Page 16 of Gods' Battleground

“Wanted to keep her close, did you?”

Jace sighed. “You’re looking for gossip where there is none, Leda. I am not dating Lieutenant Ravenfall.”

“Good.” I nodded in approval. “You deserve better.”

“Better than the daughter of an angel?” A hint of amusement crept into his voice.

“Daughter of an angel,” I repeated. “Yeah, that must be why she’s so arrogant. And mean.”

“I am the son of an angel.”

“Yes, you are.” I patted him on the shoulder. “But you’ve changed since our initiate days. You’re actually nice now.”

“Keep it down, Leda,” he said, dropping his voice. “I am an angel. I have a reputation to maintain.”

“Your secret is safe with me,” I chuckled quietly—then I added in my serious, echoing, deity voice. “What can you tell me about the amnesia victims so far?”

“Not much,” replied Jace, all business. “They were very disoriented when my soldiers brought them in. They don’t even remember who they are.”

“But doyouknow who they are?”

“No, they weren’t carrying any ID.”

I lifted my brows. “And you didn’t find that a bit weird?”

“Leda, everything about this case is extremely weird.”

“It certainly is,” I agreed.

“I’ll know more when I get the lab report on the victims.”

“Yes, I’d be interested in a copy of that report,” I told him. “Send it to Dr. Harding in my office.”

“I thought you already had too many things on your plate,” he reminded me.

“I do, but what’s one more thing?” I pulled out my phone and started typing a message. “Especially when I’m having Nerissa deal with it.”

Not that Nerissa wasn’t busy too. But I had a feeling this amnesia thing was important.

“So could you send over a copy of that report?” I asked him again.

“Just as soon as I have it,” he promised me.

“Thanks.”

Jace came around behind me, peeking over my shoulder. “I don’t think General Windstriker will enjoy reading that message. You should not journey into the Forgotten Territories with only your family as backup.”

“Hey, no peeking, you cheeky angel!” I tucked my phone into my jacket.

He ignored me. “The First Angel will not approve either.”

And that’s when it clicked. Jace was too polite to read other people’s messages.

“Nyx ordered you to watch me, didn’t she?” I guessed.

“The First Angel was concerned that you’ve been under a lot of stress. And that this could lead to errors in judgment.” His gaze flickered to Vertigo, then back to me.

So that was the secret Jace was keeping from me: he was spying on me for Nyx because the First Angel thought I might lose my mind.

---