Page 20 of Hunted by the Fallen
I groan and look down at my hand, still gripping Charles’ leg. I don’t exactly have a choice at the moment. If I want the pain to end, I have to dothis.
Again, I close my eyes, releasing a long measured breath. I feel power licking my palms and fingers. I tug on it, gently prodding it back to my core. At first, the Angel Fireresists.
Come on,I coax it.I need you to do this forme.
It’s the strangest thing, but I swear I feel my power’s reluctant acceptance. It crawls up my extremities and presses into my chest. My muscles twitch and shift, adjusting to the intrusion. Then, everything settles. The Angel Fire rests patiently, waiting for my next instruction—waiting to be transformed into somethingnew.
Taking a breath, I open my eyes and gaze at the angel on the bed. “This may hurt.” I don’t recognize my voice. It’s cool and robotic. It doesn’t convey the pain which still assaults mybody.
Charles licks his lips and nods. His hands fist in the sheets as he closes his eyes. “Do what youmust.”
I don’t hesitate. Or, rather, my power doesn’t hesitate. The Angel Fire breaks free of its momentary quarantine, bursting out of my skin without any direction from me. I cry out as it escapes me, feeling like my blood vessels and muscles have been ripped at the seam. It travels into Charles, and it is his turn to scream. His back arches and his wings snap wide. Lukas leaps forward, hands outstretched to try and help his friend. The loss of his grip and my weakened body make me lose balance. I fall off thebed.
My back hits the floor, knocking the wind out of me. Staring up, I see Lukas frantically grasping onto Charles, trying to keep him from flinging himself off the bed as well. I want to sit up, but the effects of Lukas’ assault linger. My muscles are frozen. I can only watch and listen as the injured angel reacts to my influx ofpower.
I intended to heal Charles, but whatever is happening to him isn’t healing. Maybe my power backfired. Just now, my power seemed to have some mind of their own. Perhaps it misinterpreted my orders, or perhaps it knew I was being attacked and incorrectly targeted Charles asretribution.
I strive to try and minimize the damage. “Come back,” I croak. I don’t bother trying to command the power with my mind. I don’t have the strength. Verbal commands are all I can manage rightnow.
Charles continues to buck andscream.
I clear my throat. “Come.Back.”
Nothinghappens.
Lukas turns toward me, and the glare he gives me is bone chilling. Too bad I am beyond feeling thanks to his unsuccessful motivational tactic. “Stop this assault, or I will stop it by endingyou.”
I am about to tell him I tried when, suddenly, Charles stops moving. Lukas’ head whips back. He sucks in a breath. I don’t know what he sees, but I imagine it’s his friend’s dead body. My eyelids shutter closed, and I braced myself for the impendingwrath.
I think about my parents, and how much I regret the pain my actions will cause them. My only hope is the Fallen can offer some comfort when they learn about my death. Perhaps they can use their Concealment abilities and find a way to minimize theirmourning.
And I hope the Fallen forgive me for how this all went down. If I hadn’t been determined to go on a date with Preston, I never would have been so far from my protectors and allowed Lukas the chance to get me alone. Whatever my fate is, I’ve brought it on myself. I must suffer theconsequences.
I’m so caught up in my regrets and last wishes, that I almost don’t hear Lukas mutter in a voice filled with awe, “Charles… Your wings. They’rehealed.”
Nine
My eyes fly open.I’m still lying on my back, but I see Charles is sitting up in the bed. His face is no longer gaunt and pale. A healthy glow illuminates his features as he stares, wondrously, down atme.
Charles’ lips pull into a wide smile, and I blink, unsure if I am imagining what’s happening. The Charles I remember is stoic and distant. He looks at me with disdain. He’s not one tosmile.
“You healedme.”
My mouth opens and closes. I probably look like a gaping fish. Did my powers really work? It can’t be. I realize the pain coursing through my body has disappeared. Tenderness lingers where the pain entered my body, but I can already feel it fading with each passingsecond.
Lukas steps away from the bed and bends down. Strong arms curl under my back and legs as he lifts me. I cringe, waiting for his touch to cause me more pain, but the attack nevercomes.
Lukas places me on the foot of the bed. He steps away, and Charles reaches forward to grab my hand in between his own. “Thank you.” He kisses my hand fervently. “Thankyou.”
I want to pull away, but his grip is too strong. My muscles are tooweak.
“You’re welcome,” Imutter.
“I am in your debt,” Charles tells me. “If you should ever have need of me, I am at yourservice.”
My gaze flickers between his eyes, and I can tell he is being sincere. I don’t know what to say. So, I justnod.
Lukas shifts his stance, and I tense on instinct. “Yousucceeded.”
