Page 48 of Hunted by the Fallen
My chest hurts, mirroring Gabe’s pain. “That’s why it’s important for me to help the ones who survive the attacks. I need to be able to work withLukas.”
“Being around Lukas only puts you in greater danger,” Gabestates.
“But—”
“I know you want to help, Veronica, but it’s not worth placing you in harm’sway.”
“What would have happened to you if I wasn’t there to healyou?”
Gabe’s lips form a straight line. “Whatever Fate would havewished.”
I throw my hands in the air, beyond annoyed. “You would have died, Gabe. Others would have died. You can’t seriously ask me to nothelp.”
“Agree to keep your distance for a week,” Zeke steps in, still careful to not meet my eye. “Give us time. Maybe we can work with Lukas and devise methods to assure your safety while you heal hisallies.”
“I don’tthink—”
“Enough, Gabe,” Joseph cuts him off. “Zeke is right. And so isVeronica.”
I blink, shocked by the show ofsupport.
Joseph isn’t finished. He turns to his brother with a solemn expression. “You would have died without Veronica’s intervention. While I am furious she met with Lukas behind our backs, we have a duty to at least try and arrange a situation where she may help those in need as long as she is safe. Many Fallen have their ownbashertswaiting for them toreturn.”
I’d been planning to object to the week-long ban, but my rebuttal fades from my lips. My cheeks heat. Thankfully, none of the Fallen seem tonotice.
“It’s too dangerous,” Gabe tells his brother. “You didn’t see the demons. The Darkness is growing. It is only a matter of time until Lukas’ operation is eliminated. I won’t let Veronica be anothercasualty.”
I hear Peri whine. The sound comes from the back of the house. I stand and walk towards the sound, leaving the brothers to their argument. I don’t think anything I say will sway them either way. I’ve already said mypiece.
Periwinkle sits at the back door. When she sees me, her tail starts to wag. She looks at the door andwhines.
I open the door and step outside. Immediately, Peri darts after a squirrel she’d seen on the lawn. I stand on the edge of the steps, watching her play. She’s running along the fence where the squirrel had disappeared, waiting for him toreturn.
The back door opens. I don’t turn around. Even footsteps sound against the wood deck. Adrian stands next to me. He doesn’t say anything right away. I try to read his emotions, but I detect nothing. He has them under lock and key. The only way I will know what he’s feeling is toask.
“What are they talking about inthere?”
“What you expect,” he replies. “Don’t worry. Gabe will agree to Zeke’s suggestion of oneweek.”
I turn and rest my back against the post, facing Adrian. “How do youknow?”
He mimics my movement, crossing his arms as he leans back. “I justdo.”
Then, he asks, “What did the sorceress say to you when she lifted yourward?”
My eyes widen. “W-what makes you think she saidsomething?”
“Aside from your stutter?” He smirks. “Call itintuition.”
I chew on my bottom lip. I weigh the pros and cons of telling him about Odette’s strange claims. To be honest, I’d completely forgotten about it. After all, she’d told me I wasn’t a danger to people I cared about, and a lot has happened to distract me sincethen.
“Her name was Odette.” I pause, waiting for a sign of recognition. Adrian doesn’t evenblink.
“And what did shesay?”
“She said, ‘You are blessed, but you also cursed.’ Or something likethat.”
“Hm.” Adrian turns towards the yard. His eyes go distant as he ponders what I’vesaid.
