Page 60 of Hunted by the Fallen
Right?
When no one says anything, I’m forced to accept what they say is true. “This is yourmother?”
“Sarah,” the beautiful Fallen says. She moves toward me, but Zeke and Adrian block her by stepping in front of me. She doesn’t come closer. “Pleasure to meet you,Veronica.”
This is insane. If she is really their mom, why are Zeke and Adrian acting like she’s the enemy? Is it because she’s the leader of the DarkCouncil?
I look to Adrian. “You’reserious?”
He nods. “Unfortunately.”
Ouch.
“But… but I thought Fallen females couldn’t have children.” I remember that was one of the reason’s my birth was soremarkable.
“You never mentioned me to yourbashert? I’m hurt.” She doesn’t soundhurt.
Adrian ignores his mother. “Female angels can’t have children since the Fall. But before that… it was a relatively commonoccurrence.”
I didn’t expect angels to have children. Honestly, I thought all of them were created by God at the same time. Never would I guess angels could have their ownfamilies.
I can feel their mother’s eyes trailing over me, assessing me. “She really doesn’t know much, doesshe?”
“She’s learning,” Zekereplies.
I meet her gaze. She responds by moving her attention to her son. “I didn’t believe the reports saying you were spending time with a Nephilim. Others did, and they guessed she must be your bashert. No one could fathom why either of you would be aroundher.
“When the council insisted we provide a bounty for anyone who could provide information on her identity, I hadn’t expected anything to come ofit.”
“Why did the council care in the first place?” Adrian asks coldly. “We have nothing to do with your organization, Mother.” He doesn’t even try to soundnice.
“Precisely,” she sighs. “The rest of the council members wanted leverage over you both. Their goal is to pressure you into taking up your spots on thecouncil.”
Adrian and Zeke have spots on the Dark Council? My head swings between them, but they keep their attention on theirmother.
“Pass,” Adriansays.
“I second his pass,” Zekeadds.
She closes her eyes, looking older than her youthful appearance led me to believe. “You don’t understand. Now that we know yourbasherthas been found, the council will make it our mission to leverage her against you. If you wish Veronica safe, you will do what weask.”
“Are you threatening her?” Adrian steps forward, tightening the hand on the hilt of his sword. I put a staying hand on his arm. Sarah marks thegesture.
“What I say is no threat, just fact. You know the Darkness is growing. The Dark Council is desperate to have all soldiers on hand to fight this enemy. They will do what they need to in order to get what theywant.”
“You know about the Darkness?” I regret the outburst immediately. I’d been under the impression only Lukas and his band of allies treated the Darkness as a real threat. If the Dark Council acknowledged its danger, then why aren’t they sending an army to fight ittoo?
Regardless, I shouldn’t have said anything, no matter how curious I am. Now, I’m back underscrutiny.
“Indeed,” she answers, “but I think the more pressing question is how do you know about theDarkness?”
I chew my lip and shrug. “I hearthings.”
“Things?”
“We keep Veronica informed of some of our world’s current events,” Zeke says, coming to my rescue. “But we try not to overwhelm her with too many details.” Mother and son stare at one another. I think she’s not going to let the matter drop, until she looks at her otherchild.
“Now that our council knows about Veronica, you have no choice but to work withus.”
