Page 3 of Protected by the Fallen
“There’s been an attack on the Light Council.”
Two
I feellike I can’t breathe. Warm brown eyes consume my mind. Gabe and Joseph are on the Light Council. I haven’t seen them for days. What if something happened to them? My heart constricts.
Get it together, Veronica.
I cannot let Sarah see how her news affects me. She will wonder why I am so concerned with the wellbeing of Light Fallen. In her mind, her sons are my onlybashertens. They are the only angels who should cause me concern.
It’s a small miracle Adrian decided to block me when he did. Otherwise, his mother would have seen my face, and my feelings would read like an open book.
Adrian and Zeke are aware of my predicament, and they act to keep their mother’s attention on them. “What kind of attack?” Zeke sits on the couch across from his mother.
“The Darkness, of course.”
“Yes,” Zeke says with patience. “But in what manner has the Darkness attacked this time? More demons? Rouge Dark Fallen? What?”
Sarah’s back straightens. “There haven’t been rogues in our numbers for centuries, Ezekiel.” She sounds insulted.
“Some would callusrouges, Mother,” Adrian states.
“You are not the enemy of the Council,” she argues, “and you do not work with the Darkness.”
Some Fallen are working with the Darkness? This is news to me. But I guess that is my fault. I’m the one who’s avoided the discussion. I move to stand beside Adrian. My face is carefully clear of how I’m feeling. I see his muscles tense, but Adrian does not step in front of me again.
“Mother,” Zeke seeks to get the conversation on track, “how has the Darkness attacked the Light Council?”
“Demons,” she rises from the settee. Zeke stands as well. “And we should be going. The Light Council sent a message, requesting the Dark Council’s assistance in the fight.”
“They are still being attacked?” I blurt the question. I’d thought the fight was over and Sarah just wanted her son’s help in the aftermath. Is this what the Dark Council has been asking them to do? Actively fight demons?
“They are, and every second spent here is another where Light Fallen are alone in their battle.”
I remember Gabe’s battered and bloody body from his last encounter with the Darkness. My legs begin to shake. Adrian turns and grabs onto my elbows before I can fall to the ground. His eyes bore into mine, and I see his concern. He knows I’m malnourished and exhausted, and he knows how much this information affects me, but he silently asks me to pull it together. For the sake of our secret, I need to play it cool.
Licking my dry lips, I mutter. “I don’t want you to go.” I go for the concernedbashertploy. Adrian’s eyes flash with approval.
“Don’t worry, Angel. One of us will stay with you. You are safe here.”
“That is not what I’m worried about.” At the moment, all four Fallen are my concern.
Adrian dips his head low until his nose almost touches mine. “Nothing is going to happen.Everyonewill remain safe.” I know he’s not just talking about him and Zeke. I press my lips together, forcing my worried tears to stay where they are.
Sarah delicately clears her throat. Adrian shifts us to the side so we can see her and Zeke. The latter watches me with worry, and the former wears a regretful frown.
“Both you and Zeke have been requested to help. One of you may not stay behind with Veronica.”
“Like hell,” Zeke growls. It’s the first time I’ve ever heard him speak to his mother with anything other than calm indifference. Zeke is the levelheaded twin.
She is undeterred. “We are wasting time arguing. The threat is serious. Both of you are needed.”
“Leaving Veronica without protection is out of the question. I will go help the Light Council, but Adrian stays here.”
“No,” Adrian drops my elbows and faces his brother and mother. “I will go. I am the better swordsman.”
“All the more reason you should stay with Veronica.”
“No,” I speak up. I touch Adrian’s arm. He looks down. “You can help them.” He understands who I’m talking about. I glance at Zeke and see he’s figured out my thoughts too. If Adrian is truly the best fighter, I want him to go help Joseph and Gabe. I wouldn’t forgive myself if Adrian stayed behind when he could’ve saved the Light Fallen.
