Page 53 of Fallen Angels

“I said what I did in a fit of anger because you backed me into a corner.”

“Backed you into a corner?”

“Well, figuratively,” she corrects herself and then swallows hard before turning to face me. “When you saw the vision of me with Variant and Anona,” she starts and then loses her courage.

“Right, I recall,” I encourage her to continue.

“I didn’t think you were going to react the way you did. I thought you would blame me and use it against me. I thought you would believe the vision was proof I was allied with Variant, even though the truth was the opposite. I just… didn’t expect…”

“Me to defend you?” I ask with a smile.

She nods. “I didn’t expect you to defend me.” She takes a breath. “With regard to what happened with Raflamir at Earlann, I’m convinced it was meant to happen the way it did. Everything happens because fate designed it that way. We now have a chance to free the Midnight Queen and, in the process, getanswersonce and for all.”

“You think it’ll be that simple?”

“No,” she responds. “I know it’s not going to be that simple. Everyone knows it won’t be so simple. Pyre said something to the effect that he’s risking his very existence for us because setting the balance right isthatimportant to him and to the realms.” She inhales deeply. “We just have to make sure all of this isn’t in vain.”

“Those are big words,” I say with a slight smile.

“I believe in them,” she responds, and her expression is a bit sad. I’m not certain why.

“I believe in them as well,” I answer with a nod and then move ahead, taking up the role as leader once again. As I do, I notice Dragan slows his pace and falls behind me. I’m not surprised—the entire time that Eilish and I were conversing, I noticed Dragan stalling ahead of us, his pace slowing and a few times he actually glanced back at each of us, clearly curious as to the nature of our conversation.

CHAPTER TWELVE

CAMBION

The Forest in the Sky

I walk alongside Baron who looks back at Eilish and Dragan who falls in step beside her. Baron curls his lip. “I’m sick and tired of them,” he snarls.

“Why?” I ask, quite delighted I’m not caught up in this battle Dragan and Baron have over Eilish. As much as I want her, I’m glad I haven’t had her. Let them duke it out between the two of them. I’d rather watch from the sideline.

“Either fuck or fight, but I’m sick of the indecision.” The vampire looks up at the canopy of stars above us.

“What difference does it make to you what they do?”

He’s quiet for a moment as he weighs my question. Then he shrugs. “I suppose it doesn’t.”

We both walk in silence for another few moments before Baron pipes up again.

“It feels different in this fucking forest after being in the Veil, doesn’t it?”

“It does, I suppose,” I respond. “Perhaps the only true difference is that we were safe there and we aren’t here?”

“Maybe,” Baron says. “What do you think of Pyre?”

His question surprises me. “What is there to think of Pyre?”

Baron nods. “I’m missing that part of my memories of knowing Pyre before.”

“I wouldn’t say any of us trulyknewhim,” I correct. “Knewofhim, perhaps.”

“Do you trust him?”

“I do,” I nod. “Pyre’s only motive in all of this is to restore the balance to the realms. Removing Variant from control would be restoring that balance. So, yes, I do trust him.”

“He’s dark, but in a way that none of us are,” Baron continues and seems quite puzzled by Pyre.

---