Page 58 of Hunted by the Fallen
I permit myself to feel a semblance of relief. But I’m still standing in front of twelve of the most powerful Dark Fallen, being asked about a soulmate connection I’d only recently begun to accept. According to Mrs. Hutchins, the Dark Council had sent out some sort of angelic memo, telling their followers to be on a lookout for such amark.
The question is:why?
“Not for long,” the raspy voice on the end replies to his colleague. “Look at her. She isyoung.”
Then, to me, he asks, “How old are you,child?”
“Eighteen.” I’m proud of myself for notstuttering.
Murmurs travel among thecloaks.
“Recently fledged, then,” the raspy Fallen observes. “Tell us, why haven’t yourbashertenbrought you tous?”
I’m confused. “Basherten?” I repeat the unusual version of the word I’ve heard the Fallensay.
“Your Fallen lovers,” the Fallen in the center explains. “Your devoted male angels. Why have they not presented you to thecouncil?”
The word lovers conjures images of my heated kiss with Zeke. I can practically feel his hands pressing against my bottom, holding me as close as possible while he devours me with his mouth. I can’t help butblush.
“I-I don’t understand the question,” I continue to glance between all twelve of them. “Why would I need to be broughthere?”
“YourHonors.”
I frown. “What?”
“’Why would I need to be brought here, Your Honors’,” raspy voice states with nothing short of disapproval. “Show some respect,girl.”
I bite my cheek. How was I supposed to know what the Dark Council consideredrespectful?
The female Fallen shares my thoughts. “She is young, Paul. I doubt she’s been instructed in ourways.”
Again, the Fallen mutter between themselves. Eventually, the raspy one says, “Regardless, I demandrespect.”
I keep my mouth shut. I know a tight-ass when I hear one. I make a point to no longer look in that Fallen’sdirection.
I face the center of the table, glancing between the male and female Fallen who’ve been speaking the most. “If I may ask,” I strive to come off as polite as possible, hoping it will increase my chances of getting a straight answer, “why should I have been brought to the council… Your Honors?” I almost forget to add the strangetitle.
“You do not know?” The femaleconfirms.
Obviously.
“No,” I withhold my snarky reply. “I do not know much. I only recently found out I wasNephilim.”
“Indeed?”
“That’sabsurd.”
“Howconvenient.”
Several other replies spill out from the dark hoods. Clearly, I shouldn’t have offered that information.Great going,Veronica.
“Did your father not tell you the rules?” The question comes from a previously silent council member. The voice belongs to a female, and she sounds older. Almost frail with her wobblysyllables.
I part my lips, prepared to admit I do not know who my father is, when I aminterrupted.
“Do not say another word,Angel.”
My shoulders roll forward with relief. I turn and see Adrian and Zeke standing in the entryway to the room. I’m so happy to seethem.
