Fallen Angel Reclaimed: The Complete Series by Lacey Carter Andersen

12

Tristan readDaniel's text message for the millionth time, helpless rage boiling within him. Surcy was near The Realm Creator. The place all souls went when they died. Caine’s home and the birthplace of angels.

If the angels found her there, they would kill her without question.

And then my reason for living will be gone. And the streets will run red with the blood of the angels.

“How do we save her?” he asked, feeling his need to protect tightening every muscle in his body.

Kill. Fight. Destroy.His instincts screamed. He needed a target for his anger, or the consequences would be deadly.

An angry demon is a dangerous demon.

Mark shook his head, his helpless radiating from every inch of him, irritating Tristan. “You know we can’t get to Zudessa, not without an angel to teleport us there. If we could have, we would’ve saved her when she disappeared.”

Unacceptable.

Tristan stared at his eternal-brother, his heart in his throat. “There has to be a way. Before we weren’t certain where they kept her, and Summer couldn’t detect her location, but now we know.”

That has to mean something!

Mark collapsed into the chair near the fire that had died out hours ago, defeat in his expression. “If others could get there, Caine wouldn’t be so difficult to take down. So unless you know an angel who can take us there, I think all we can do is wait and hope.”

An angel? I might not know one that can help, but I know ways of making one help. Even angels had weaknesses.

Clenching his fists together, an idea began to form. “Then, we find an angel. And we make him take us to her.”

We’ll go far from our home and use our demon magic to call the winged bastards to us. We'll make them take us to her.

Mark looked up slowly. “Do you have any idea how insane that is? I want her back as badly as you do, but—“

Tristan would have none of it. “If you have an idea, I will listen. Until then, we go angel hunting.”

Turning, he headed for the door. This might get us caught, but I am nothing without my Surcy.

I am nothing if I cannot protect the people I love.

“Should we wait for Daniel?” Mark asked, hurrying to keep up behind him.

I wait for no man.

“If he isn’t here by the time we reach the car, he’ll have to catch up to us.”

Each second felt like years. Already their Surcy could be caught. Hurt. And they weren’t there to help her.

His instincts roared at just the thought of his beautiful woman injured, and his vision swam with red. He could sense death shadowing his every step. When he unleashed his fury, no angel would be safe.

“Uh, hello.”

Her voice came to him from the living room. Tristan froze, his breath still. He turned and saw Surcy standing there, looking lost and confused.

His fury melted away. His need to save her gone.

Unable to help himself, he ran to her and pulled her into his arms. Her body felt small and cold, the way it had when they’d first met her. But she was safe and alive. And in that moment, that’s all that mattered.

“I’ll text Daniel,” Mark said, his voice shaking.

Releasing her, Tristan stepped back, searching her face. “You’re alright.”

She moved away from him, her expression uncomfortable. She folded her arms over her chest and rubbed her upper arms before she spoke. “I’m sorry I left, but I…”

“You went back to your own kind.”

Her beautiful gaze met his. “I couldn’t believe that I would choose demons over angels. I thought you must be lying to me.”

“But now you believe us?”

She sighed audibly. “Let’s be honest with each other. I don’t know that I believe all of you. This is scary for me, and difficult to wrap my mind around. But now I know the angels want me dead. So, I reached a decision.”

Tristan held his breath. Is this good or bad?

“And what’s that?”

“I don’t know if I’ll ever get my memories back, but if I run away from you, I’ll never know why I made the choices I made.” She frowned. “And since I'm not welcome among my own kind anyway…”

You’ll remain with us.The thought breathed fresh life into his heart.

Mark moved closer to her, smiling. “So, you’re joining our side?”

Her jaw tensed. “No, but I won’t stand against you.”

Everything must begin with a first step.

Silence stretched between them.

Mark was the first to finally speak, his excitement clear in the way he fiddled with the chain to his necklace. “That’s wonderful! And with time, I’m sure you’ll come to realize that even though we’re demons, we’re not bad.”

She gave them a hesitant smile. “I hope so. And thank you for understanding.”

Oh my Surcy, you have no idea how much I understand.

Tristan just hoped she had the strength for what was to come. Because if his many years of life had taught him anything, he knew this, their struggles had just begun.