Fallen Kings

9

Araceli catches up with me and Jonah halfway to the gym, and we all head in together. Tanwen is already inside standing with her Valkyrie friends, but she gives us a little wave, which surprises me. I wasn’t sure if she’d still be cool once her friends were around.

“Everyone gather close,” Hilda calls out. She stands in the center of the gym with her hands on her hips and a huge sword strapped to her back, looking every inch the formidable Valkyrie. “This year we’re going to continue to work with your chosen weapon until you’re an expert. We’re also going to learn some more advanced maneuvers, such as aerial combat. It’s my hope you won’t ever have to fight in the sky, but it’s a skill all angels need to learn. It certainly helped in the fight against the drones last year. If they come back, I want you to be ready for them.”

I remember those attacks, and how chaotic and difficult it was trying to fight and fly at the same time. The only reason I’m still alive is because Tanwen saved me at one point.

“I guess this is why this gym has such a tall ceiling,” Jonah mutters, and Araceli grins.

“Callan and I will demonstrate some of the things we’ll be practicing this year,” Hilda says, before turning to the man I’ve been trying very hard to ignore. It’s impossible, of course. Callan dominates any room he’s in, even when he’s just standing to the side with his hands behind his back. That plain blue t-shirt shows off every muscle in his hard chest, and those sweatpants cling to his tapered waist. I tear my eyes away.

Callan grabs a sword, and then his gold-tipped white wings spread wide to launch him into the air. Hilda leaps up with her own pearly white wings and raises her large sword, and the clash of their weapons makes the class gasp. I can’t help but watch with rapt attention as they pivot, s***h, and fly around each other with a speed and beauty I could never achieve. They’re both Erelim, bred to be warriors, with the thrill of combat running through their veins. When the dance comes to an end, the entire class applauds. Even me.

After that, we’re given some time to pair up and spar using our preferred weapons. Lilith’s daggers are too dangerous to use in class—one touch of the dark-infused blade would be enough to make an angel scream—so I grab some practice knives instead. I try to get paired with Araceli or Jonah or even Tanwen, but of course Hilda puts me with Callan. Who else?

“How does it feel, slumming it with us students?” I ask, as I grip the hilts of the practice daggers.

Callan grits his teeth and raises his sword. “Show me these new moves Tanwen taught you.”

He comes after me and I use both daggers to fend him off, spinning and slashing the way I practiced for hours with Tanwen.

Hilda comes to watch and nods her approval. “I can tell you’ve been practicing, Olivia. Nice work.”

Her praise makes my chest swell, and I wipe the sweat off my brow and smile at her. She heads over to watch Jonah and Araceli next. Jonah picked up some fae moves while in Faerie—I’ve seen him practicing with Eveanna sometimes—and he’s showing one of them to Araceli now. She nods with determination in her eyes and tries it herself, while Hilda adds her own notes.

Class is over before I know it, and then it’s time for lunch. I grab a quick bite to eat in the cafeteria with Araceli—Jonah has another class, unfortunately—and then we head to our third year angelic class, Immortal Ethics. Except on the way there, Araceli realizes she forgot her bag in the cafeteria and has to run back. I promise to save her a seat in class.

This class is in the main building, the one with the Princes’ bell tower on top, and I make my way up to the second floor. When I get to the room I’m a little early, but the professor waves me inside. He’s wearing jeans and has close-cropped dark hair and warm eyes. I’ve never seen a professor wear jeans in class before.

“Please, come in,” he says. “I’m Professor Simiel.”

“Hello. I’m Olivia.” I step into the room and finger the strap on my bag. I’ve never met this guy and have no idea how he feels about me being half demon. Last year my Light Control teacher was downright terrified of me.

He gives me a wide smile, showing perfect teeth. “I’ve been eager to meet you. Please, have a seat.” He maneuvers me to sit right at the front of the room. “So, you’re the hybrid.”

“That’s me,” I say, as I take a seat. I’m still not sure where he’s going with this.

He leans on the edge of his desk, crosses his arms, and stares at me intently. “Have you found being a hybrid to be more difficult than if you’d been born a pure angel or demon?”

Wow, he’s just jumping right in with the questions, isn’t he? “Sometimes.”

“I’m sorry, I won’t pry. I’m simply fascinated by your parentage. Do you know your mother?” He c***s his head and doesn’t seem to realize his second question pries even more than his first.

“I do…” I shift in my seat, really wishing someone else would show up. Where are the other students?

“The fact that she’s the only one to become pregnant out of all the demons and angels that have consorted over the years...” He gives me a grin that makes the hair on my arms stand up. “She must be something special.”

I’m saved from having to answer when other students begin to pour into class and Simiel’s attention is diverted. When Araceli drops into the seat beside me, I want to hug her in relief.