Page 73 of Claimed by the Fallen
“Yes, Messenger,” Mr. Cohen’s voice is strangled. “Both of your parents are unharmed, and Zeke has altered their memories. They will have no recollection of the violence they experienced lastweek.”
“Last week?” I curse my inability to physically react to his words. My body longs to leap off the bed, but it’s like my brain is disconnected from my nerves. “I’ve been unconscious for aweek?”
“Yes,” Gabe nods. “Your body needed time to rejuvenate.” He pauses. “You were very close to leaving thisworld.”
I force back emotions about my near-death experience and focus on my current reality. It’s the only way I can move forward at this point. “Why can’t I move?” I try, again, to engage my core and sit up. My muscles refuse to respond. “And haven’t my parents worried about me being in a coma for aweek?”
“They’ve been dealt with,” Adrianmutters.
Again, I long to be able to turn my neck toward the irritated angel. “What?”
“Nothing bad,” Gabe assures me. “We only altered your parents’ memories so they wouldn’t worry about you. They know you’re here, and they know you’resafe.”
I suppose that’s all I can really askfor.
“Thank you.” I shift my gaze back to the swirling fan. “So… what happened at thewarehouse?”
“You mean other than you leaping into danger like a fool?” Adrian snipes from somewhere out ofsight.
Zeke clears his throat and quickly tries to mask his brother’s words, “The yancor pack has been taken careof.”
“All of them?” I hold my breath, barely daring tohope.
“Yes,” Zeke confirms. “All ofthem.”
I close my eyes tight and exhale, “ThankGod.”
“God had nothing to do withit.”
I ignore Adrian. “The yancor demons weren’t responsible for abducting my parents.” I open my eyes and look atGabe.
“We know,” hereplies.
I’m surprised. “Youdo?”
“Yes, we caught the demon scent long before they entered the warehouse. We knew they weren’t there when you firstarrived.”
I swallow back my guilt. “You knew where Iwent?”
“Of course, we knew where you went,” Adrian growls. “Did you think you could sneak out without one of us noticing? Consider yourself lucky we tracked you to the warehouse in time to save you from the hoard of demons ready to tear the placeapart.”
I shove the memory of the dozens of corpses from my head. “The kidnapper called me and said he’d kill my parents if any of you came with me to the warehouse,” I finally admit the truth. Despite my lingering guilt, it feels like a weight is lifted off myshoulders.
“So what?” Adrian growls. Apparently, he is the spokesperson for the angels’ anger. “That doesn’t mean you risk your life by running to meet astranger.”
“I did it to save my parents.” My voice is even. My stubbornness will not allow me to apologize for wanting to save myparents.
“Well, you nearly got them, and you, killed. So great job,there.”
“Enough,” Gabe’s neck snaps back toward the corner of my room. I know his glare is trained on the vocal dark angel. “Veronica is unharmed. Her parents are alive and well. We will moveon.”
“Bull shit,” Adrian spits. “We still don’t know who is responsible for abducting her parents in the first place. I’d say we’re far from seeing the last of the repercussions of heractions.”
No one speaks. None of the angels wish to deny Adrian’s claim. And why should they? He’sright.
“I understand you’re mad at me for endangering myself,” I murmur, “at the time, it was the only option I could thinkof.”
Gabe looks back down at me. His eyes soften. “We know why you did what you did, Veronica. We just wish you would have trusted us enough to confide inus.”
