Page 54 of Rejected Darkness

"Why did you go quiet? What's going on in the beautiful mind of yours? Scared?" he prompts, moving the tray off my lap and onto the floor before taking the seat beside me on the bed. "We don't need to discuss this now. Let's wait until you're feeling better."

"It's...," I stutter, trying to find the right words. "It's not that."

"Then what is it?" he asks, running his hand up and down my leg in a comforting gesture. He's doing it on top of the comforter, but I can still feel it.

"There are some things you need to know. Some developments in my life that I've found out before you make that decision to tie your soul to mine," I pause waiting for him to ask further questions if he wants. He sits there quietly and patiently looking at me and waiting for me to continue. "We already know that I'm destined to have multiple mates when the Divine connected my soul with yours and Mavericks. But what if I told you that I have a third?"

"How did you figure that out? I assume it's another student at the school?" he questions as his hand stops moving.

I want to tell him not to stop, but he has a right to do what he wants, especially when I drop this bombshell. "Yes. Umm, someone else may have done their mating ceremony test to determine if we were or not."

"How did you find someone other than Malach who is capable of completing that? Who is this other mate?" Each question he asks is oddly calm. I expected at least one sort of outburst, but he has remained calm. I'm really hoping that stays true when I tell him about Phoenix, but I'm not sure if he will. "Just rip the band-aid off, Arabella. Who is it?"

"Rhys did the testing. My other mate is Phoenix. He's a fallen angel, and their mating ceremony test is, well, a tad bit different from ours from what I gathered. He's a really great guy, and I know that it's weird having a fallen mate, but Talia said that it isn't uncommon. We all are the same species as it is. Only separated because the Seraphim Council declared it." I'm rambling, I know that I am, but I can't help it. I don't want Warrick to judge Phoenix before even considering the idea. I saw him tense up when I mentioned both Fallen. Now, I'm trying todo and say everything to keep him calm and just consider the idea. In the end, it is still my choice who I do and don't mate with, but it is also their choices, as well. I hope that Phoenix and Warrick can find a way to see eye to eye, but it's up to them. I can only do so much.

"Arabella," he sighs, shaking his head as he looks at me. I can hear it his voice, the disappointment, and worry. That was not the reaction I wanted but it was the one I expected.

"Just say it, Warrick" I answer with exasperation. "Like you said, just rip the band-aid off."

"Are you sure you can trust Rhys? I know Phoenix is a decent angel, he's done good in his classes and he talks during our mentoring sessions, but I'm not sure, Arabella. I've never heard about Angels and Fallen being mates." I can see the worry and indecision in his expression. He isn't completely shutting the idea down but he is unsure.

"Do you have your phone? You can ask Talia," I push, knowing that I'm right. I don't want to betray Talia's trust and tell him when she told me. It's her story, and who she tells is her choice, but I have a feeling that if the request was coming from me, she would most likely be okay with it.

Warrick shifts to his side, pulling his phone out of his pocket, and begins to pull up her contact information. "Are you sure?" he pauses, his finger hovering on the dial button. When I nod yes he hits the dial button, placing the call on speakerphone so we can both hear. The phone rings three times before Talia picks up.

"Hello, this is Councilwoman Talia. What can I do for you on this fine Saturday, Warrick?" she questions, sounding chipper. Much more chipper than I expected.

"Good afternoon, Councilwoman Talia. I'm sitting here with Arabella and she told me something interesting today, and insisted that I ask you if it's true," Warrick explains carefully. I noticed he didn't jump right out to ask the question, but I amglad that at least he told her I was here as well, which means that she has an idea of what this call is about.

"Ah, hello, Arabella. I'm assuming this call is about our talk the other day? More specifically about Angels and Fallen, am I correct?" she asks, directing the conversation to me.

"Yes, Talia. I didn't want to break your confidence and explain what I know," I answer, hoping she can tell how sorry I am about this coming up. It's still her choice if she wants to disclose her mating situation, but I think it would help a lot.

"I'm assuming, Warrick, that she told you that Angels and Fallen Angels can be mates?" she doesn't wait for him to answer before continuing. "Arabella is right. It is possible for that mating to occur, considering we are the same species. I'm mated to a Fallen myself."

"You are?" he gasps before covering his mouth and trying to backpedal. "I'm sorry that was rude of me to say that."

"No, I understand that is most people's reaction as well," she chuckles. "I'm not offended, don't worry. Just please listen to Arabella. I know it took a lot for her to come to grips with everything and to tell you about it. She only hinted at it to me, and I got the idea that she was scared and worried. Don't cause her any more worry, and just listen."

"Thank you, Talia," I call out before clicking the end button. "Do you believe me now?" I ask Warrick, looking at him and waiting for him to make a decision. I watch the different expressions across his face as he decides what to do and say next.

"Don't take this the wrong way, but it's going to take some time to wrap my head around this. I'm not saying no to anything. I would never say no to you. I'm just asking for time to get to know Phoenix as your mate and not just as my student. If you are willing to give me that?"

"I..." I stare at him in disbelief. I really thought that it was going to take a lot longer than that for him to make a decision.I never really took Warrick as the jealous type but he has always believed in the angels and what they stood for. If anything it feels as if he is accepting of this situation just a little more than I was prepared for. "You're not going to put up a fight at all?"

"I almost lost you once, Arabella. I'm not going to take that risk again. If this is what you want then this is what you can have. All I ask is give me a little time to adjust," he reaches forward to grasp both my hands in his before looking at me earnestly. "You are my world. If you want to bond your soul to Phoenix then okay."

"Well damn, okay," I chuckle, falling back against the pillows. "Just blow my mind here today," I continue laughing.

"Any other bombshells you want to drop on me before I leave?" he asks. I can't tell if he thinks there is or not but there is more to tell. If he took Phoenix being my mate this well, then maybe we will get lucky and he will handle the news that I have the same power as Lucifer. Maybe.

"So you know that power you noticed that I have but told me to basically never use because we weren't sure exactly how to use it?" I begin, not really sure how to drop this bombshell. There really is no good way to say this, I suppose.

"Let me guess, you figured out more about it?" he chuckles dryly.

"Something like that," I sigh, not wanting to do this but knowing I need to. "You know the journal my great-grandmother made sure that you go to me? Well, in it, I discovered what the power is and how to use it... sort of. I also found out that the power is passed down through bloodlines. I'm not sure how much to believe about the journal because I can't find any books to back it up."

"What's the power, and what bloodline does it come from?" he questions carefully, almost afraid of what answer I'm going to give him.

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