Page 9 of Legendary

“I would do what she says,” I offered with a bratty smile.

Ariel heeded her words, even though he huffed and puffed. She tucked a piece of her dark waves behind her ear, displaying a string of gold ear jewelry. “I didn’t make this decision for them, but I back them with my entire heart. This has nothing to do with Isabel, but everything to do with what needs to be done.”

“Are you hearing yourself?” Ariel yelled as he shifted to face the boys. “You are going nowhere! You hear me? Mr. Cassial, Mr. Diniel, you are going nowhere with them.”

I watched Nicholas look up at the ceiling as he placed his hands on his hips. He took in a few breaths, then looked at Reese who gave a small nod. They had this very weird non-verbal communication that I found oddly cute. Nicholas clapped his hands together before he spoke. “You know Ariel, I think for once you’re right.” He looked over to me one more time and swallowed, a determined look in his eyes. “I am just like my father. A man who actually thinks this plan is a solid one. This plan that we’re following through with whether you like it or not.” He motioned between him and Reese.

“If you think we were defiant before…we’re defiant as fuck now,” Reese chimed in.

I raised one of my eyebrows, blowing a lone curl out of my line of sight. “You’re quite outnumbered.”

Ariel opened and closed his mouth, almost like a fish. It was comical. I rolled my eyes and turned on my heels to walk out. “And you’re welcome, for saving your pathetic ass,” I shot back over my shoulder when I stopped by the door.

“Nicholas, you go through with his idiotic plan, and I will not back you. Do not think I will be there when you realize what a colossal mistake you’ve made aligning yourself with them. Lilith will slaughter you all,” Ariel sputtered, his face red and irritated.

“I wouldn’t dream of asking you for help—not that you’ve ever been much help in the first place.” Nicholas walked past me, letting his hand brush mine as he went. He yanked on one of the door handles, and it creaked with the movement. I pressed my lips together in a muffled laughter when Reese trailed behind him, turned around swiftly to put up two middle fingers, and then walked out.

“It’s always a pleasure Ariel,” Natalia said as she walked out. Elise followed, but not before adding, “later, fuckface.”

“You will ruin them, you know. You made the choice to defy Lilith when she wasn’t around, but what makes you think you’ll be able to do the same when she stands right in front of you? The monster in front of its creator,” Ariel questioned.

I let out a loud sigh and faced him. “You didn’t sound this concerned when you wanted to send us back two seconds ago. Those boys are free to make their own choices, so stop acting like you give a shit.”

I could tell that Nicholas had a type of shadow behind his eyes as if now he was doing whatever he wanted, the loyalty he lived by be damned. I admired it, but I also knew that wasn’t completely him. Something inside of me hurt at the idea that he was feeling off. Having to kill your own kind can do that to a person, especially having them die in your arms.

“What I wanted was for you to go and deal with your issues without dragging others into your mess, but I suppose you both have already gotten into their heads.”

I shook my head, very, very done with this conversation. “Tell me something Ariel: do you think treating your subordinates like shit is the way to get them on your side? From where I stand, you are all alone in your ideals. We asked them to go, and they said yes, no mind tricks involved. We have given them time to back down and say no, and they haven’t.” I scanned the office, realizing now how big and spacious it really was. “You think I can fix your problem, and maybe I can, but just in case I can’t, do you really think those boys are going to fight beside you now? Do you think any of these people, Enchanters included, are going to rally behind you, follow you all because you’re telling them what could be coming? Tyranny and fear is one thing, respect is another. Just a thought.” I tapped my finger against my chin before smoothly turning around.

“I’d reevaluate how I treat people, especially the monsters that might be your only chance at survival.” With that I closed the door and didn’t look back.

NICK

Icould feel my whole body start to ache from the tension I’d built up in a matter of what felt like ten minutes. My muscles ached from the way my shoulders vibrated, and I could feel a headache coming on from the way I was clenching my jaw so tight. I mashed the button for the elevator and started pacing in front of the doors, really, really wanting to go back in that room and punch Ariel right in his stupid fucking face. Everything had been going so well with him, he had been behaving up until now…but now, ughnowhe wanted to let go of the facade that he was a decent angel. He had always been known to throw some low blows, but fuck, my father and Dani all in one meeting was a new one and I couldn’t take it.

I nearly jumped out of my skin when I felt Reese’s hand grab my arm. “You alright there killer?” He raised one of his blonde eyebrows at me in question.

I almost let out an exhaustive, ridiculous laugh with how nuts this all was. “I’m fine, just need a minute.”

I heard the ding of the elevator and watched as the doorsslid open. We both stepped inside right as I heard Elise.

“Quite the show back there, pretty boy. Impressive.” She gave me a wide toothed smile as I turned around. Natalia and Dani weren’t far behind her, so I held my hand out and kept the doors open for them. They all piled in, making the small elevator space feel more crowded than normal. There were four other people in this elevator but there was only one that I noticed; I could practically read every single one of her movements.

We were on opposite sides of the elevator, but I could make out the rise and fall of her chest as she breathed. I noticed the way she bit her lip as if she was in deep thought as she kept her eyes on the floor. That fucking lip bite would be the death of me. The elevator halted and the doors opened, letting us out of the ground floor.

Once we were all hustled outside, Reese spoke his mind. “Is anyone surprised he didn’t send sentries to grab our ass and bring us back?”

“Not really, I mean, it’s Ariel, how would it look if you both got thrown over someone’s shoulder and reprimanded, hmm?” Elise answered. “I personally would love to see it, but whatever.”

Natalia hummed. “She’s right. Ariel wouldn’t want to cause a scene when he’s trying to clearly build a better relationship with everyone here. Wouldn’t look great to have you two kicking and screaming now, would it?”

I looked up at the sky, letting out a slow, solid breath. The sun was out, and I had to squint my eyes to be able to appreciate it. The smell of freshly cut grass filled my nostrils and I inhaled deeply. I loved The Skies and I loved Heaven’s Gate. This place was my home, but there was something different about it now. Where there used to be light memories and happy moments, now the visions of blood and clashing swords were slowly replacing them. Memories of Jonah’s death appeared when I least expected it, and I couldn’t get rid of them. Believe me, I fucking tried.

There were other angels that had tried to talk to me, tried to console me. The sentry angels that made it out of that terrible fight alive wanted to know things, to try to understand my feelings. They didn’t want the pretty details that covered up all the fucked-up things that we had discovered that led us to that bloody fight. No, they wanted every single minute detail that I didn’t want to give. Reese had done most of the talking and given them what they wanted the minute he realized I was living in my own world for a while. I was just trying to keep it together. I still was.

“Still with us?” I heard Dani ask. I blinked over to her, noticing that she had her head tilted to the side as she looked at me. Her brown eyes seemed lighter in the sunlight. “The plan I mean.”

“You think I would have done all that, if I wasn’t?” I shot back, mirroringher head tilt. She narrowed her eyes at me and pressed her lips together, as if she was testing me, making sure I was still committed to my word.

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