestly, I thought all of them were created by God at the same time. Never would I guess angels could have their own families.
I can feel their mother’s eyes trailing over me, assessing me. “She really doesn’t know much, does she?”
“She’s learning,” Zeke replies.
I meet her gaze. She responds by moving her attention to her son. “I didn’t believe the reports saying you were spending time with a Nephilim. Others did, and they guessed she must be your bashert. No one could fathom why either of you would be around her.
“When the council insisted we provide a bounty for anyone who could provide information on her identity, I hadn’t expected anything to come of it.”
“Why did the council care in the first place?” Adrian asks coldly. “We have nothing to do with your organization, Mother.” He doesn’t even try to sound nice.
“Precisely,” she sighs. “The rest of the council members wanted leverage over you both. Their goal is to pressure you into taking up your spots on the council.”
Adrian and Zeke have spots on the Dark Council? My head swings between them, but they keep their attention on their mother.
“Pass,” Adrian says.
“I second his pass,” Zeke adds.
She closes her eyes, looking older than her youthful appearance led me to believe. “You don’t understand. Now that we know your bashert has been found, the council will make it our mission to leverage her against you. If you wish Veronica safe, you will do what we ask.”
“Are you threatening her?” Adrian steps forward, tightening the hand on the hilt of his sword. I put a staying hand on his arm. Sarah marks the gesture.
“What I say is no threat, just fact. You know the Darkness is growing. The Dark Council is desperate to have all soldiers on hand to fight this enemy. They will do what they need to in order to get what they want.”
“You know about the Darkness?” I regret the outburst immediately. I’d been under the impression only Lukas and his band of allies treated the Darkness as a real threat. If the Dark Council acknowledged its danger, then why aren’t they sending an army to fight it too?
Regardless, I shouldn’t have said anything, no matter how curious I am. Now, I’m back under scrutiny.
“Indeed,” she answers, “but I think the more pressing question is how do you know about the Darkness?”
I chew my lip and shrug. “I hear things.”
“Things?”
“We keep Veronica informed of some of our world’s current events,” Zeke says, coming to my rescue. “But we try not to overwhelm her with too many details.” Mother and son stare at one another. I think she’s not going to let the matter drop, until she looks at her other child.
“Now that our council knows about Veronica, you have no choice but to work with us.”
“Like hell.”
“I’m being serious, Adrian.” Her eyes darken. “My position only gives me so much leeway. I will be unable to dissuade them from taking actions against Veronica if they think it will motivate you both to finally accept your roles in our organization.”
“We will kill them all before they can lay a finger on her.”
“Be quiet,” she snaps. Her eyes travel to one of the hidden doorways. In a quieter voice, she says, “Watch what you say. There are spies everywhere.”
I don’t think her concern is an act.
Zeke attempts to diffuse the situation. “We cannot be a part of the council’s plans, Mother. Our priority is Veronica. You are going to have to trust me when I say we cannot bring her into angelic society.”
Sarah hesitates. She presses her lips together, and I can see the debate warring behind her eyes. Her back straightens when she comes to a decision. “Is this because she’s not Nephilim?”
Twenty-Six
One second passes. The weight of her question hangs in the air like an ax, ready to fall and put an end to my life.
Then, Adrian and Zeke blur. I’m yanked behind their fast bodies as they make a break for the exit. I wonder why they don’t just transport us out of here when I collide with a muscular back. Adrian bangs against the door, then pulls the handles. It doesn’t budge.
“You will not go anywhere until the council wishes you to.” Regret laces their mother’s words.
My protectors whirl around. Adrian grabs my shoulders and places me between him and the door. “You will not take Veronica from us. I don’t care what you think she is, we will not leave her in the hand of the council.”
Sarah holds up her hands. “I do not plan on taking Veronica today. What I say now will stay between us, I know she is not the Nephilim the others believe her to be. I knew it the moment I saw her.”
I can’t breathe. This is it. I’m going to die.
“How?” Zeke asks, glancing at me. “I can’t even sense her powers.”
Instead of speaking to her son, Sarah’s eyes lock with mine. She really is stunning. Her hazel eyes match her sons, but their hair must come from their father. “I know because I am privy to informatio
n the other council members are not.”
A beat passes. Adrian growls, impatient as ever, “Which is?”
Still, her eyes remain on me. I see a flash of sympathy before she says, “Because I know who her mother is.”
“You lie.” Adrian presses his back against me. As if he can protect me from the shock of what his mother just said.
“I do no such thing.”
“Who is she?” I don’t realize I’ve whispered the question until both Adrian and Zeke look down at me. I keep my attention on their mother.
“For your sake, I will only say she is an old friend. And that you look exactly like her. After realizing your age, it was simply a matter of doing the math.”
She knows my mom? And I look like her? My knees buckle, but Adrian is quick to hold me up. I’m tucked into his side.
“I never would have imagined you’d be my sons’ bashert,” she continues. “Fate has a funny way of working out, don’t you think?”
“If her mother was really your friend, you would let us go. You wouldn’t use her as bait to force us to do the Dark Council’s will.”
“I am not the master of the council. I am their leader because they trust me. The moment that changes, I will be replaced, and I will no longer be in a place to help you.”
Adrian snorts. “You think you are helping us?”
“Yes. By keeping your secret and acting as a buffer with the council, I am doing all I can to keep you safe. You’re lucky. If I wasn’t on the council, the two of you would have been brought to account much sooner.”
I can sense the beginning of a long and pointless argument. I don’t want any part of it. I push away from Adrian. He releases me, but he stands close, ready to catch me if my legs should quit on me again.
“What will the council do if Adrian and Zeke don’t help them?”
Sarah doesn’t waver. “They will come after you, or those you love. What that entails, I am not sure. They may simply abduct you and keep you until my sons comply. Or they might torture you if they think extra motivation is what’s needed. I will not know which tactic they will use until the time comes.”
Hunted by the Fallen: A Fallen Angel Reverse Harem Novel (The Fallen Harem Book 2) Page 16
