Page 19 of Dark Angel

Jordan looks sideways at his younger sister. “Very well. Matthew and Lewis should be here already.”

He watches her cheeks flush with colour like blooming roses. “I hope Alice is here. I need someone to practice with who will not make me look like a fool.”

“You are not a fool, Valarie.” Jordan says bluntly.

“I know that.” She pipes out. “I saidlikea fool. I never said Iwasthe fool.”

She hears him groan lowly. “You can practise with Daisy as well. I’m sure she will be here soon.”

Feeling his stiffness from where she’s walking, Valarie glances up at Jordan. She knows her brother better than anyone else in the world and can tell when something is bothering him. “What’s wrong Jordan?”

“Nothing for you to worry about, Val.” He says shortly, not wanting to speak about his internal problems with her. He’s never been one to share his issues with anyone else, including his sister. He likes being reserved in that way.

Valarie sighs louder than necessary, not bothering to push him anymore on what he’s so worried about. She already knows he’s not going to explain it to her, no matter how hard she presses him for it.

Matthew and Lewis stand at the top of the stairs on the third floor-the training and education level. Matthew’s familiar brown hair and wide grin is what Jordan first sees. Then Lewis. His black-framed glasses that somehow always look askew on his nose and thinner frame. He’s not skinny by any means, just a bit leaner than Matthew and Jordan. He’s more of the academic type, although he still knows his way around a dagger.

Valarie sucks in a breath when she sees the two of them in conversation. They turn their attention onto the two of them as his sister takes off, almost springing into Lewis’ outstretched arms. It’s quite improper for a young girl to embrace a male out of a social gathering when they aren’t courting, but Jordan can’t help but smile at his sister’s happiness.

“I missed you, Lewis.” Valarie gushes out loud enough for all of them to hear, but she doesn’t care. She’s been waiting to see Lewis again for months now. Missing the feeling of his body against hers, ofhis deep scent of parchment and ink. She’s missed feeling the heat that radiates from his flesh against her own.

A small noise of contentment escapes his throat as Lewis pulls her tighter into his embrace, arms fully enveloping her as if he’s wrapping her up like a parcel. “I missed you too, Val.” He murmurs quietly for only her to hear.

She vibrates inside with pure bliss.

Matthew sniffs in amusement as his grin grows into something mischievous. “Ain’t that the truth.” His voice is loud, interrupting their moment together. “Valarie, you should have seen how much he missed you last night. Nowthatwas a sight to see.”

The glare he receives from Lewis is glacial. His jaw locked with tightness and mouth pinched firmly, his expression shoutingdon’t you dare tell her,and Matthew just gives him an innocent wink in return.

“Why? What happened last night?” Valarie asks innocently, pulling herself from Lewis’ grip, waiting for Matthew to continue. Her innocent enlarged eyes are now more curious.

“Nothing!” Lewis shouts quickly before Matthew even has the chance to fill them in on his excessive drinking before he was sick all over Matthew on the walk home. Matthew visited Lewis on his way to the Ascendancy, forcing Lewis to scrub clean his favourite coat, which reeked of his sickness. Lewis gagged the whole time as Matthew hovered and waited until he deemed the coat clean again.

Valarie and Jordan both eye Lewis for some sort of explanation. Matthew grins widely, holding in a chuckle by biting the inside of his cheek. “It’s nothing. Nothing happened.” Lewis’ words directed more at Valarie than Jordan.

“Fine.” Valarie groans slowly, turning to her brother. “This Ascendancy makes the Oxford one look so… ordinary.”

“It does.” Agreeing with her. He’s still amazed at how much wealthier this place appears in comparison. Then again, London is much bigger than Oxford.

“Well, you are a Londinium now. You belong here,” Lewis says, taking her hand into his and squeezing it tightly, “come on, Alice is waiting to train with you.”

Valarie gives a noise of excitement as Lewis leads her away towards the training rooms set up along one side of the floor.

Matthew turns to Jordan, whose eyes are following his sister and Lewis like a hawk. Shining brightly like a calm summer ocean. “You know Lewis was so nervous about your sister coming to town, he got drunk last night.” Matthew tells him as soon as Lewis and Valarie are far enough away.

Jordan gives a small chuckle. “His is very smitten with my sister, that’s for sure.”

“That he is.” Matthew agrees with Jordan before continuing, “So, are you ready to train?”

“I hope you’ve been practising for our rematch, Matthew,” Jordan keeps a serious tone, “I won’t be going easy on you again like last time.” Mouth lifting into a half-smile.

Matthew sneers. “I think I’m still recovering from our previous training stint. You know it took me one week just to move my wrist again. You almost severed the bones. I had to keep it strapped for three days. We might heal faster than Mortals, but bones still take time to mend,” Matthew grumbles as they follow behind Valarie and Lewis.

Jordan gives a small laugh, “Well, I wasn’t the one who told you to jump off that crate. You almost broke your arm yourself. I was standing on the other side of the room when it happened, so you can’t blame me for your own stupidity.” Defending himself.

Matthew’s jaw opens, feigning offence, before patting Jordan’s shoulder. “Fine, I guess it wasn’t entirely your fault, then. But you should have stopped me.”

“You’re right,” Jordan deadpans, “next time I will read your mind like a Foreshadower, so I know what reckless move you are about to try, and stop you before you hurt yourself.”

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