Total pages in book: 30
Estimated words: 29328 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 147(@200wpm)___ 117(@250wpm)___ 98(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 29328 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 147(@200wpm)___ 117(@250wpm)___ 98(@300wpm)
“Will he die?” she asks seconds later.
I don’t admit the fear, so I merely answer her. “Fear is not welcome here.” Then I wave my hand over her face and snap my fingers. “Sleep.”
I know it’s wrong to use my power on her, but she’s pregnant, exhausted, and she’ll worry.
Yet again, I suddenly miss my father, his wisdom, the way he looked at things. I cannot imagine walking through life, seeing all the choices people can make, and watching them make the wrong ones over and over again.
But now I know.
Because the minute Tarek started working at that bar, and the minute the girl he held hands with so many years ago saw him...
His fate was sealed. And so was hers.
I grab one of my purple feathers and flick it into the air. “I hope you know what you’re doing, Creator.”
It was silent for several minutes before a childlike voice whispered. “I always do.”
Chapter Ten
Tarek
It was a fever dream. I was hot, sweaty, exhausted, and sticky with blood, and she was on me, breathing heavily, sighing against my chest.
Maybe by way of sex, this was always my journey.
Death by sex.
Wow, the things they could have taught me in elementary school. Ha. I’m delirious. I know I don’t have much time left. My eyes roll to the back of my head as I pass out into more dreams, ones I hate, yet ones I feel I need to see before I go.
Ones of my past.
Reminding me I have no future.
“Eva!” Cassius’s voice was thick with emotion as he held nothing but dust in his hands. Like diamonds, the glittery particles spread in a perfect circle around his body. His head was hung, his shoulders tense.
Sariel stood behind him, looking just as menacing as ever. Then he disappeared, leaving Cassius alone.
I’d never seen a Dark One cry. Didn’t know they were capable of it. Ever since my birth, I’d had trouble even conjuring up watery eyes. Although I felt sadness, I couldn’t express it.
The voice in my head narrating the vision was male, familiar. Was it Alex? Someone else? Them? Was it someone else, or was I really just so delirious I was making things up?
Cassius was wrapped in a type of red toga, a sword at his side. He slowly pulled it from its silver casing and held it out in front of him.
I could feel pain all over me just hearing the voice narrate—like nails running down a chalkboard over and over again.
“Don’t.” Ethan appeared in front of Cassius. “Put the sword down, brother.”
“She’s gone,” Cassius whispered. “I have nothing left.”
“You have Alex,” Ethan joked. “He’s like a two-year-old. He needs guidance. You know how new he is.”
Cassius continued to stare at the long sword. “I want to forget the pain.”
“You’ll go dark if you do, Cassius. You know this. Forgetting emotions isn’t human.”
“I’m not human!” Cassius spat. “I’m an angel!” He stood to his full height, his body shimmering with iridescent white and purple hues as he called upon his angel blood, pushing the humanity so far away that it hurt my eyes to look at him. Snow fell in the spot over his head. “I am to be worshipped!”
“Brother…” Ethan’s voice was still calm. “You are Fallen.”
As if a reminder of what he would never be, wings appeared at Cassius’s sides, but they were completely black.
And dripping with blood.
As the storm increased, what had once been bright turned so dark I stumbled backward.
Cassius’s eyes went black, too, his teeth elongating into fangs before his body grew another foot.
“Evil and good always did have a problem coexisting,” Ethan said in a bored tone. “Come back, brother…killing yourself is not the answer, for you will lose your soul and become your greatest nightmare. Meaning one of us will eventually have to kill you, and I’ve hunted enough friends. Don’t make me hunt my family.”
Cassius fell to his knees, the diamonds of dust bursting into the air. He lifted his hand and caught a few particles, pressing them to his heart. “So I never forget the pain of remembering.”
“Pain,” Ethan answered just as Mason appeared, sword raised, “isn’t reserved for mere humans. It’s for everything in Creation. It would not be fair if we never experienced it.”
“I don’t want to feel.” Cassius stood, sheathing his sword and facing both men. “I refuse it.”
Mason looked unsure of what to say, but Ethan nodded. “One day, you will regret that choice. And I do hope I’m still alive to see it.”
I jerk awake.
How many hours have gone by? And why did Cassius kill the one he loved? I knew he had a tragic past, but why would he become Fallen? I can’t even rub my blurry eyes; all I can do is exist with a beautiful woman destined to kill me on my chest and the need for food.