Fallen Kings

15

“I’m not sure yet. When I have some more information, I’ll let you know.”

“Fine. Just be careful. Please.” I wrap my arms around him and press my face against his shoulder. It’s been hard enough only seeing Kassiel once every few weeks. I couldn’t bear it if something bad happened to him. He holds me against him too, his touch tender yet strong. “Stay with me tonight.”

I stiffen in his arms. I’ve never stayed overnight with any of my men, and I never let them stay with me. It’s one of my rules. We have s*x, and then we go our separate ways. I do it to prevent jealousy between them, and, if I’m being honest, to protect my heart. It’s a way of keeping everyone distant and making sure our s****l relationships never turn into something more.

But maybe I’m ready for something more. Maybe it’s time to open my heart a little.

“Okay,” I tell him. “I’ll stay. Until you leave in the morning.”

The look of happiness on his face makes my decision worth it. I’ve longed to sleep beside Kassiel since the very first night we met, long before we knew anything about each other, when we couldn’t resist the attraction between us. Things have changed a lot since then, and my feelings for him have only grown stronger.

He pulls me harder against him and kisses me deeply, and I know he understands the significance of my choice. I’m taking this thing between us to another level, and there’s no turning back now. And if I’m going this far with him, I should do the same with Bastien and Marcus. It’s only fair, after all.

But first, I need more of Kassiel. I push him back and move down his body, then yank his trousers down to take his hardening c**k into my mouth. I’ll never get enough of him, and I only have a few hours with him before he ventures out into danger. I’m going to make every one of them count.

Chapter Ten

Olivia

I

t’s the next night, and I’m perched on my balcony while invisible. From here, I have a clear view of Jeremy’s balcony a level below mine on the corner of the building. I spy on him every night, and if he flies out of there, I’ll know it.

I yawn a little. It’s getting late, but I know how the Order works, and they always have a meeting on one of the first weekends at school. If a meeting is going to happen, it’ll probably be tonight. Besides, I doubt I’ll be able to sleep anyway. All I can think about is Kassiel. Waking up beside him this morning was one of the best things I’ve experienced, but now he’s run off to chase down this lead on the Staff, and I’m back to worrying about him.

I’m just about to give up and try to get some sleep, when I hear the sound of a sliding door opening. It’s faint and I almost miss it, but then Jeremy quietly steps onto his balcony, already wearing his golden Order robes and his mask. I instantly jump up, fully awake now. I knew he would lead us to them eventually.

He spreads his dull brown wings and takes off into the night. He’s not an Ishim, and although he tries to be discreet, I manage to follow him easily. Except he doesn’t go to either of the places I expect—the spot in the forest where the Order met new initiates, or the tunnel leading under the lake where they have their lair. Instead, he flies to the large library on campus, although he doesn’t go in the front door, but to the slanted gray roof where a skylight window is open.

He dives inside the window and disappears. I hesitate, then land on the roof silently, still invisible. My necklace keeps me safe from any Ofanim who might see through my invisibility, but it won’t protect me from bumping into someone or the sound of my footsteps. I have to be careful.

I kneel on the roof and peer through the window, where I see a large attic space filled with members in gold robes. This must be their new meeting spot in a place I didn’t even know existed. The golden throne sits empty on one end of the room, and in front of it stands someone wearing the crown. The one Nariel used to wear, when he was alive.

How do they have a new leader already? Who could it be? It’s impossible to tell when the faces, bodies, and voices are all disguised by the robes and masks, and my heart sinks at this revelation. Killing Nariel was never part of our plan, but I hoped it had set the Order back a bit. That doesn’t seem to be the case. I’m starting to think the Order is like a hydra—as soon as you cut off one head, another two appear.

I was in the Order for two years, but I only knew the identity of a few of its members. The Order keeps that information a secret, although if things had been different, the Princes would have learned a lot more about the members upon graduation. That obviously didn’t happen.

One more person in a mask approaches the window, and I have to quickly move out of the way so they don’t brush against me as they drop inside. As soon as they land, the person in the crown nods and the meeting begins. “We have much reason to rejoice.” The crown-wearer raises their arms into the air. “We have the Staff!”

The group cheers, each voice sounding exactly like the last, but their numbers are noticeably smaller this year without me, Tanwen, and Kassiel. Not to mention the Order members we killed in Faerie during the battle for the Staff, including Nariel. I would’ve loved to have been a fly on the wall when the Order figured out that Kassiel was one of their members and the son of Lucifer.