Page 73 of Fallen Heirs

Miraculous.

Through all her pain, anger and desire for vengeance lately, all beyond justifiable after what had been done to her, what she’d been put through, I hadn’t seen it much from her… that which I’d first noticed about her when I’d drawn closer to her.

And there was the angel in her.

That care in the face of horrendous things.

That purity of heart.

She hid it behind a defensive and forthright approach, because she was definitely no fool, but that softer side was clearly still there, and strong at that.

It was what I’d thought about her months ago, what I’d admired about her.

More than that, it had given me faith that goodness could exist even when surrounded by badness and darkness.

She’d unknowingly given me hope.

And here she was doing that again, being so concerned for my father’s wellbeing to urgently warn me of the ramifications of attempting to wield celestial magic. Even though he’d kidnapped her and he was effectively intending to keep her here,andhe’d also taken her blood and magic to experiment on. Yet she could care about him like this, through all of that? Possibly, it could be because he wasmyfather, and her care was borne from that, wanting to spare him for me. Either way, it was still staggering and incredible of her.

“Thank you for the warning, but he’s aware it can’t be done safely. Despite his issues with your mother, he also spent time around her and studied her. He’s not using your blood and magic to attempt that. He wants to create a failsafe that would protect dark magical beings from your ability should you ever lose control.”

“A failsafe? Wow, can that even be done?”

“He believes it can be.”

I stared at her, absorbing her reaction to it all.

“There’s no anger, no indignation. What’s going on, Alena?”

She sighed and eased away from me, slumping against the pillows. “Taking that without asking me shows how fearful your father is about this whole thing. He clearly didn’t think I’d give it of my own free will and he knew it was the only way to run this experiment of his to try to fabricate a failsafe.Iknow what it’s like to be afraid of my power. You’re aware I spent years like that. I don’t want others afraid of it, afraid of me. I don’t want to hurt anyone—the exception being Constantine, of course—but Icould.Something might occur at some point that takes that option from me or supersedes my control. Knowing thathurtcould result in taking people’s magic from them, I can’t stomach it. Especially after what happened to Xavier. So if this is what needs to be done to put everyone at ease—and me—so be it.” She smiled out at me. “Besides, if we have people hunting me, how can the four of us build our futures together?”

I stared at her in awe.

And sadness. A whole lot of painful sadness.

“I’m so sorry it’s come to this, Alena.”

“It is what it is. And the good news, something we absolutely can’t take for granted right now, is that we’re all well. No matter what’s come at us, we’ve survived it. Through all of this, Orpheus. It counts for a lot.”

“My father wants to keep you here in the meantime.”

“I figured with the magical vacuum. Although, he has discounted my angelic strength. That doesn’t come from magic, it’s my physiology.”

“He hasn’t.”

She cocked an eyebrow.

“He knows he can overpower you. You’re Nephilim, not a pure celestial being like your mother was. The King of the Dark Fae possesses physical strength greater than yours, because of your human side.”

“Oh.” She eyed me curiously. “Your abilities rival his now, does that mean you do too?”

Yes.“It’s not something we’ll ever put to the test, so it doesn’t matter.”

I could see her urge to push it more, but then she shook her head to herself, thinking better of it. “You’re not afraid of my ability, are you? Xavier thought you would be when we first found out about it, and then Constantine had me believing you were too. But I see it now with the way you’ve been, the only fear you had for it was in regard to what it would do to me, how I’d be hunted from the fear of others.”

I reached out and cupped her cheek. “I love you, Alena. I could never be afraid of you.”

“Even though I could extinguish your magic, the thing you hold most dear?”

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