Page 20 of Fated Angel

Yes, you are destined to wield the power.

As quickly as it flares, Gabby dampens it. She locks every muscle in her body. She can’t lose control.

“A rescue mission?” Colt asks, glancing up as if he can see through the thick stone. “We thought all the guards were because of the obsidian.”

“It is,” the young man with the blond curls says. “The obsidian shard is here. The cult is using its power to keep a prisoner contained.”

Surprise shoots through Gabby. Whomever this prisoner is, they must have powerful magic to need the obsidian to contain them.

Colt crosses his arms, his gaze settling on the young man. “And who are you?”

He grins, the motion quick and easy, as if it comes naturally to him. “Marlowe. Nice to meet you.”

Gabby gasps. She knows that name!

“You’re nephilim! More than that, you’re the General’s son!”

Memories of the time they hiked through the jungle to find a magical, futuristic city hidden deep within rise in her mind. The General had given them the golden plates so they could decode the locations of the shards in exchange for finding his son, Marlowe. Without him, they wouldn’t be here.

And now Marlowe’s standing right in front of her.

He inclines his head. “Yes, that’s me.”

Gabby plants her hands on her hips. “Your father’s looking for you. He wants you back home.”

Marlowe shakes his head. “The nephilim have hidden themselves for far too long. We have a duty to help, not hide.” His gaze settles on Gabby. “The Archangel Gabriel contacted me. He’s the one who encouraged me to seek my destiny beyond our secret city. He knew it was time the nephilim joined the war on evil.”

“Of course that meddlesome archangel did,” Colt mutters.

Gabby doesn’t say anything, even as she wonders what her father was up to. He’s been meddling in these affairs for far longer than she realized, and far wider.

“Have you tried talking to your father?” she asks, deciding to focus on questions she’s far more likely to get answers to.

Marlowe looks away. “My destiny lies with the Order now.”

Gabby doesn’t push any more. She understands how complicated relationships between fathers and their children can be better than anyone. Instead, she softens her voice. “Can you at least contact him? Tell him you’re okay?”

Marlowe nods, letting out a sigh. For some reason, the somber expression looks out of place on his handsome face. “Yes, I can do that.”

Colt clears his throat. “So, you’re here to rescue this prisoner?” he asks, clearly keen to get the conversation back on track.

“Yep,” Kenna says. “Flew here the moment we heard this guy, Asher, had been taken.”

“Although I’ll be returning to Mercy City,” Marlowe adds. “My role here was to use my magic to help Kenna and some of the Knights enter the Lost City.”

Kenna nods. “We have reason to believe Vladimir is in Mercy City.”

Unease slithers up Gabby’s spine. Her family and friends are in Mercy City.

Marlowe steps past them, his face settling into a determined expression. “I left my home to help keep humanity safe, and that’s exactly what I’m going to do.”

“Be safe,” Kenna says, giving his hand a squeeze.

Marlowe shoots her a smile, then faces the stone wall at the entrance of the alcove. With a wave of his hand, he opens a swirling portal, steps through, and disappears. The portal closes, the wall as blank and innocuous as it was a moment ago.

Colt turns back to Kenna. “So, do you know who this prisoner is?” he asks, dogged as always. Gabby’s chest warms. Her demon is just as determined to save humanity, he just isn’t one to broadcast it.

Kenna shakes her head. “We’re not exactly sure. All we know is Asher’s not of this world.” The lines around her mouth tighten. “And he’s clearly important.”

---