Page 55 of Protected by the Fallen
The massive doors at the entrance creak open. I, along with everyone else in the room, turn toward the interruption. Vera and Jude enter the council chamber, flanked by two guards armed with glowing broadswords.
I peek at the guard who warned me. He continues to avoid looking at me. What is happening?
“Ah, yes.” Master Nate sounds pleased, ignoring the council member’s questions. “I nearly forgot about the other witness to last night’s strange occurrence.”
Vera is shaking as Jude leads her forward. Obviously, they’d been summoned to the meeting. I don’t believe for one second that Master Nate forgot about them.
I try to catch Vera’s attention, but she is pointedly staring at the floor, only moving forward because herbashertenis pulling her.
“Jude,” Sarah greets the embassy’s guardsman. “You should be resting after your ordeal. To what do we owe the pleasure of your presence?”
“I summoned them,” Paul’s raspy voice answers before Jude can open his mouth. “Who better to tell us what transpired last night?”
“We’ve already voted on the matter,” the friendly female says, sounding exasperated. “If Jude and hisbasherthave new evidence, we shall hear it at another meeting. I, for one, am tired after last night’s attack, and I would like the right to retire and rest in my chambers.” The same three Fallen who agreed with her earlier agree with her again.
Roxy clears her throat, drawing the room’s attention. I already know this isn’t going to be good. “Perhaps their testimony doesn’t pertain to Master Nate’s resurrection accusation. I say we hear them out.”
Then, before anyone can object, Roxy looks at Vera. “Vera, why don’t you tell The Council what you told me?”
Roxy’s in on this too? I don’t understand.
I stare at Vera, begging her to not comply with whatever plan Roxy, Master Nate, and Paul have developed. She promised not to tell anyone what happened. I believe her word is good.
Weakly, and with downcast eyes, Vera quickly shatters my trust like a dropped piece of glass. “I don’t think Veronica is Nephilim.”
“Indeed?” Paul feigns surprise. “Why?”
Vera swallows. “Because she told me she’s full-blooded Fallen.”
Twenty-Four
Unlike the previous bombshells,this one doesn’t erupt into a room of murmurs and hushed whispers. Everyone is stunned silent, and I feel a dozen powerful eyes land on me. My ears are ringing.
“She’s lying.” The words are out of my mouth before my mind processes them. “I never said that.”
“What the hell is going on Vera?” Adrian shouts, equally pissed off by the betrayal. “Did they put you up to this? Did they tell you to lie?” He points an accusing finger at Master Nate before swinging it to Paul.
I’m shaking. Why would Vera lie? She could have told the council any of the things she actually heard, both in the library and in her private rooms. I know we just met, but she’s been friends with Adrian and Zeke for years. How could she betray them like this?
“I-I’m only saying what she told me,” Vera’s voice wobbles. She leans into Jude. He stands rigid beside Vera, making no move to comfort her, but not moving away either.
“You’re lying,” I repeat. “Why would I tell you I’m not Nephilim?”
Still avoiding my gaze, Vera says, “I asked you about your parents. You said you didn’t know them well. You confided that your parents were both Fallen and that they abandoned you as an infant.”
It’s so close to the truth that I feel like I’ve been punched in the gut. How does Vera know my parents left me?
“Is that true?” A voice booms, reverberating off the cavernous ceiling. I look at the council member beside Sarah. His face is a mixture of horror and curiosity. “Are both of your parents Fallen?”
“Of course not,” Adrian barks. Again, he fights against Zeke’s hold. A quick glance at the restraining twin tells me he is considering letting his brother go. Things are going south fast. I can see Zeke’s mind whirling, trying to figure out what to do next. “Fallen cannot mate. We all know this. I don’t know what game Vera is trying to play, but it is a dangerous one, and I plan to make the losers pay the consequences.”
Vera visibly withers. Again, she tries to seek comfort from herbasherten,but Jude doesn’t spare her a glance. He is clenching his jaw, looking like he’s barely containing himself.
“Perhaps one of her parents are heavenly angels like your own father,” Paul suggests as if the idea is novel, like he hadn’t kept it in the back of his mind, waiting for the right moment to unveil it. Only an idiot would think that’s the case.
Well, I guess I don’t need to figure out how to broach that subject.
“If that’s true, then her angelic parent would have Fallen,” Sarah says. “All of us would have felt such an angel’s Fall.”
