Page 98 of Frosted Torment

I almost crumpled at the sight of them, but what was worse, I had to tell everyone that Lex didn’t make it back with us because Vincent killed him. I looked around and noticed Father O’Neil wasn’t there.

“Where’s the priest?” I asked with a nervous hitch in my throat, wishing he was available for support.

“He’s up at the bunkhouse with a few of the other angels,” Nakoma said. He planted a soft kiss on Jossy’s lips, then squeezed his shoulder as he turned back to me, his dark eyes dancing. “It’s good to see you, Noa, but I should get back to O’Neil.”

“Nakoma, wait,” I urged, and my eyes met Ena’s, full of agony for her. “It’s about Lex.”

Ena’s grip slackened, and the walkie-talkie slipped from her hand, clattering to the floor as her lips began to quiver. I thrustDust Bunny into Vallen’s arms and sprinted toward Ena, my heart pounding as I wrapped my arms around her, feeling her shaky breaths against my chest.

“I’m so sorry, Ena,” I sobbed, my voice trembling along with hers as her arms fell limp at her sides.

“Lex?” Jossy shook his head slowly as if trying to clear a fog. “Where is he, Noa?”

As I guided Ena to sit on Baz’s bed, Vallen replied, “Vincent... Vincent killed him.”

I grabbed a tissue from the small bedside table and handed it to Ena. My hands were shaking as I spoke softly, “He ambushed us during our escape from the cave... they threw him back inside.”

Ena doubled over, clutching her stomach with such force that it seemed she might tear herself apart. Her wails pierced the air. “No! Please!”

“I’m so sorry,” I begged as my voice cracked under the weight of guilt that felt like an anchor around my neck.

“We’ll gather a team to retrieve Lex’s body when it’s safe,” Nakoma said softly, gripping Jossy’s hand tightly, planting them both in reality.

“I’m still in shock,” I murmured, my mind reeling and vision blurring slightly as I stroked Ena’s back.

Nevaeh walked out of the tent, but quickly returned with a burlap sack. Uncertain of how she felt, I knew she loved Lex. We all did, but the look on her face was one of fury. She pointed at Vallen to secure Dust Bunny in the bag for safekeeping, then handed me the sack. With an air hole up top for her to breathe, it gave me time to find a crate for her later.

“We finish this now,” Nevaeh stated as she grabbed Dawson’s arm and left the tent.

Ena’s breath trembled as she sat next to me, her eyes full of curiosity. “Can you... tell us what happened out there?”

I tucked my hair behind my ears and sat Dust Bunny behind me, then stared at my fingers for what seemed like an eternity. “The three of us found Vallen,” my breath caught when I thought about Baz, and I hesitated. “The bracelet helped, but once we were out of the cave, all hell broke loose,” I revealed sadly. “I’m guessing it was the same for you.”

Jossy nodded as he took a seat across from me and rubbed one hand down his face. “We had maybe a two-minute warning from the wolves. We tried to reach you, but couldn’t get through.”

“The cave prevented communication to the outside,” Vallen added as his gaze fell on me. “It was warded by angelic runes.”

“That demon burned our house down and took over our land,” Nevaeh announced as she strode back into the tent, her voice laced with anger. “They can stand on it now.”

My head turned toward Vallen. “Do you think it’s because your essence no longer feeds the tree?” I asked.

He nodded with a sigh and confirmed, “Just another reason Vincent wanted to find the bracelet and kill me.” Then he added, “No one knows how many angels he’s turned for this fight, but the portal is closed. They’re free to wander the grounds.”

My brows furrowed at Vallen, and I asked, “What does that mean for the ceremony and getting the secrets back to the Veil?”

Vallen glanced at the ground, then back at me. “WhateverVincent told you was all lies,” he sighed. “I’m the portal for the secrets to return.”

“Oh,” I said, my eyes wide. “That’s what you meant by us going together.”

“You want to do that, Noa?” Jossy interjected as he leaned against the table in the middle of the room. “You’re just going to let him take the secrets and die?”

“We have to stop them, Jossy,” I demanded. I prayed my anger would finally get through to him. “Ivy was beaten into oblivion and tossed into my bathtub like trash.” I tucked my knees up under my arms and pulled at my hair. “You saw her skeleton, but you didn’t see her before she died. That fucker sawed off her wings!”

Jossy’s jaw twitched, and a storm began to rage in the depths of his blue eyes. “Vincent is closer to becoming a demon and not just a dark fallen one,” Jossy admitted, his tone sounding as though he regretted following Vincent for so long.

Vallen arched a brow and reminded us, “He and Maros will come for Noa and that bracelet. They’re not done, and they’re gathering their forces as we speak.”

I pointed a finger at Vallen as my eyes flashed to his. “That’s right,” I said, my eyes wide. “You and Vincent mentioned something about the bracelet needing the essence of an angel and someone from my ancestral line.”

---