Page 42 of Hunted by the Fallen
“Messenger?” I’ve been silent for too long. There is no turning back. I have to tell him thetruth.
“I help heal Fallen. Fallen on the brink ofdeath.”
“You what?” Joseph spins around, forcing my hand to fall away. “How?”
I don’t have time to feel the loss. The angel steps into my personal space. I move to the side, closer to the chaise. He follows and draws close until his thighs press into mine. I have to lean back in order to see his face. I’m pinned between Joseph and the bloodied furniture, but fear is the last thing I’mfeeling.
Tiny, pleasurable bolts of electricity sing against my skin, reminiscent of the kiss I shared with Zeke. The thought makes me blush. Joseph’s eyes heat. I see the flames flickering, and I can’t tell if he’s aroused or angry. Maybe he’sboth.
“Messenger?” His voice is deep and smooth, and I feel its vibration in mystomach.
“What?” I’m too caught to be embarrassed of my breathlesswhisper.
“How do you heal Fallen angels?” His strong fingers wrap around my hip as if he’s trying to keep me inplace.
The reality of my situation returns, and it douses the heat growing within me like a bucket of cold water. I lick my lips, and Joseph’s eyes focus on the movement. Another flash of fire crosses hisgaze.
I rip off the band-aid. “My ward isgone.”
One blink. Then two. Joseph continues to stare down at me from his elevated height. The fingers on my hip tighten their hold. “Your ward…” He trailsoff.
I pick up where he leaves off. “Is gone. The ward keeping me from accessing my powers isgone.”
The warmth and desire I thought I’d seen disappears in an instant. Joseph dons a careful mask, and the connection between us goes silent. I can’t even guess what he’s thinking. “How?” he asksagain.
“A sorceress,” I answer, careful to keep my tone even. Two can play the no-emotion game. “She removed theward.”
“How did you contact asorceress?”
I don’t lie. “Lukas.”
Joseph’s mask slips. Once again, I feel hisanger.
“Don’t!” I hold his wrist, keeping his hand on my hip. “He didn’t do anythingwrong.”
“You’re mistaken,” he clips. “You have no idea what he’sdone.”
“The sorceress freed me from a spell which kept me from protecting myself.” I reach out and grab his other wrist, forcing him to face me and not turn around to shoot light-daggers out of his eye. “Lukas helped me master my powers. I can use themnow.”
Understanding flits across his eyes. “That’s why you no longer train with us.” I tell myself I imagine the sense of betrayal traveling through ourtouch.
I refuse to feel guilty. He and the others are responsible for this situation. If they’d just been honest with me, I never would have needed to keep the truth fromthem.
“If I may interject,” Lukas begins, but Joseph cuts himoff.
“You may do nothing,” he barks, glaring over his shoulder. “I’ll deal with youlater.”
“Brother,” the weak exhale reaches me. Joseph hears it too. We both rush to turn and look at Gabe. I almost fall over, but Joseph’s grip keeps meupright.
Gabe’s matted hair is brushed out of his eyes. Blood still sticks to his skin, but that doesn’tmatter.
“You’re alright.” Relief washes over me. Even though I was sure I healed him, it is nice to see him awake. I lean over and clutch his hand in mine, lifting it to press my lips against his knuckles. It’s instinct, but the bold gesture makes my lingering blushdeepen.
“I’m alright, Veronica” he repeats, pulling my hand to clutch it to his chest. He notices the moisture gathering in my eyes. “Now, tell us how you came to be involved in thismess.”
Eighteen
“Wait.You’re telling me you’ve had access to your powers for nearly a week?” Gabe sits upright in the leather armchair in Lukas’ study. I insisted he bathe before we talked. He wears a pair of Lukas’ suit pants and an unbuttoned white dress shirt. It’s weird seeing him in formal attire. I’ve grown use to his casual style. I actually preferit.
