Page 58 of Claimed by the Fallen
I step off the driveway and onto the grass. The tall blades tickle my exposed ankles in the rolled-up skinny jeans. Zeke shifts to the side, continuing to blockme.
I throw my hands in the air. “What do you want from me, Zeke? I’m not okay right now, and I don’t want to talk.” Unless he plans to tell me he was joking and I’m not really anyone’s soulmate, there’s nothing he can say to make anything better. The situation is insane, and it’s going to take a lot more than angelic power shooting from my hands to make me accept I’m soulmate to any of the Fallen angels. A hell of a lotmore.
“Just… give me the chance to explain. Don’t leave it likethis.”
I shake my head and scoff. “There’s no way to explain this. It’s…” I pause and search for a word to describe the insanity of what he’s suggesting. There isn’t one. “It’s impossible. And unnatural. And I’m not interested in hearing anymore aboutit.”
Bracing myself for resistance, I move forward. I’m prepared to push past Zeke, but he shifts out of the way just as I’m about to bump intohim.
Without hesitating, I unlock the door and slip inside my house. One peek over my shoulder reveals Zeke hasn’t moved from his spot. Though, he is facing me. I avoid looking at his expression. I don’t want to see his disappointment… frustration… or whatever emotion he’s feeling. I close the door and lockit.
“Mom? Dad?” Like this morning, I receive no response. Periwinkle trots down the stairs, tail wagging, greetingme.
I reach down and pet her. Then, Peri whines and scurries toward the back door. Praying Zeke doesn’t hear me, I open the door and let her into the backyard to relieveherself.
Periwinkle hops down the patio steps and squats. My eyes scan the perimeter of the yard, looking for any indication I’m about to be greeted by the angel I left out front, or one of his three brethren. My worries are unfounded. Peri returns and we’re back inside with no intruders making their presenceknown.
I walk towards the stairs, Periwinkle on my heels, and I release a shout of surprise when I see two brawny, blonds. Zeke and Adrian are standing side by side. The former watches me with concern, while the latter looksbored.
Peribarks.
“Get out of my house,” Icommand.
“Veronica, please. We have to talk about this.” Zeke’s ever-present mask has fallen away, showing the true depths of his concern. But I’m too overwhelmed tocare.
“You don’t get to break into my house whenever you want,” I yell. I’ve had enough. The angels have been bullying me in the name of protecting me. I’m done withit.
“We wouldn’t have to if you didn’t run like a scared child anytime you hear something you don’tlike.”
“How dare you.” I hiss at Adrian. “Unlike you, I didn’t have the luxury of growing up knowing all about the supernatural, Fallen world. Excuse me if I’m not jumping for joy every time a new piece of information is thrown my way!” Especially when the information claims I am a soulmate to two angelicbeings.
“Luxury?” Adrian’s voice adopts an ominous tone, and his eyes sharpen into slits. “My existence has been a never-ending, watered-down, but no less agonizing, version of Hell. Sorry you can’t seem to handle some truths about who you are, but don’t presume to knowanythingabout us. You. Know.Nothing.”
His words are like a slap to the face. I stumble back from the mere force ofthem.
“Enough, Adrian,” Zekebarks.
Adrian slinks back a step, but his furious eyes don’t leavemine.
A knock sounds on the frontdoor.
I tear my gaze from Adrian and see two heads of black hair through the stain-glassedwindows.
Anotherknock.
“Veronica? Are you inthere?”
I say nothing. I don’t have the energy to handle adding the two light brothers to thisdiscussion.
But Gabe and Mr. Cohen don’t give up soeasily.
“Veronica, we know you’re in there. Open up. It’simportant.”
Zeke lifts an eyebrow, but I shake my head. I press my lips together, determined to remain silent until they goaway.
My plans are thrown to the wind when I hear Gabe say, “Veronica… your parents aremissing.”
Twenty-One
