Page 16 of Protected by the Fallen
Adrian’s expression softens as he zeroes in on my lips. “What’s so funny?”
“Nothing.” I let my lips blossom into a full smile. It seems to mesmerize Adrian. His lips part slightly, and I feel heat gather in my stomach. “I think you’re cute when you’re frustrated.”
“Cute?” He tilts his head to the side, and there is heat in his gaze.
I chuckle, sounding a little breathless. “Fine... I think you’re handsome when you’re frustrated.”
He shifts forward, leaving less than six inches between our bodies. I inhale his masculine scent, and my pulse goes haywire. This is not the time to be distracted by such things, but I am not strong enough to resist the connection between us. It’s nothing short of a miracle that I hadn’t immediately thrown myself at Adrian the night we met. He’d looked so hott standing on the metal staircase in his tight V-neck and midnight black jeans, staring down at me with the same smoldering look he gives me now. I suppose the ward on my powers is to thank for my initial self-control when it came to him and all of the Fallen, but now that it is gone and I can feel every aspect of the connection linking our souls, I want nothing more than to bury myself against him and kiss him until we’re both senseless.
Someone coughs. Both Adrian and I are freed from my unintentional spell.
Heat, not the good kind, rushes up my neck and covers my face. I can’t believe I nearly lost control in a room full of Fallen. I seriously needed to get a grip. Rather, my ridiculous soulmate hormones needed to get a grip. I’d never felt so drawn to someone, so my experience with resisting public displays of affection are severely lacking. I need to learn soon, or else I will inevitably find myself in an embarrassing situation.
Adrian turns his neck and sees Jude looking at him with a sheepish expression. “Forgive me,” the male rubs the back of his neck, “but I couldn’t help but overhear Veronica doesn’t wish to attend the meeting.”
When Adrian does nothing more than stare in silence, I step forward and place a hand on his back. I can’t tell what he’s thinking, but I don’t want him to rip off Jude’s head just because he interrupted us. We should be thanking him. God only knows what I might’ve done otherwise.
“I don’t like crowds,” I offer Jude. He doesn’t believe me, but he is gracious enough not to say so out loud.
“Why not stay in the library? I’m sure the meeting won’t take more than an hour.”
“No,” Adrian states.
“Absolutely not.” Zeke steps so his body is slightly in front of mine.
Jude observes the situation and backs away, allowing more distance between him and me. He lifts his hands. “I mean yourbashertno harm.”
Of course he doesn’t. Even I can see that. But my two Dark Fallen are not so easily convinced.
“Guys?” Both of them look down when they hear my voice. I give each of them a meaningful look, “Take it easy.”
I sense the aggression seep out of them. Once I know they aren’t going to rip off Jude’s head. I return my gaze to Jude. He is looking at me with a mix of awe, amusement and appreciation.
“Mybashertensare wary to leave me unprotected now that The Darkness has grown bolder in its attacks.” I try to explain their irrational behavior.
“Of course. Naturally.” Jude glances at Adrian, then Zeke. “I only suggested the library because it is one of the most fortified chambers within the embassy. Aside from the council chambers, of course.”
My head perks up. “Really?”
Jude gives me his full attention. “Yes. Wards and soldiers guard all library entries and exits, and no physical weapons are permitted inside. The embassy will know every soul who walks in and out of the library, and they will know if anyone wields any sort of attack.”
I don’t miss the fact he said, “physical weapons”. While most angels I’ve encountered are skilled with swords or daggers, it is their mystical weapons which distinguish them from other opponents. My Angel Fire is all I have to fight with, and it proves to be more than useful in life threatening situations than a blade. But I suppose it would be hard to try and force me to leave my Angel Fire out of a room. It’s not like I can turn off my angelic abilities.
“Why protect the library? Are there valuable items inside?”
Jude nods and gestures to the open doors behind him. “Those books contain the entire history of the angelic race, both before and after The Fall.”
“From before?” I look at the shelves of books eagerly. Information about Heaven is contained within those leather-bound pages. My fingers itch to get ahold of one of those books.
“Angel,” Adrian mumbles, sensing my desire to run off and explore the library. Even if I couldn’t already sense his worry, the hard set of his lips shows it.
“Is the library really protected?” I look between him and Zeke.
Zeke looks equally concerned, but he says, “It is.” I can already tell Zeke won’t go against me if I say I’d rather wait out their meeting in the library. So, I focus on Adrian. I still have a hand on his back, and I move it to rest on his shoulder.
“I’ll stay in the back, completely out of sight. No one has to know I’m in there.”
He shoots a pointed glance at Jude, and I see the Fallen duck his head, as if that will make him invisible.
