I know I should keep resting and rehydrating, but by the time the afternoon rolls around, I’m bored out of my mind. Plus, I’ve been dying to test out my new gear. So I take a shower, sneak down to the training yard, and begin to slice into some meat sack dummies.
Tumultuari cuts through them like they’re butter, while my cloak adapts to my every move. It’s light as a feather, keeping me at the perfect internal temperature. Hell, I should have put it on when I had a fever!
Unfortunately, I only last about an hour or two before the dehydration has me feeling dizzy. Loading up on some electrolyte drinks, I head to a quiet place just outside the training arena, and I sit down with Tumultuari in my lap.
When I concentrate hard enough, I can feel it channeling the Aether through me. Following the path to it, though, is nearly impossible. There doesn’t seem to be any specific bridge. It’s more like the entire sky is the Aether, and I’m futilely trying to squeeze clouds for a drop of rain.
My focus is rudely interrupted when Abaddon lands next to me out of nowhere, so hard that the earth indents.
I look up at him, confused, finding that his face is wrought with fury. Surely he’s notthatmad I’m back to training.
“Uh… is everything okay?”
“We have a problem.” He jabs a piece of paper out to me, and I grab it hesitantly. Within seconds of unfolding it, I read the short letter, and my stomach instantly sours.
“You’re reading my letters?”
He blinks. “Oh? Were you going to hide it from me? That wouldn’t work very well when your human friend shows up at the gates. If she even made it there. Both the Adversaryorthe Elohim could have grabbed her the moment she suspiciously landed in Israel.”
I can feel his fury coming to a boil, and I instinctively grab the hilt ofmy blade for comfort.
“Look, I don’t know how the hell Jackie found out about our engagement, and I certainly didn’tinviteher here, if that’s what you’re implying. Maybe it’s a trap of some sort.” I glance back down at the note, thinking about whoever tried to roast me in the war room. The Adversary could have had spies in there, for all I know. “She always types her letter, so if someone was trying to lure me out, they wouldn’t even have to fake her chicken scratch handwriting.”
He closes his eyes, taking a simmering breath. “You’re not lying.”
“Of course I’m not. And you should really learn to trust me, rather than doing your weird angel lie-detector thing.”
“I’m sorry, Kae,” he sighs, looking at me with a pensive expression. “I shouldn’t have assumed this was your doing. Clearly, this is the work of the Messenger. You didn’t see him when he was leaving—he was out of his mind with jealousy, given our engagement. But to risk your best friend by bringing her here, amid the hostile takeover going on just outside the gate… It’s reckless, even for him.”
I feel that like a punch to the gut.Of courseit’s Malak. I spoke to him about Jackie all the time. Hell, he probably even thinks he’s doing me a favor by bringing her here. As if that could win me over!
“I can’t believe him.” I shake my head, sheathing my dagger. “I thought he was upset about us, after the kiss and all, but this is so out of line. He’s going to get her killed.”
“Don’t worry, my love.” Abaddon holds out his hand to me, offering to help me off the ground. “I promise you, I will make sure Jackie is safe.”
After slipping my dagger in my pocket, I take his hand, rising to my feet. But I don’t let go of it. I pull him towards me, looking him in the eyes, searching for answers. “Do you?”
“Do I what?”
“You keep calling me your love. Do you really…love… me?”
“I…” He stumbles in surprise before quickly collecting himself. “Yes, Kae. I do. I love you more than Heaven and Earth and everything between. You are my sun, and I am hopelessly caught in your orbit. I hope that doesn’t frighten you.”
“No. That doesn’t scare me, Abaddon. The only thing that scares me is what’s going to happen to my family—especially Jackie. If she doesn’t already know the truth, she’s close to it. She’s not going to stop looking for me. It’s dangerous out there, and…” I swallow, my heart pounding in my chest. My words feel like bile, but I still force myself to say them. “And I could really use her here for the wedding.”
A slow, ecstatic smile spreads over Abaddon’s face. I’ve never seen him so happy. “Are you saying you want the wedding?”
I can’t lie to him, so I find some truth in it. I genuinely think it’s the best option I have right now, so in that way… “Yes.”
It’s sudden, yes, but his loyalty has never wavered. He’s not perfect, but who is? The world is ending. Abaddon is a powerful partner to have, and he can help me keep Jackie safe. I don’t like it right now, but I’ll find a way to live with it.
I want to leave it at that and move on, but Abaddon clearly doesn’t. He quickly closes the distance between us, cupping my face in his hands. I can feel his emotions soaring into me, overruling all of my own?—
“I do love you, Kae,” he whispers. I feel every bit of his joy, desire, and the obsession he thinks is love. It’s all I can feel. “I love you more than anyone has loved a woman before. If your friend is what you need to feel at home here, then I’ll give her to you on a silver platter.”
Suddenly, his lips are on mine, and I’ve lost myself.
He’s like a drug, intoxicating me with the best kind of high.
