Page 56 of Claimed by the Fallen
Instead of taking offense, the corner of Zeke’s lip tilts up. “Family trait, Isuppose.”
I chuckle, but it’s a weak sound. It’s hard to laugh knowing I’ve hurt Adrian’s feelings. It may have been what I set out to do, but I hadn’t expected to feel so guilty. Or sopained.
“I guess the Light Fallen told you about the differences between our kinds?” Zeke tries to change thesubject.
I glance and confirm we are still alone in the dining room. I can hear the cook singing to himself as he preps the kitchen. I assume Laura is back there, wiping down menus orsomething.
“A little,” I tell Zeke. “They said Light Fallen are trying to get back to Heaven while you guys have accepted yourfate.”
Zeke leans back in the chair. “They’re right. Most Dark Fallen do not believe there is redemption for those of us who’vefallen.”
“Most, but notall?”
“Beliefs and opinions differ depending on the angel you’re speaking to,” he says. “No Fallen is exactly the same asanother.”
I chew on my lip, and my guilt grows. “I shouldn’t have assumed anything about any of you,” I confess. “It was wrong of me to accuse Adrian of beingselfish.”
“Well, my brother isn’tunselfish.”
I shake my head, ignoring his attempt to distract me with a joke. “I’m being serious. I messed up. I need toapologize.”
“Adrian needs to cool down first,” Zeke tells me. “He’s been on edgelately.”
“Because of the demon nest?” Fresh guilt pains me as I think about how much trouble I’m causing for the angel I’d justinsulted.
Zeke runs a hand down his face. “It’s this wholebashertthing. Soulmates always have a way of riling up theirangel.”
One word stands out above the rest, and it very nearly robs me ofbreath.
“Woah. Wait. Slow down.” I hold up a hand as my brain processes and reprocesses what Zeke’s just said. “Did you just saysoulmates?”
The color drains from Zeke’s face. The reaction alarmsme.
When he doesn’t answer me, I repeat, “Zeke… did you just saysoulmates?”
Zeke rises and knocks his chair backwards. The furniture bangs against the ground, but I don’t dare look away from Zeke as I, too, stand from mychair.
I blink, and I feel like my stomach is going to twist into a knot and never unwind again. Zeke looks spooked… andafraid.
He hadn’t meant to say what he did. Now, he regretsit.
Laura pops her head out of the kitchen, checking on the cause of the noise. “Everything okay out here?” She looks between us and our tensestances.
“Fine,” I reply, still not looking away from the angel in front ofme.
“Oh. Okay… Let me know if you need anything. Cook is ready to take any orders you mighthave.”
I nod. “Got it.Thanks.”
Laura must hesitate for a second, because it takes that long for me to hear the swinging doorclose.
“There is no way you can leave here without explaining this.” I gesture between the two of us, referencing his drastic reaction to my accidentalwords.
“This is not my news totell.”
“What news?” I clench my hands into fists, trying to steady their shaking. “Just tell me, Zeke. It can’t be thatbad.”
His eyes darken. “You don’t knowthat.”
