Page 25 of Protected by the Fallen
“What about me?”
“Did you reveal her identity?” Joseph growls menacingly, taking a threatening step towards the other Light Fallen. I grab ahold of his wrist. I’m under no disillusion I can actually hold him back if he’s determined to strike Lukas, but I can at least try to help remind him I am here. I know Joseph won’t want to lose his cool with me standing right behind him. At least, I hope not.
Lukas is the epitome of calm. I don’t know how he does it. I’d be peeing my pants if a Fallen Angel looked at me with such menace. I suppose Lukas may be used to that sort of thing. “I have not revealed Veronica’s identity, but the Light Council is proving themselves determined to find out who she is.”
“Why?”
“The council would like to know how it is my soldiers who face The Darkness are healed following gruesome injuries while their Fallen from the recent battle are not so fortunate.”
I suck in a breath. The guys did not tell me Fallen were injured during the attack on The Light Council. I feel guilty for not bothering to ask. I’d been so preoccupied with concern for mybashertens,I didn’t spare a thought for the other Fallen who faced The Darkness.
“I knew it.” Joseph’s tendons roll against my hand as he tenses. “I knew it was a mistake to ever let you anywhere near her.”
“If I recall, Veronica willingly helped my cause. At least, she did after healing Charles.” Lukas refers to the time he kidnapped me in order to compel me to save the life of his friend, and suspected lover, Charles. Charles had been injured when yancor demons interrupted our first meeting. The monstrous creatures had tried to get to me for weeks after my powers emerged on my eighteenth birthday, and a yancor demon got ahold of my scent. According to mybashertens, my scent is particularly enticing to the power-starved demons.
Unfortunately for Charles, he’d been the one to suffer the consequences of my foolish decision to leave the protective wards around my house. I’d been so confident I could help save my parents from their captors. I never anticipated the night would end in violence and bloodshed.
But I suppose the terrible consequences of that night can be traced back to Lukas’ actions. After all, he’s the one who abducted my parents in the first place. His companion would’ve never sustained life-threatening injuries if he hadn’t attempted to force a meeting with me.
Even so, I cannot find it in me to resent Lukas or his actions. I’ve learned a lot since first meeting the rogue Light Fallen. He’s helped me strengthen and control my powers, and he did so when my Fallen soulmates had been determined to keep the extent of my powers from me. They’d thought they were protecting me, but eventually they learned they’d been wrong to keep something so important from me.
Joseph tugs against my hold. He slips away, but I quickly grab him with my other hand. I secure both hands just above his wrist and squeeze tight. “Joseph, stop. Calm down.” I look at Lukas, silently warning him to choose his answer carefully. “What have you told The Light Council about me?”
“Nothing.”
I know there is something he’s not saying. “But…”
“But I don’t know how much longer I can keep the truth from them.”
My jaw falls open, shocked by the admission. “But you promised. You promised, if I helped heal your soldiers, you would keep my secret safe.”
“And I’ve tried. Believe me, I will not willingly reveal your identity. But my spies have uncovered the council plans to bring me in for a formal interrogation.”
It’s Joseph’s turn to suck in a breath. Lukas’ expression is grim; his lips pressed in a hard line. Joseph’s muscles are still flexed, but one glance at his face reveals it is void of anger. A knowing look passes between the Fallen.
“What is it?” I ask, glancing between them. Their sudden change in demeanor is unnerving. “What aren’t either of you saying?”
“The Light Council has many powerful Fallen members,” Joseph begins, “Violence and torture are not normally tolerated in our ranks, but—”
“But all moral qualms go out the window whenever the council wants information.”
I gasp, horrified. “They’ll torture you?”
“And more,” Lukas confirms. For someone discussing inevitable torment, he sure does sound relaxed.
“What is your plan?” Joseph asks. “You know you cannot reveal Veronica’s identity.”
“Of course I know that,” Lukas snaps back. I don’t blame him. I understand Joseph’s main concern is my well-being, but he can at least show some compassion for the predicament Lukas is in because of me… and because of his own actions.
“How do you plan to evade The Council?”
“I’ll go underground with the rest of my soldiers.”
“You aren’t going to keep fighting The Darkness?”
Lukas grins at me. “Of course I plan to fight The Darkness. I just need to stay under The Light Council’s radar until they lose interest in questioning me.”
“Is that likely?” Again, I look between the Fallen, searching for an answer. “Will the council forget about the mysterious healing of your soldiers?”
