Page 61 of Hunted by the Fallen
“Likehell.”
“I’m being serious, Adrian.” Her eyes darken. “My position only gives me so much leeway. I will be unable to dissuade them from taking actions against Veronica if they think it will motivate you both to finally accept your roles in ourorganization.”
“We will kill them all before they can lay a finger onher.”
“Be quiet,” she snaps. Her eyes travel to one of the hidden doorways. In a quieter voice, she says, “Watch what you say. There are spieseverywhere.”
I don’t think her concern is anact.
Zeke attempts to diffuse the situation. “We cannot be a part of the council’s plans, Mother. Our priority is Veronica. You are going to have to trust me when I say we cannot bring her into angelicsociety.”
Sarah hesitates. She presses her lips together, and I can see the debate warring behind her eyes. Her back straightens when she comes to a decision. “Is this because she’s notNephilim?”
Twenty-Six
One second passes.The weight of her question hangs in the air like an ax, ready to fall and put an end to mylife.
Then, Adrian and Zeke blur. I’m yanked behind their fast bodies as they make a break for the exit. I wonder why they don’t just transport us out of here when I collide with a muscular back. Adrian bangs against the door, then pulls the handles. It doesn’tbudge.
“You will not go anywhere until the council wishes you to.” Regret laces their mother’swords.
My protectors whirl around. Adrian grabs my shoulders and places me between him and the door. “You will not take Veronica from us. I don’t care what you think she is, we will not leave her in the hand of thecouncil.”
Sarah holds up her hands. “I do not plan on taking Veronica today. What I say now will stay between us, I know she is not the Nephilim the others believe her to be. I knew it the moment I sawher.”
I can’t breathe. This is it. I’m going todie.
“How?” Zeke asks, glancing at me. “I can’t even sense herpowers.”
Instead of speaking to her son, Sarah’s eyes lock with mine. She really is stunning. Her hazel eyes match her sons, but their hair must come from their father. “I know because I am privy to information the other council members arenot.”
A beat passes. Adrian growls, impatient as ever, “Whichis?”
Still, her eyes remain on me. I see a flash of sympathy before she says, “Because I know who her motheris.”
* * *
“You lie.”Adrian presses his back against me. As if he can protect me from the shock of what his mother justsaid.
“I do no suchthing.”
“Who is she?” I don’t realize I’ve whispered the question until both Adrian and Zeke look down at me. I keep my attention on theirmother.
“For your sake, I will only say she is an old friend. And that you look exactly like her. After realizing your age, it was simply a matter of doing themath.”
She knows my mom? And I look like her? My knees buckle, but Adrian is quick to hold me up. I’m tucked into hisside.
“I never would have imagined you’d be my sons’bashert,” she continues. “Fate has a funny way of working out, don’t youthink?”
“If her mother was really your friend, you would let us go. You wouldn’t use her as bait to force us to do the Dark Council’swill.”
“I am not the master of the council. I am their leader because they trust me. The moment that changes, I will be replaced, and I will no longer be in a place to helpyou.”
Adrian snorts. “You think you are helpingus?”
“Yes. By keeping your secret and acting as a buffer with the council, I am doing all I can to keep you safe. You’re lucky. If I wasn’t on the council, the two of you would have been brought to account muchsooner.”
I can sense the beginning of a long and pointless argument. I don’t want any part of it. I push away from Adrian. He releases me, but he stands close, ready to catch me if my legs should quit on meagain.
