Page 21 of Frosted Torment

Jossy shut his eyes and released a heavy exhale. “Must you always create drama, Lex?”

“Oh, I’m sorry, but we’re in the middle of a demon ambush and, if you don’t spit it out, one of us will. We have no more time to waste,” Lex reminded his brother. “But it’s better if it comes from you. At least you can get clemency from Vincent and the Church.”

My eyes darted between them as they argued, but Ivygripped my hand with reassurance. “It’s okay,” she whispered. “This is nothing. You should see them when they bust out their wings.”

I cocked my head to the side with furrowed brows. “Wings?”

She covered her mouth with a sly smile and raised brows. “Oops.”

“What the hell, Ivy?” Jossy said through gritted teeth, his jaw clenched.

She planted her foot and crossed her arms. “I told you before, I’m done waiting.”

A rumbling growl vibrated in Lex’s chest. “Does free will mean nothing to you anymore, little sister?”

“I’m expediting this so we can proceed.” She gestured to me with one hand. “Noa still has the choice to unravel it herself and decide.”

I retreated from Ivy and tugged at my hair in frustration. “You said I slaughtered a Baneful, which was also a demon.” I pointed at Ivy, and she nodded, a delighted grin spreading across her face. “You also said Jossy and Lex have wings.”

“Yes.” An ecstatic smile lit up her face, and she winked. “As do I.”

I could feel a lump form in my throat as I nodded. “Go on, Jossy.”

Jossy’s piercing blue eyes met mine as he studied my expression before he spoke again. “Right.” He closed his eyes and regrouped his thoughts. “If you connect the pieces, I wouldn’t need to ask for forgiveness from our superiors. We’re not supposed to interfere with free will.” He shot furious glares at Ivy. “Some of us take the punishment no matter what.”

A smug look crossed her face. “I’m better off for it, brother. And stronger.”

I finally voiced the question that had been nagging at me. “Are you the good guys?” I asked.

“As good as it gets for our kind,” offered Lex.

Somewhere deep down I knew. It was always there, but I refused to acknowledge it because of our friendship. And now, facing it head-on was terrifying. They were wonderful, smart, and unbearably beautiful. They showed me endless love and welcomed me into their world and family as one of their own.

“The thing is, Noa,” Lex continued, his voice steady. “When we first met you, we weren’t certain you were the one we were looking for. Then, after your mom’s death, we couldn’t track you anymore.”

“Track me?” I echoed, disbelief twisting my features. The very notion peppered my skin with goosebumps. I scanned the area for unseen eyes lurking in the shadows.

“Humans put off an energy like a locator beacon,” he explained, jerking his thumb toward his sister. “Yours vanished nine years ago. It wasn’t until Ivy here,” —he gestured with exaggerated air quotes— “sped things up on your birthday.”

“That demon sensed me.” I scratched my head as I shook it and pulled a leaf from the tangled strands.

Jossy made a steeple of his fingers and added, “Your psychic reading flipped the switch. We sensed you leaving the apartment last night and followed you.”

My eyelids twitched at the intrusion of my privacy. “That’s... disturbingly intrusive,” I managed.

“We’re supernatural beings,” Ivy interjected, tapping her foot with an edge of annoyance.

“I get it. Powers. Wings. You’re angels,” I said without hesitation.

“And we fell on purpose,” added Lex, his expression hardening as he spoke.

My eyes widened in shock. “Why would you do that?”

Lex raked his hands through his hair, fingers tangling in the tousled strands. “For you.”

“Me?” I whispered. The weight of what I had stumbled into pressed down on me. “But I thought fallen angels were demons?”

“Demons are different.” Ivy’s voice cut through the thick fog of confusion enveloping me. She leaned forward, her eyes fierce. “They’re pure evil souls of humans who never believed in the afterlife. They did horrendous things and died wanting to do even more. Once they realize there is a hell, they get their chance.”

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