AllFreeNovel
Share Us
In the few weeks since that day, I’ve been kidnapped more than once, attacked by demons several times, and taken from my home in Valley Lake to avoid more danger. Basically, my life has been a shit show.
“I knew asking Odette to place a Sorcerer’s Mark on you would constrain most of your powers,” Dina continues, “but I also believed it would mask you from being detected by our kind. I apologize my choice left you in danger. When I realized my error, I instructed Lukas to find Odette and have her remove the mark. I couldn’t leave you undefended.”
“But you did.” The words escape my lips before I make the decision to say them. “When you left me as an infant, you left me undefended.”
A stricken look crosses Dina’s flawless face. I feel a twinge of guilt, but I quickly shove the emotion aside. I’m not wrong. Dina’s choice to leave me at birth and muzzle my powers is the cause of most, if not all, of my problems. None of this would’ve happened if I’d been raised with other Fallen. Or at least raised by a Fallen.
I’m aware my dual-bloodline and the fact I’m a full-blooded angel marks me as unique. Hell, some, like Master Nate, consider me an abomination. But nothing will ever convince me Dina made the right choice by leaving me on my own. If it weren’t for the fact mybashertenknew of my existence, I would have died on my birthday without knowing anything.
“I understand your feelings, Veronica,” Dina murmurs. “And I am sorry to cause you pain. But there are many reasons why I did what I did, and I hope one day to share them with you. Unfortunately, there is another pressing matter at hand.”
More pressing than telling your daughter why you abandoned her?
The violent-loving creature within me yearns to challenge Dina. To demand she explain herself now. To tell her I won’t listen to another would she says without receiving a full confession of her choices.
I almost give the creature free-reign, but then I look at my Light Fallen.
Joseph and Gabe wear matching, sympathetic frowns. But the firm gleam in their eye tells me to hear Dina out.
Anger deflates. I lower my shoulders and stare at the ground, unable to meet my birth mother’s eye without the risk of renewing my resentment.
“Fine. Tell me. What’s so pressing?”
Dina doesn’t waste a moment. “The Darkness is spreading, Veronica. It’s growing stronger every minute of every day.”
Dread leaves a pit in my stomach. I look up. “I know.” The Darkness is the source of most of my problems. Coincidentally, it’s resurgence aligned with my birthday.
Dina nods. “Yes, yourbashertentold me you’re aware of the entity controlling demons. And how it came to be.”
“Somewhat,” I say. “But I’m sure there’s much I still need to learn.”
Again, my birth mother nods. “I am glad to hear it, Veronica. Very glad.” She lets the words hang in the air between us.
Awkwardness hovers overhead. I look at Gabe and Joseph. The don’t offer any reassurance.
“Is there a reason you’re telling me this?” I ask Dina, but my gaze bounces between my Light Fallen. They meet my eyes, but they say nothing.
“Yes, Veronica. This isn’t easy to say, but The Alliance has run out of options. Please know, if there were another way, I’d take it rather than involve you any further.”
The pit in my stomach grows. “Just say it.”
She inhales through her nostrils. “Veronica, you are in a unique position. Because of your heritage, you are one of few Fallen who can subdue the Darkness.”
The words bounce around in my mind before I make sense of them. “What? How?”
She swallows, and her eyes shine with regret as she says, “Because the Darkness is controlled by your birth father.”
Chapter 3
“What?”I look from Dina to mybasherten,waiting for one of them to tell me this is all some sick joke.
Their expressions reveal nothing except resignation.
It’s hard to breathe.
“I know this is a shock,” Dina says. She sounds far too composed for the bomb she just dropped on my life.
“You think?” I snap, unable to reign in the bratty response. My hands begin to tremble. I curl them into fists. “Please explain. What do you mean my birth father controls the Darkness?”
