Page 67 of Trust the Fall

“She’s the reaper princess,” Luke says without fanfare, “his betrothed.” He never once looks in my direction.

River says something, but I don’t hear a word of it. I’m too focused on the cold, detached iciness coming from Luke. I’ve witnessed it before, the night he left me on Earth.

He’s pulling away again, and that truth breaks me a little.

“Luke,” I call out, but he’s already retreating, with a gloating Lilith by his side.

“Victoria,” River says, but I ignore him. “Victoria.”

“What?” I snap, pissed beyond reason that he knew all this time and never said a damn word.

“I’ve been calling your name. Are you all right?”

I lift my chin. “No. You liar.”

He sighs. “I didn’t lie. I had to keep it to myself, what with all the demons lining up to get in your head around here. I couldn’t risk Nolda finding out and keeping you locked up.

I suck air in through my teeth, attempting to rein in my temper. “It doesn’t matter. You knowing doesn’t change anything.”

“Which is why I have to ask again... are you all right?”

“Do I look all right?” I sound like a lunatic, but who wouldn’t, with all the lies and half truths?

He purses his lips. “You look like hell, but I didn’t think now was a great time to tell you so.”

“Asshole.”

“I’m glad to see you haven’t lost that fire.”

He chuckles, but I don’t say anything. I’m tired and sad. Lilith only just started her games and so far, it’s Lilith: one; me: zero.

“Care to fill me in on what’s going on?”

Inhale.

Exhale.

“That bitch is playing games and causing issues.”

“I’m not asking about Lilith, Victoria.”

I sigh. “The archangel Michael was the one who broke the news about me being the reaper princess.”

River narrows his eyes. “Michael told you this?” I nod. “How does he know?”

“He claims he’s my father.”

River staggers backward. “Michael and Camille? It... makes sense.”

“Don’t say that,” I beg. “This... it isn’t right. I’m not.”

“You are,” River says with no trace of doubt. “I see it. I always have. It all makes sense.”

“What makes sense?”

“Why the queen wanted me here. Why I felt compelled to stay. It’s you. I see it now,” he repeats. “My... attraction.”

I shake my head violently. “Stop. Please. River we can’t go there.”

“I need to take you to Camille, now,” he says, ignoring my refusals. “She’ll want to make plans right away.”

“I’m not going, River,” I say, raising my voice to snap him out of it. “Just stop.”

His head jerks back and his eyes squint, as though he doesn’t understand me. “Why wouldn’t you want to go home? You’re to be queen, Victoria.”

“I don’t give a shit about any of that. It’s not my life, River. I don’t want it.”

“You might not have a choice. If the angels are involved, it’s willed not only by the reaper kingdom, but by Heaven. Are you prepared to go on the run?”

And that’s the million-dollar question. If I resist, what happens?

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