“You’ve said that already. Anyway, now that she has access to the power that will let her actually open the Abyss, she decided to become its queen by marrying Abaddon. And you’re entirely right. I was so caught up in the strange, confusing way I felt about them being together that I didn’t even think it could have been… forced.”
I clear my throat. This is a lot, and I need a goal to focus on. “Okay, so we go there and get her out.”
He scoffs. “Easier said than done. We can’t just sneak in and give her a ride home. Did you not get the part where her fiancé is literally the king of the sub-realm she’s staying in? ”
“No shit, really? You don’t say!” I mock surprise, then scowl. “I don’t care who the fuck he is. I’ll march right up to this Abyss of his and demand he let me see Kae. Then, I’ll convince her she needs to escape with me.”
“And if Abaddon decides to kill you?”
“Kae would never forgive him. If he knows her at all, he would know that’s a shit idea.” I shrug. “I’m aware of the risk. I’m still willing to betmy life on it. To get her out of there.”
Malak leans back, pondering. “You know, it’s incredibly stupid and reckless, but there’s a chance it might actually work.”
“Go on. I’m listening.”
“Well, archangels have an uncanny ability to tell when someone’s lying, so we lie by omission. We’ll base everything on partial truths. I’ll say the last thing Kae told me was that she was worried about you and wanted you safe, which is true. And the best way for me to ensure your safety is to get you off Earth, right? It’s plausible deniability.”
I’ll have to delve deep into Method Acting, but I think I can do it.
Besides, what do I really stand to lose? I’ll have to leave my mom and sister for a while, but they’re busy, anyway. And it’s nothing Kae hasn’t already done. The self-sacrificing little bitch must have known it’d be dangerous when she left; that’s the only reason she would have intentionally lied to me about it.
She really thought I could enjoy my boring, easy life while she’s out there risking hers for the whole world. Ha! I’m going to give her an earful for that when I see her again.
I lean towards Malak. “Yeah, and isn’t it sounfortunate how you accidentally mentioned Kaejustgot engaged? There’s no way I, as the ever-supportive best friend that I am, would let her get married without my help.”
“Yes. Brilliant. I’m fairly certain Abaddon will want their wedding as soon as possible, before the red horse arrives, so he can hurry up and crown her Queen. He even…” Malak suddenly loses his enthusiasm, clearing his throat. “He announced their engagement to everyone already.”
“Everyone?” I cross my arms, leveling him a glare that says, ‘Certainly not everyone if I didn’t know about it.’
His eyes shut. “Everyone inoursociety. Please, spare me the trouble of explaining angel bureaucracy today.”
Fine. All that’s important to me is getting Kae out of that abusive relationship, by whatever means necessary. I’ll cross the other bridges whenever I come to them.
“When do we leave, angel boy?”
37
Kae,
I’m pissed that nobody thought to inform me about your ENGAGEMENT… But no worries. A little birdie told me exactly where I can find you, and I’m on my way to help you plan the wedding.
Be sure to tell your fiancé that I can’t wait to meet him.
Literally.
— Jackie
KAE
Either angels carry superbug viruses, or someone in the war room tried to kill me.
My brain’s been absolutely fried. Abaddon told me that he had to carry me out of the meeting after I became delirious with fever, but I don’t remember it. I think the fever might have even caused brain damage, because the whole day is a black hole for me. And I missed alot.
Abaddon and I came up with a plan to fake our engagement to give me the protections of being a literal fucking queen, Dusk decided to go start World War III, and the Profuga are working for the Council now.
No big deal.
I was stuck in bed, violently ill, all day yesterday. Thank God, the healers seemed to have figured out a cure for it overnight. They probably could have done it on the first night, but I digress. I feel miraculously renewed this morning, and that’s all that matters. Well, I’malso completely convinced that Raphael is hoarding enough medical knowledge to cure all human illnesses, but I’ll have to pick that fight with him later.
