Page 30 of Hunted by the Fallen
My nostrils flare. “You only want me to have my power so I can use it foryou.”
Lukas shrugs. “Of course. Like I said before, you are unique. An anomaly, really. I will not deny that I plan to elicit your powers whenever I have need. But that does not mean I wish to cause you harm each time I need yourhelp.”
My heart is racing. “What makes you think I will help you everagain?”
“Hope.” His eyes fill with what looks to be genuine remorse. “Hope that you will accept my apology and my pathetic attempt at an explanation.” The confidence seems to drain out of him, leaving him looking deflated and nervous. It’s such a sharp contrast to the angel I’veencountered.
I cross my arms, skeptical of his behavior. I notice the sparks of Angel Fire leave my clothes untouched. “Anexplanation?”
“For why I resorted to causing you pain in order to make you healCharles.”
A tickle of the pain’s memory tries to trail up my spine, but I shove it away. “I’mlistening.”
Lukas shifts again, this time he swings his arms behind his back and pushing out his chest. Am I imagining it, or is his posturing forced? His face certainly doesn’t appearconfident.
His throat bobs once. “There is no excuse for my barbaric behavior. I never should have laid a hand on you to get you to do mywill.”
I watch Lukas shake his head. “I can only say I was not in my right mind. Never before have I been faced with watching as someone I love died. The grief made me lose all sense of decent behavior. And for that, I can only ask for yourforgiveness.”
Several questions nag me. But one stands out above the rest. “You loveCharles?”
I bite my lip, knowing the question is bold. I remember the way Lukas had kissed Charles’ hand. If Lukas feared for the life of the man he loves, it explained why the angel who’d gone out of his way to seem chivalrous would resort to causing mepain.
That doesn’t make it right. But I can understandit.
Lukas doesn’t look away or try to avoid the question. “Yes, Ido.”
I nod. “Isee,”
“As I said, my feelings are not an excuse for my actions. I am sorry for triggering strong emotions in order to get a desiredresult.”
Understanding dawns. “That’s why you brought me here.” Lukas arranged for a sorceress to disable my block in order to repay me for his crimes againstme.
“You will no longer need to experience powerful feeling in order to access your powers. And before you ask, that does not mean I require your help with future injured parties. Though, I do hope we can arrange an agreement on thatfront.”
I’m beginning to think his hope may not be invain.
“Are angels capable of enacting wards?” The strangeness of our situation doesn’t escape me. Minutes ago, I wanted to hurt Lukas more than I wanted to take my next breath. Now, I am turning to him foranswers.
“No, only a sorcerer or sorceress could accomplish such atask.”
I inhale deeply. For as much as I was afraid of removing the barrier, I’m glad it’s gone. “Thank you for lifting theward.”
Lukas tips his head. “You’re welcome. Though, I am surprised none of your companions thought to do as muchthemselves.”
My entire body stills. Even my heart slows to a dangerously slow beat. “Are…” I have to pause to gain control of the sense of betrayal fighting to be unleashed. “Are you saying they all knew about theward?”
The shock and subsequent unease playing across Lukas’ features seems genuine. “Yes… Theyknew.”
I think about all of the training sessions where I failed. Failed to call on any of my power. Failed to conquer the barrier between me and the magical leash on my power. I want to scream. The Fallen had known. They’d known, but they let me feel incompetent. They let me believe I was afailure.
I am shaking with anger, but the part of me still capable of reason wants to make sure my assumptions arecorrect.
“Did they know how to get rid of the ward?” I imagine the Fallen not telling me about the ward because they didn’t know how to lift it. It doesn’t excuse them for not telling me why I struggled using my powers so much, but, like Lukas’ explanation, I could understandit.
Lukas’ next words erase that possibility. “All Fallen know how wards are enacted and how they areremoved.”
So much for thatexplanation.
