Page 46 of Her Fallen Angel

Their skeptical looks burn into my back as I stalk away. I should send her far from here. Should tear out this weakness before it roots deeper. A warrior can't afford attachments, especially to a human.

But the thought of anyone else touching her, commanding her, hearing her prayers... Blood pounds in my ears. My magic responds, crackling along my skin as possessiveness wars with logic.

I'll send her away. Tomorrow. Or the next day. When I'm stronger. When I can bear the thought of my little flame burning for someone else.

The lie settles heavy in my chest as I head out of the compound, already seeking her presence like an addict chasing his next fix.

24

ARENWEN

Irun the oiled cloth along the curve of Kai's sword, watching the metal gleam in the afternoon light streaming through the windows. The repetitive motion soothes me as I work through his impressive collection of blades. Each weapon holds its own story - nicks and scratches from countless battles that I've learned to read like scripture.

The creak of floorboards behind me breaks my concentration. I whirl around, the sword clattering to the ground.

"Gabriel?" My heart pounds against my ribs. He stands in the doorway, his blonde hair matted and his clothes covered in dirt. Fresh cuts mark his arms, testament to whatever ordeal brought him here.

"Aren." His warm brown eyes fill with relief as he crosses the room in three long strides. "Thank the gods. We've been searching everywhere for you."

I step back, my hand brushing against the fallen sword. "How did you?—"

"I told you I was coming. Didn't you get my note?"

I'm in shock. "Didn't you get mine?"

"I did, but-" He shakes his head, clearly not wanting to get into it with me right now. Instead, he reaches for my arm but I pull away. "We need to leave. Now."

The Gabriel before me is exactly as I remember - protective, determined, ready to sacrifice everything. But something feels different. Wrong. Where once his presence brought comfort, now it feels like an intrusion.

"I can't." The words slip out before I can stop them.

His face hardens. "What do you mean you can't? Has he hurt you? Threatened you?"

I shake my head, struggling to explain the inexplicable. How I've grown to want him, to enjoy his darkness. The way Kai's presence fills every room like smoke, something I crave. The strange comfort I find in serving him.

"You don't understand. Things are different now."

"Different?" Gabriel's voice cracks. "Aren, these creatures ripped us away from our home. Killed and hurt our people. How can you?—"

"Because this is where I belong now." I straighten my spine, meeting his gaze. The life he represents - hiding in temples, living in fear - feels distant and hollow compared to the sharp-edged reality I've found with Kai.

Gabriel's expression shifts from confusion to horror. "What has he done to you?"

I shake my head. "He hasn't done anything. I just…This is where I should be."

But he just shakes his head. He clearly thinks I have some kind of spell on me. "There's a settlement up north." Gabriel's voice drops to a whisper as he glances toward the door. "Past the mountain range. Other humans who've escaped. We can rebuild there, away from..." His eyes dart around the room, taking in the weapons, the luxurious furnishings, the evidence of my new life.

My stomach twists. The thought of leaving this townhouse, of abandoning my place at Kai's feet, sends ice through my veins. My fingers trace the edge of the fallen sword - one I've cleaned countless times while listening to Kai's battle stories.

"I serve him willingly." The words come out stronger than I expect. "He gives me purpose, Gabriel. Not just survival, but meaning."

"Purpose?" Gabriel's face contorts. "You clean his weapons and what? Let him use you? The Aren I knew would never-"

"The Aren you knew lived in the shadows." I lift my chin, my dark hair falling back from my face. "We hid in temples, pretending prayer alone would save us. Here, I pray under open skies. I serve with dignity, not fear."

"Dignity?" He grabs my shoulders, and I see the desperation in his warm brown eyes. "You worship a monster who prides himself in breaking people. That must be what he's done to you."

I shake my head, thinking of Kai's violet eyes glowing in the darkness, the way his wings curl protectively around me during storms. "You see only what you want to see. He's more than that."

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