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Luke looks back at me, appearing resigned. “I only know a portion of it. You know Heaven; they’re on a need-to-know basis and I am the devil, after all.”
I shake my head. “Just... out with it.”
He takes a steadying breath. “They claim that you’re the heir to the reaper kingdom.”
My head jerks back, surprise and shock at his mention of the reapers.
“Queen Camille’s missing daughter? They think that’s me?”
“They claim itisyou, love.”
All the information that River shared with me floods my mind and lands on one very troublesome piece.
I push it down, unwilling to even think it, for fear Luke is reading my thoughts.
His eyes narrow, confirming my suspicion.
“What are you hiding, Victoria?”
I roll my eyes, jumping from the bed and heading to my dresser to snatch something more suitable to wear.
“I’m not hiding anything,” I lie. “I figure we might as well get this conversation over with. I’m no reaper princess. You and I both know that.”
I pull out a pair of leathers and a black crop top, sliding the shirt over my head.
When I turn back to Luke, he’s fully dressed, hands in his pockets, rocking back on his feet. The pregnant silence causes my unease to grow.
“You believe it?” I ask, voice rising.
“Why would they lie about something like that, Victoria?”
“Why do they lie about anything? You and I both know that Heaven isn’t exactly altruistic.” I shake my head at hearing myself repeat something River had said. “I’m not a reaper. I’m an angel. I had wings to prove it.” I attempt a smile, but I can feel it’s all wrong.
“You’re nervous,” he says, coming to me and pulling me into a tight hug. “Whatever they have to say, I’ll be with you, Victoria. You won’t face it alone.”
My head tilts up. “Do you promise?”
“I promise.” Luke places a kiss on my forehead before pulling away. “There’s something I need to warn you about,” he says, looking at the wall behind me.
“What is it?” I press, when it seems like he’s not sure if he should actually say the words.
“Zeke’s here.”
An awkward tension fills the room. It isn’t about my past with him, but how our relationship ended... or rather didn’t.
“I see.”
“Will you be all right seeing him?” he asks, sounding hesitant.
“I’ll be fine, Luke. Zeke and I have some loose ends to tie up, that’s all.”
And that’s the truth. I don’t feel anything other than unfinished business where he’s concerned. Zeke might’ve lied to me, but in truth, it feels like ancient history.
Whatever we had was built from loneliness and despair. He filled a void and helped me forget how miserable I was. For that, I’ll always care about his well-being, but that’s it.
The only reason I’m angry is because he was in on my falling from Heaven and allowed me to suffer through what I thought were my consequences.
He could’ve been straight with me from the beginning and told me that my fall was for something bigger. Instead, he watched me break down for weeks.
