Fallen Kings

3

“I thought you would treat me like an adult who can protect herself!” I want to punch him in his perfect face. I want to punch all of them, in fact. Instead I turn on my heel and walk out of the house before I do something stupid like unleash my succubus powers on them. Especially Callan. I’d love to see him grovel before me.

I have to really struggle to get the back door open, which ruins my dramatic exit somewhat, but then it slams loudly behind me and that makes me feel a little better. Once I’ve stomped away from the house, I hear the door open and shut again, and whirl around to see Marcus trailing after me.

“What?” I snap.

He rests his hands on my upper arms and his touch immediately calms me a little. “I’m sorry, Liv. We know how upset you’ve been, and we wanted to get you out of the house for a bit. This seemed like a good opportunity, and we really did need to investigate this lead. We just have to make sure you’re safe too. None of us could bear it if anything happened to you.”

“Fine, I get it.” I sigh and my shoulders slump. “I’m just so tired of this. I really hoped we would find the Staff tonight.”

“I know,” he says, as he draws me in to his warm, muscular arms.

I relax against him for a second, but then push back. “Wait, are you using your Malakim calming on me?”

He holds up his hands. “Nope. I promise.”

“Good.” I can’t handle any more of their coddling tonight.

His lips brush mine, and the angers slowly leaves me as I kiss him back. Most of it. I’m still pissed at Callan, but that’s normal for me.

It’s hard to stay too mad at the others. I did enjoy getting out tonight, and I can’t blame them for wanting to protect me. Even if it’s annoying, I know they do it because they care about me, and I try to appreciate that—especially since I lived most of my life without having anyone to care for me like that.

“Are we done here?” Callan snaps, breaking me from Marcus’s amazing kiss.

I linger in Marcus’s arms, hoping it annoys Callan to see something he can’t have. “I guess so.”

It takes us another two hours to fly back to Angel Peak, and once we’re there everyone splits up. Marcus and Callan head back to the house they’re sharing just outside town, while Bastien takes Eveanna to Seraphim Academy, where they’re both living. Jonah flies home with me, and it’s late enough I hope Dad will be asleep and will have somehow missed our absence.

My heart sinks as the house’s back porch comes into view. Dad’s sitting on it and boy, does he look pissed.

Chapter Two

Olivia

“I

n the house.” Gabriel stands as Jonah and I land on the porch. “Now.”

He sounds like he’s about to ground me, and the ancient power that emanates from him is enough to make anyone cower, even me. I follow his orders, but I scowl the entire time. I’ve just about had enough of people treating me like an errant child tonight. I’m a grown woman and a powerful angel-demon hybrid in my own right, not some rebellious human teenager.

Gabriel slams the door behind us. “What were you thinking?”

I give him a defiant glare. “I’ve been trapped in this house all winter. I needed to get out and do something useful for once.”

“You’re not trapped. You’ve been training on campus with that Valkyrie girl. You head into town with Jonah sometimes. I even allow you to visit your men to feed on them.”

Jonah makes a slight gagging sound in his throat. He still hasn’t come to terms with the fact that I’m sleeping with his three best friends. If he knew what kind of torture they put me through while he was in Faerie he’d be doubly pissed, but I kept it from him on purpose. I didn’t want Jonah to know, especially since Callan did all that bullying because of the promise he’d made to my brother. That would only make Jonah feel guilty and strain his relationship with the guys. I don’t want that, especially since I already forgave them for what they did. Besides, I don’t need my brother to handle my problems. I dealt with the Princes myself, just like I can deal with the Order too.

I prop my hands on my hips as I face my father. “I’ve been on my own since I was eighteen years old. Longer than that, really. Most of my foster parents didn’t do squat to help me, growing up. It’s not easy for me to bend to your rules, but all winter, I’ve done it.” Gabriel opens his mouth, but enough is enough, and I hold up my hand to stop him. “No. You’re my father, and I respect that. I respect why you left me as a kid. You believed you were doing what was right.” Pain and regret flashes across his face, and I soften my voice. “I forgave you for that. But being on my own made me into a strong, independent woman. I’m not a child. I’m not even a teenager. You can’t stop me if I choose to go help with a lead.” “I know you’re an adult.” Even though he looks only a decade or so older than me and Jonah, suddenly I see every year of his age on Gabriel’s handsome face. “You’re my only daughter, and your life is at risk, now more than ever. All I ask is that you stay out of the action when it comes to the Order.”

“I can’t promise that.”