Page 78 of Dark Angel

Kora takes a hold of Daisy’s hand before she can go off with Clarence alone. “Is something wrong, Daisy? You’ve been quiet all day.”

Her friend shakes her head. She’s normally energetic and talkative, but since the ball, she’s been quieter and more reserved. “I just haven’t slept well recently. But I will be fine. It’s nothing your pretty little head needs to worry about.”

Kora’s lips purse at her. “You’d tell me if something was going on, right?” She doesn’t know why she feels as though Daisy is hiding something from her.

Daisy nods in response. “Of course I would.”

She lets go of her, and Daisy drifts over to Clarence, who is standing down near the torches. The smile he gives Daisy as she approaches makes Kora’s beating heart settle.

Mortals and Marked kinds crowd the water’s edge, but the group sits back in the darkness, overlooking the festivities from afar.

They stay in silence for a moment, taking in the ambience of the festival, before Jordan sits down beside Kora, her hazel eyes deeper in the overcast light. “Did you go down to the docks?” He asks finally.

She nods at him, looking around nervously.

Before he can react, she reaches out, taking his hand in hers and pulling him to his feet. “We can’t talk about this here. I can’t afford to have the others overhearing.” And she pulls him away from the group towards the gravel path that encircles the lake.

There are other couples promenading around them, but thankfully they’re all well out of hearing range. Most of the liveliness from the festival drowns out their conversation.

Kora drops his hand once they’re walking beside each other, realising she’s still holding onto it.

Jordan wasn’t going to complain, though. In fact, he actually likes her touch on him. He’s never wanted any girl’s hand in his own, but Kora’s feels like it belongs there.

They walk so close to each other that Jordan can feel her energy radiating off her in waves of heat.

“I spoke to an Augur yesterday like you suggested,” she begins, her voice soft, “she told me I’m what they call a Pure Angel.”

“Pure Angel?” Jordan repeats, confirming the words with her.

She nods. “I have never heard of it either. It means I have Archangel blood in me. Uriel’s blood.”

“How? When?” Jordan lets out. Confusion clouding his brain.

“When I was an infant, my mother was visited by Lucifer, the Dark Angel. I think he took the soul of my brother and Uriel saved mine. I don’t know why, but that’s what I could make out from my vision. His soul was made dark, and mine was saved by Uriel.” She retells him what she had heard from Scarlett.

“You mean...”

Jordan’s hands ball into fists, and he glares over at Clarence. He goes to move when Kora grabs a hold of his arm, “No! Not Clarence!”

The look he gives her is a mixture of confusion and rage. “Who then? Heisyour brother.”

“I have a twin,” she tells him quickly. “Ihada twin brother, Colton, who was given to the Dark Angels. I have no idea why they wanted him, but they got him, and I presume he’s dead.”

“You are a twin!” Jordan exclaims.

Kora clamps down her jaw. “Yes.” Her teeth gritted. “But nobody knows, besides Clarence.”

“So, Clarence only just found out as well?”

“No,” she admits, avoiding Jordan’s glares for information, “he knew of Colton all this time, but our parents told him he died from an illness as an infant. He didn’t think it was worth me knowing.”

Jordan gives an exhale, “So your twin brother is demonic, wellwasI should say. You were saved by Uriel, and his blood runs through your veins. I wonder why your mother is caught up in all of this.”

“Yes, I have thought about that as well. The only people I think who might have an idea is your parents.”

“My parents?” Jordan’s blue eyes widen at her own.

She nods slowly. “Your parents were the closest to mine. They might know more about the situation. My uncle Will also might know, but surely, he would have said something by now.”

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