Page 59 of Hunted by the Fallen
But they aren’t looking at me. Both of the Dark Fallen are glaring at the Dark Council with nothing short of loathing. That’s when I see the flaming swords in theirhands.
Twenty-Five
Ihold my breath.What do they think they are doing? All of the Fallen had told me they wanted to keep my existence from their respective councils. They didn’t want the powerful angels to find out about my parents. Obviously, the council members hold great power. So why would they walk into their domain threatening them? Are theynuts?
“Ah, just the angels we wanted to see,” the raspy council member says. “We were just becoming acquainted with yourbashert. Tell us, how have you managed to keep such a lovely creaturehidden?”
I keep my eyes on Adrian and Zeke, silently begging them to not do anything stupid. Neither of them spares me a glance. They sole focus lies on the Dark Council behindme.
“If you would be so kind, gentlemen, and please lower your weapons. We don’t want anyone to get the wrongidea.”
The words might sound like a suggestion, but it’s obviously a command. One which my protectors do not plan to obey. Adrian and Zeke move forward, keeping their swords slightly lifted at their sides. Their muscles flex with every step, and fury rolls off their bodies, filling the immense room with the dangerousemotion.
How Adrian and Zeke found me is a mystery, but Lord knows I’m thankful. Now if they would stop threatening the council members and take me home, that would begreat.
They stop once they reach my side. I turn around and finally look back at the Dark Council. Even though I can’t see their faces, I know they are eyeing the three of us with intensescrutiny.
Silence reigns and a battle of wills begins between my protectors and the council. I wait for one of them to be the first to speak. I peek at Adrian from the corner of my eye, and I see his cheek twitch as he grinds his teeth. He’s absolutelyfurious.
“Gentlemen,” the female Fallen breaks the silence after several more seconds of loaded quiet, “Please excuse us. I should like to have a conversation with Adrian and Zekealone.”
I am shocked when the rest of the council glide away from the table, leaving only one cloaked figure behind. Their cloaks brush the floor as they walk our direction. I stiffen, waiting for one of them to do or say something to piss of my protectors. Adrian and Zeke are wound tight, and one wrong move can spelldisaster.
I’m not completely sure they actually leave the room until I hear the doors close with a heavysound.
Adrian and Zeke lower their swords, and the flames disappear, but I don’t let myself relax. We’re still in a room with a member of the DarkCouncil.
Imagine my surprise when she says, “I cannot believe you boys came in here with swords!” Gone is her regal tone. She sounds like a normal person—like someone I might run into on the street. If it weren’t for my fear, I may have smirked hearing her call the Fallen “boys”.
“I cannot believe the council called for the abduction of ourbashert,” Adrian bites back. He doesn’t even try to soundrespectful.
A gasp comes from beneath the cloak. Slender hands lower the hood, and a stunning, dark-haired Fallen stares at us in awe. “So it’s true. She really is yourbashert?”
I’m equally stunned that Adrian would choose to reveal our connection. Again, he’d seemed adamant to keep everything about me asecret.
“I assume you already know the answer, or else she wouldn’t behere.”
Sincerity shines out of her eyes. “No one on the council brought her here. It was ClaudiaHutchins.”
“The Nephilim?” Zekeasks.
Of course they knew my classmate’s mom was part-angel. But did they share that information before I went over to her freaking house? No. Of course,not.
“Yes,” the female Fallen says. Her attention lands on me with an odd expression. “Claudia said she detected the mark on her, but I honestly didn’t believeit.”
“What mark?” I finally voice thequestion.
“Thebashertmark—the mark which signals you belong to mysons.”
Okay. There are a couple of things wrong with what she’s said. First, I don’t belong to anyone. Second… did she just saysons?
I look at Zeke. “Sons?”
He grits his teeth. “Veronica. Meet our mother, the leader of the DarkCouncil.”
* * *
Iwaitfor someone to say “gotcha”. I expect a cameraman to come out from behind a pillar and reveal this has all been an elaborate prank—one to teach me not to wander away from my protectors or risk being kidnapped by jokesters. There’s no way this stunning Fallen is the mother of Adrian and Zeke. They’re messing withme.
