Page 49 of Protected by the Fallen
“Please.” I whisper, tears blurring my vision. I blink to clear them away, and a couple escape and roll down my cheeks. “You know how much he means to me.”
Regret darkens his gaze. “I can’t,” he murmurs. “You know I can’t. It’s too risky.”
“What if it were Adrian?” I ask. “If he was injured, would you want me to do nothing and let him die?”
“Joseph will not die.”
“How do you know that?”
“Because he’s a bloody Light Fallen. Those bastards aren’t easy to kill!” I’ve managed to push Zeke over the edge. He’s lost his cool. I don’t care. I lost mine the moment I learned one of my soulmates had been hurt.
“That doesn’t mean they can’t be killed!” I want to shake sense into him. He’s being stubborn. He said so himself: The Darkness is retreating. He can safely escort me to Joseph’s side so I can help him.
“I will never forgive you,” I say coldly. “If you keep me from his side and he doesn’t recover, I will never forgive you until the day I die.”
A flicker of unease crosses his expression. It’s gone before I can blink. “Understood.”
In the corner, a hesitant cough interrupts our argument.
Zeke growls and pegs Vera with an equally icy glare. “Speak a word of this conversation, and Jude is dead.”
“Zeke!”
He doesn’t look my direction. His attention is locked on Vera. “Do you understand me?”
“I-I unders-stand,” she stutters.
“Stop it, Zeke!” I shout. Using my free hand, I pull on his shirt, forcing his furious gaze off Vera. “She hasn’t done anything.”
“And I’m making sure she never will,” he shoots her another glare, and she shudders.
“She won’t.” I shove his chest, angry at him for so many reasons. “Stop acting like a jerk.”
“I will, just as soon as you get your head on straight and realize I’m right. You can’t afford to run into the banquet and do what you want. Everything we’ve worked so hard to conceal will be unveiled like that.” He snaps his fingers in front of my face.
“VERONICA! ZEKE!” Adrian’s loud yell bounces off the cavernous ceiling. Our argument is forgotten as we both turn towards the sound of his voice.
“Over here,” Zeke calls out.
Adrian appears in the entryway, and makes quick work navigating the damaged room. His jacket’s gone, and singe marks cover his dress shirt. My stomach plummets to the floor as I see the dark bruises forming on his neck and chest.
“You’re hurt.”
“I’m fine.” Adrian steals me from his brother and wraps me in a hug, breathing deep against my hair.
“The others?”
He steps back, but keeps his hands on my arms, as if he’s afraid to let me go. “Mild injuries.” He glances at Vera.
“Mild? Are you sure?”
He chews his lip. I know he’s not being honest.
“Just tell me. Is it Joseph?”
“No. Well,” Adrian pauses, shaking his head. “Yes. Joseph took a blow, but he will survive.”
I wouldn’t believe him except I feel the background pain diminishing at a steady rate. A healer must’ve come to his aid. Zeke’s lucky that’s the case. Otherwise, there’s no telling what I’d do to reach Joseph.
