Page 3 of Dark Angel

The trip from Oxford to London will take a few hours. Valarie, of course, bought a book along to read-she’s rarely seen without one in her hands. She adores reading any Mortal book on love and friendship.

Jordan had every intention of sleeping the entire ride, avoiding bland, forced conversations with his family. His eyes close lightly,leaning his head against his hand, hoping to catch some rest, but that dream ends almost instantly.

“How do you both feel about moving back to London?” Josephine asks her children.

Jordan opens one eye before groaning and sitting up again to give her his attention. Their mother sits happily with her hands tucked in her lap. She has the sort of smile that makes everyone happy. It’s inviting and soft, much like her personality.

Valarie peers up from her book with a massive grin, golden-red hair curled down her shoulders. “I have a feeling this is going to be magical. And I do miss Daisy and Alice,” She squeals in excitement, “Hazel Stuurman told me that the London Ascendancy is absolutely remarkable. Do you think their library is bigger than the one in Oxford?”

“Oh, it is most definitely bigger.” Josephine chimes and Valarie’s grin widens so much her teeth are all on display.

Jordan glances sideways at his sister’s youthful face, lit with enthusiasm and anticipation. Freckles dotting her forehead and button nose lightly like tiny painted spots, her cheeks flushed pink with eagerness. Deep, gleaming sapphire eyes like gemstones.

His mother looks from Valarie to him for a response. “It will be nice to see Matthew and Lewis again,” Jordan mutters.

Josephine gives him a small, encouraging smile. “I am sure they miss you as well, dear. I know Oxford was quiet for the two of you, but you will make so many friends in London.” Reassuring both of them. “You both know I grew up in Southampton, which was rather small when I was young. Your grandfather moved us to London when I was a child, and it was the best thing for us. That is where I met your father as well.”

Tobias gives a small wink to Josephine, whose cheeks widen in response. “Nowthatis a story.” His masculine voice booms through a chuckle, his hand coming over to cover Josephine’s in her lap and squeezing gently.

“Do tell us!” Valarie squeals again and Jordan allows his head to fall back against the leather seat, rolling his turquoise eyes. His light blonde hair waving gently in the breeze gliding through the window left ajar. He’s heard this story repeated too many times. So has Valarie, but she is a hopeless romantic, unlike him.

Tobias laughs a little more before clearing his throat, “Well. It all started in the street one night when your mother and her best friend, Tessa, were stuck in the middle of an Infernal attack. I still remember seeing Josephine for the first time at the ball. I was too afraid to approach such a beautiful-looking girl. Tessa tried to convince me to talk with her, but I didn’t have the guts to,” he pauses, his pale blue eyes flicking to Josephine’s stormy grey ones momentarily before continuing smugly, “so when Stefan and I saw them under attack, we thought we should come and rescue them both. I ran into the attack just in time to save your mother from being sliced in half-”

His voice rises dramatically as Josephine cuts him off, “It was not in half.Don’t exaggerate Tobias. I was perfectlyfinehandling the situation myself beforeyouswooped in.” She says with a giggle in her voice that causes Jordan’s spine to shiver uncomfortably. He’s never heard that sound escape his mother before, and he’s not sure he’s fond of it.

Tobias gives her a playful look while adding proudly, “Well, she was about to be poisoned by Infernal essence, so I saved her with my blade.”

Valarie covers her mouth with her hands as she listens intently to his recount, completely enthralled. “And then what?”

Jordan can’t help but groan with boredom.

“Stefan and I killed the rest of the Infernals, and your mother and Tessa were so grateful. I remember she kissed my cheek as a thank you, and that is where it all began.”

Valarie gasps with a grin. “That is so romantic.”

“A little too romantic for my liking…” Jordan murmurs sourly.

Josephine and Tobias both glare at their son while Valarie gushes over her parents. “That is a beautiful story. And stop it, Jordan. You just don’t find it romantic because you have no feelings in that icy heart of yours.” Valarie gives him a hard look. “You just haven’t met the right girl yet.”

“Ugh.” Jordan groans louder this time and closes his eyes, resting his head against the upholstery and praying to the Angels he can get some sleep.

He doesn’t want to have this conversation with them again.

Jordan hears on a weekly basis how he’s at the age of finding a girl to wed, but he’s never found any girl intriguing enough for him to court. Oxford also didn’t have a wide selection to choose from, which didn’t help. Every eligible girl seemed annoying to him, gushing over Jordan because of his family’s status and handsome looks, never wanting to know who Jordan really was at his core.

It’s not as though he detests love. It’s that no girl has interested him before.

The three-hour ride seems to drag on, with Jordan just nodding off, only to be woken immediately by a bump in the road or his parents speaking. They seem to be talking about anything and everything, making Jordan more irritated by the minute.

Smaller houses begin to appear on either side of the glass. Valarie presses her nose against the window, her soft lips separating in awe.

Jordan glances at the white and brown cottages lining the road. Small, tended gardens decorate the fronts, and chimneys puff light grey smoke lazily into the air. Children play out in the street and adults promenade together as their coach rolls by.

Each street they turn down, the manors begin to grow larger and more extravagant the closer they near the heart of the city.

Jordan immediately notices how many more people and carriages there are in London. The city is alive with life and energy. Sounds of yelling and laughter resonate along the road as they pause in traffic.Full, gorgeous trees sprinkled with falling leaves shading them from the gloomy weather.

Passing St. James Park, hazy sunlight streams in through the sparing branches as children play with balls and hoops underneath. Crunchy leaves blanket the ground. A large still lake sits in the middle, and weathered statues of past Mortal royalty decorate the area.

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