Page 37 of Hunted by the Fallen
I scowl, stepping away from his loomingform.
“Exactly.” Adrian straightens,triumphant.
Zeke steps in. “We don’t know enough about Annie or her family to know if there is a connection to any Fallen or Nephilim. It is best to keep your secret between the five ofus.”
I sigh, disappointed I won’t be able to confide in my best friend. “Until when?” I don’t know how much longer I can keep Annie’s suspicions at bay, and I don’t want to do irreparable damage to ourfriendship.
“We don’t know,” Zeke says honestly, “but the moment it is safe to do so, I promise we will tellyou.”
I want to believe him, but then I remember all the times the Fallen kept secrets and deceivedme.
“Alright.” There is nothing else I can say. Letting them know I no longer believe what they say will only reveal my hand, and I’m not ready for them to know what I’ve learned these past fewdays.
I walk up the stairs to my room. “Be down infive.”
As I change into workout attire, I can’t help but wonder how this hike is going to go. Will Annie press the Fallen for details about their lives? If so, what lies will they tell that I will be required to remember and reiterate when Annie, undoubtedly, wants to talk about them in thefuture?
I bite my lips and try to shake away the melancholy feeling rising withinme.
So much for not lying to my best friendanymore.
Fifteen
Zeke drivesus to the Alexander Greenbelt on the west side of Valley Lake. I’d stopped short when I saw the black Mercedes SUV in my driveway. I had assumed we would be taking my car on this spontaneous trip. I’d never seen the Fallen drive. Honestly, I thought they didn’t know how. Why would they? If I could fly or instantly appear at any location I wanted, I wouldn’t bother learning todrive.
Turns out, I was wrong.Again.
Not only can Zeke drive as well as anyone I’ve seen, but he owns a beautiful luxury vehicle. Annie and I had slid into the backseat for the drive. While she made polite conversation with the Fallen, I brushed my palm against the smooth brown leather seats and T.V. screen in the headrests. Remotes were built into the armrests. Valley Lake has its fair share of wealthy citizens, and many of my classmates drove luxury vehicles, but I’d never been in one before. Even though Dad is a doctor and he and my mom are financially well-off, my parents only buy used cars and only at mid-rangeprices.
I worry about the expensive vehicle when Zeke turns onto the gravel road leading to the start of the trail. But he doesn’t bat an eye as rocks and dirt kick up around the car. I remember what Lukas said about Fallen amassing wealth throughout the centuries and his comment about Adrian and Zeke choosing not to be rich. I don’t know where he got his information, but it may be time for him to find a newsource.
I close the car door gently, then move to stand beside Annie. Her earlier irritation with me seems to have vanished. She rocks on her heels and gives me a sly smile. “I can think of worse ways to spend an afternoon than with twohotties.”
My cheeks heat, knowing the Fallen will have heard her whisper. “They’re just my friends,” I tell her, both for her benefit and my own. I can’t deny my increased awareness of the Fallen has caused some confusion. Though I am still angry and resent them for their secret, I can’t deny the ever-present pull which is only growing stronger with everyday.
Zeke and Adrian appear in front of us, both of them wearing backpacks full of canteens and snacks for our picnic when we reach the top of thetrail.
“Ready?” Adrian asks, looking at Annie with nothing short of a flirtatioussmile.
My best friend grins. “Ready.”
Adrian gestures to the trail. “Afteryou.”
Annie ties her hair into a pony tail, and her long ebony hair swings with each step as she begins the hike. Adrian falls into step beside her, his black hair and broad back complimenting Annie’s slender heightnicely.
A stab of jealousy hits me. I frown and tell myself to stop beingridiculous.
Gravel shifts beside me. “Ready togo?”
I look at Zeke. He shifts his backpack, looking unsure of himself. It hits me that, like his brother, I haven’t been alone with Zeke for sometime.
I follow after Adrian and Annie. They disappear from sight as they take the first curve. I estimate they have about a fifty-foot lead. Zeke picks up his pace to catch up, then slows down to match my strides. I keep my eyes on the trail, absentmindedly marking different bushes and trees as wewalk.
Zeke and I keep a steady pace. Up ahead, I notice the distance between us and our companions increases. Annie is in great shape, and she doesn’t look at all winded as she and Adrian maintain a conversation throughout thehike.
Again, I force away an ugly emotion. This time, it’senvy.
What is going on with me? So what if Annie is beautiful? It makes no difference to me. Adrian can talk to whoever he wants. I don’tcare.
