Page 39 of Protected by the Fallen
The silence between us is the epitome of uncomfortable. I can’t bear it. So, I break the ice in the bluntest way possible. “How long have you known?”
Freddy stumbles, but manages to correct the blunder before tumbling down the stairsteps. “Known what?”
I give him a knowing look. “That I’m not human.”
“Oh. Since my mom told me,” he says. “How long have you known about… me?”
“Since your mom kidnapped me from your party and turned me in to the council.” I don’t bother trying to keep my voice down. Other than the bodyguards, I know everyone in the stairwell is aware of the story. I bet Sarah’s bodyguards are also privy to the information.
Freddy winces. “Right. Sorry about that.”
“Why are you apologizing? You didn’t do anything.”
“True,” Freddy keeps his eyes in front of us and lowers his voice. “But still… that was a pretty crappy thing for my mom to do.”
I’m shocked. Could Freddy actually not be a bad guy here?
“Yes,” I agree. “It was.”
Freddy finally spares me a glance. He eyes me up and down, then says, “I can’t believe I never picked up on it. I mean… I can’t believe I never sensed you are like me in high school. Now, I can totally tell you aren’t human.”
That’s because I had a ward masking all of my powers.
I shrug. “My powers didn’t show up until my birthday. It’s not surprising you couldn’t sense me.” I hope Freddy buys the lie. I can’t explain that until yancor demons attacked me and Adrian and Zeke swooped in to save the day, I hadn’t known what I am either.
Lucky for me, it seems this isn’t the first time Freddy’s heard the explanation. “That’s what my mom says,” he admits. “Still… it’s crazy. Who knew there was another Nephilim in Valley Lake?” His head swings side to side in disbelief. I say nothing. I’m just happy he hasn’t called me on my lie.
“So…” I clear my throat and lick my lips. “You and Annie…”
I’m pleased when I see his cheeks turn red.
“Uh… yeah. She told you?”
“She’s my best friend,” I remind him, “of course she told me.”
He falls silent, the color on his face deepening.
A thought hits me. “Please don’t tell Annie. About me, I mean. I plan to tell her about everything eventually, but things are… complicated right now.”
Freddy jerks back. “I would never say a word,” he swears. He runs his hand down his face. “If I’m being honest, I was going to ask you the same thing.”
“Annie doesn’t know your Nephilim?”
“No.”
I hesitate, then ask, “Have you thought about telling her?”
“No way,” he blurts. Then, he looks like he reconsiders. “I mean, I like Annie, but things aren’t serious enough for me to tell her about…that.”
“I totally understand,” I say, and I mean it. Sharing something like the truth of Fallen angels and the Nephilim race is no small matter. I respect Freddy’s honesty. “If I ever decide to tell her about me, I will leave you out of it.”
“Thank you,” he exhales.
I nod, then turn my head forward. We’ve reached the third landing, and now we are walking to an open parlor. Through the entryway, I see no less than eight Light Fallen standing in a circle. Immediately, I recognize Gabe and Joseph. I’d lost sight of them while speaking with the Adrian’s and Zeke’s friends. I pull my attention away from my two soulmates and look at the rest of the room’s occupants. These Light Fallen are not the same I’d seen around Gabe and Joseph in the banquet hall. The others appeared uneasy, while these Fallen emanate quiet confidence. Each of them is finely dressed, and each of them watches our entrance with estimating eyes.
I move an inch closer to Freddy. He glances at me, and his eyes reveal he feels just as uncomfortable.
Ahead of us, Sarah breaks away from her bodyguards and approaches a man with stark-black hair, positioned slighting in front of the Light Fallen behind him. “Maximus,” she holds out her hand.
