Wrath of the Fallen by Eve Archer

Chapter Forty

Ella

“Can someone please explain to me what just happened?” Sara said, once the archangels were gone and the city had come to life around us again.

I opened my mouth then closed it. “All of it?”

She waved a hand in front of her. “Just the part about you being immortal. Does that really mean you’ll live forever?”

I cringed, a wave of guilt sweeping over me. I wouldn’t die, but my best friend eventually would.

She tapped one toe on the paving stones. “What about us growing old together as badass grannies and terrorizing the nursing home? I guess that plan is out the window.”

“I didn’t think about that. We can still be badass grannies.”

She narrowed her eyes at me. “But I’ll be an old crone, and you’ll still look like this.”

“You could never be an old crone.”

“True. I do have amazing genes, but you’re going to have to give me some time to get used to this.” She dragged a hand through her hair and then pivoted to Dominick, leveling a finger at him. “And you had better treat her like the celestial being that she is, or you’ll have to answer to me. Got it?”

He held up his hands. “Got it.”

She swiveled back to me. “This has officially been my weirdest vacation ever. And that includes Burning Man with Kevin the Nudist Poet.”

I threw an arm over her shoulders. “We still haven’t seen most of Paris. How about a few days of cafés and sightseeing?”

“Above ground?”

“Definitely,” I told her.

“Does this have something to do with why my demon looks like he was dragged through a mob of angry villagers?” Mastema asked, turning his attention fully on Caspiel.

The incubus’ cheeks reddened, and he brushed his ripped clothing as if that would help.

“We were chased by demons of the dead,” Sara said. “Your boy here fought them off while we ran.”

Mastema stared at Caspiel. “Demons of the dead? In a Paris hotel?”

“We took the catacombs,” Caspiel said. “I thought it would be faster and would avoid us being spotted by the attacking archangels.”

Rami swung his head around. “You dragged the women through the catacombs?”

“It wasn’t so bad,” Sara said.

“Aside from all the bones.” I shivered, as I thought about the dank corridors lined with skulls. “And demons of the dead.”

I laughed and looped an arm around Ella’s hips. “Those seem like pretty significant exceptions.”

Rami’s scowl relaxed as he gave Caspiel a once-over. “It does look like you got the worst of it. I suppose I should be grateful you got them out safely.”

Mastema walked over and clapped Rami on the back. “See? I knew you two would learn to get along.”

Dominick tensed beside me, reminding me that Rami had pledged himself to the prince of demons for a year—to protect me.

“Caspiel was great,” I said, glancing at Rami’s bent feathers. “But it looks like you all were pretty impressive today.”

“Let’s hope there isn’t YouTube footage out there of flying gargoyles,” Rami said.

Sara peered up at the looming cathedral as if the stone gargoyles might come swooping down from their perches. “Gargoyles? As in the creepy stone things all over this city?”

The prince of demons shrugged. “I promised my protection, and I gave it. It’s no secret my minions come in many forms.”

“Well, that’s comforting,” Sara mumbled, stealing a final, nervous glance overhead.

“Speaking of protection…” Dominick began.

“You no longer need it,” Mastema said, as if he’d been expecting this. “Understandable, if you wish to leave my lair.” The edges of his mouth quirked into a mischievous smile. “It can be overwhelming for some.”

Dominick shifted from one foot to the other, and my face warmed. Clearly, the demon prince understood what effect his demonic energy had on others, but that was all he meant, right? He hadn’t heard us last night as well, had he?

“I am grateful for your protection.” Dominick inclined his head slightly.

“And you regret doubting me?”

“I regret having reason to doubt you.”

Mastema stifled a laugh. “Spoken like a true angel.”

“Let’s not pretend your help was altruistic.” Dominick flicked his gaze to Rami. “You come out on the winning end of this deal.”

“What can I say? The house always wins. That’s why gambling is a sin, and why my demons love Las Vegas.”

“I’m ready to fulfill my promise,” Rami said, squaring his shoulders.

Sara frowned but didn’t say anything. What could she say? He was leaving to work for the prince of demons for a year, and she would be returning to her life in New York.

“My car should be around the corner,” Mastema said. “Shall we?”

Rami hesitated, glancing from Sara to Dominick. Finally, Dominick stepped forward and pulled him into a one-armed hug, pounding him roughly on the back with a fist.

“It’s a good thing a year is like a heartbeat for us, or I might actually miss you,” Dominick said gruffly.

Rami met my eyes over Dominick’s back and smiled. “I think you’ll be plenty busy this year. It’s actually a good thing I won’t be with you. I would have spent most of my time waiting for you outside bedroom doors.”

Dominick laughed. “Maybe you’re right, but it won’t be the same having Gad outside those doors.”

Now Rami joined him in laughing. “I know it won’t. You’ll be lucky if he doesn’t try to join in.”

Dominick growled low at this, and Rami laughed louder. “You were always bad at sharing.”

When they pulled apart, Dominick gave him a rough thump on the shoulder, clearing his throat. “I expect to see you in a year to the day.”

Rami nodded but didn’t respond, clearing his own throat instead. He turned to Sara, but she’d moved closer to me. I nudged her but she only shot me a murderous look.

“I’ll have your things sent, if you don’t wish to return to my lair,” Mastema said, breaking the uncomfortable silence.

“We’ll be at our hotel,” Dominick told Rami, who pulled his gaze from Sara and nodded, a dedicated deputy to the end.

“What hotel is that?” I asked. “Is it another of the secret holdings of the Fallen? You know I’m going to insist on visiting all of them, now.”

He pulled me flush to him, his dark eyes molten as he locked eyes with me. “We do have the time.”