Page 9 of Protected by the Fallen
“Oh, sorry.” Gabe loosens his grip, but he doesn’t immediately let go. I manage lean back and meet his gaze, still dangling in his arms, and grinning like a fool.
Why can’t I stop smiling? Twenty seconds ago, I was prepared to fight off an intruder. You’d think I hadn’t seen the Light Fallen for a month rather than one week.
I shake my head. Only Fallen can elicit such drastic emotional swings. “What are you guys doing here?”
“Checking on you. We know Zeke and Adrian were called to assist our council, and we couldn’t bear the thought of you being here unprotected.”
“The Darkness,” I gasp, dormant fear finally erasing the smile from my face. “They need your help. Go to them. I’ll be fine.” The only reason I’d convinced both Zeke and Adrian to leave was to help the two Light Fallen in front of me. Now, I’m worried about the Dark Fallen’s safety. What if I sent them into a trap?
“No chance, Messenger,” Joseph speaks up. I look over and see his determination. “There are plenty of Fallen and Nephilim defending the Light Council. Everyone will be fine.”
“How can you say that?” I squirm until Gabe is forced to set me back on my feet. Once I touch the ground, I whirl on Joseph. Gabe’s arms are still around me, acting as a barrier between me and his brother. “They went there to help you two. They could be in danger!”
Joseph holds up his index finger. The light from the window shines on his hair, highlighting the tinge of blue. “One, they went there because the Dark Council forced them to. Zeke told me so himself.”
Before I can utter a sound, he raises his middle finger to join the other one. “And two, we would never have left if the situation wasn’t under control. Both Zeke and Adrian will walk out of this conflict unscathed. Besides, we all agreed there was something off about the situation in the first place.”
“Off?” I stiffen. “What do you mean?”
“The attack seemed rather senseless,” Gabe says. I turn to look at him, and I both sense and see his unease.
“I’ve seen The Darkness fight before,” he continues, “and this encounter was much less organized. Which begs the question: why would The Darkness levy an attack on one of the councils without a solid plan?”
I chew on the inside of my cheek. A thought comes to mind, making my stomach twist. “A distraction?”
Gabe nods. “Precisely. Hence, all of us decided you should not be left alone. Just in case.”
“Me?” My voice squeaks. “You think The Darkness decided to attack the Light Council so it could distract all of you and get to me?”
“We weren’t willing to take the chance,” Joseph says.
I can’t believe it. The whole idea seems like a stretch, but I’ve learned there is little point in arguing with The Fallen about my safety. They are all extremely motivated on that front.
I rub my eyes, feeling tired despite the fact I’ve done little more than lounge on a couch all day. “How did you two even get in here?”
“The ward allows us to enter.” I guess that isn’t really too surprising.
But I ask, “Won’t people have questions if they see Light Fallen waltzing into a flat inhabited by Dark Fallen?
“Speaking of which, why didn’t you guys announce yourself right as you came in? You nearly gave me a heart attack when you knocked and then decided to mosey on down the hallway without saying who you are.” I put my hands on my hips and look in between the two Fallen, doing my best to convey my disapproval. “I was ready to light you guys up before I knew it was you.”
They laugh, and I can’t help but crack a little smile as well. Damn them.
“Good,” Joseph says, still chuckling. “You should be ready to defend yourself at all times.”
“We weren’t sure if anyone else was in the flat,” Gabe explains. “We did a sweep before we called out to you.”
I raise an eyebrow. “You searched the whole flat?” I don’t comment that neither of them had ventured near my hiding place.
Gabe taps his forehead. “We searched for magical signatures, but we only detected yours.” He’s referencing the traces of a person’s powers. But I guess it’s more than that. Kind of like an aura, I guess. The guys say I should be able to sense angelic and demonic signatures soon, but I’m not convinced. After all, I’ve had access to all of my powers for several days now. All of the abilities which should have manifested on my eighteenth birthday are no longer blocked by a mental ward. I don’t understand why I’m still limited. Neither can the guys. Which is just my luck.
“I see.”
Gabe finally lowers his arms. Not knowing what else to do, I brush past Joseph and walk into the well-lit parlor. I go to the window, and I hear the Fallen sit on the couch behind me.
I give myself a few seconds before I turn around, lean against the glass, and meet their cautious expressions. “You’re sure they will be okay?”
“We wouldn’t have left them otherwise,” Joseph answers.
