Wrath of the Fallen by Eve Archer
Chapter Seven
Ella
“This is definitely a step down from the castle.” Sara spun in place in the center of the compact room, dropping her weekender bag on the foot of one of the twin beds.
I walked to the window, leaning my hands against the stone ledge, and leaning over to peer onto the street. The midday sun blazed down on the people bustling through the narrow passageway, no doubt on their way to nearby historical sites. Bells chimed in the distance, along with the closer wailing of the call to prayer. Even though I’d never been to this part of the world, there was something familiar about the sounds and scents of it.
Sara zipped open her bag and pulled out her blue, floral toiletries pouch. “I think our dorm room was bigger than this.”
I swiveled my gaze to take in the space. “You might be right about that.” I pointed to the truncated hallway leading to a bathroom. “At least the bathroom isn’t on the hall.”
Sara disappeared into the bathroom for a moment and then reemerged without her toiletries bag. “Let’s hope the hot water here is better than our freshman dorm.”
I leaned back from the window. “I don’t mind the room so much, although I hadn’t imagined that we’d be bunking together again so soon.”
Sara put one hand on her hip. “I hope you aren’t suggesting I should have offered to stay with Rami just so you could shack up with tall, dark, and fallen.”
I returned her pointed look. “Don’t try to convince me that would have been a hardship.”
She turned with a flounce. “What are you talking about?”
I hoisted my own overnight bag onto the bed. “Oh, I don’t know. Maybe the lingering glances you two give each other?”
“We do not give each other lingering glances.” She rolled her eyes. “I barely know the guy.”
“When has that ever mattered?”
She narrowed her eyes at me. “It’s been ages since I’ve had a one-night stand, and I’m not about to start with a celestial being.”
“Suit yourself.” I gave her a smug smile. “You don’t know what you’re missing.”
Her mouth fell open, and then she clamped it shut. “You’re only saying that because Christopher was such a rotten lay.”
I shrugged. “That’s true, but do you really think someone who’s lived for thousands of years wouldn’t have learned a few things—or a lot?”
Sara leveled a finger at me even as her cheeks reddened. “That’s not playing fair.” Then she huffed out a breath. “But it explains why you’d rather bunk with him than me.”
“It’s not that I’m picking him over you.”
She fluttered a hand at me. “Don’t even try to give me some lame excuse about how you love me more. I’m not blind. I can see you’re head over heels for the guy. Honestly, I don’t blame you. You’ve had a rough go of it. You deserve someone so hot he practically parts a crowd.”
I laughed at her characterization but did remember a few women gaping as we’d walked through the streets of Jerusalem.
“I’m actually a little surprised he didn’t put up more of a fuss about having to share a room with Rami,” Sara said. “And I find it hard to believe he was concerned for my level of comfort.”
I tried not to react, but I’d had the same thoughts. Why had Dominick acquiesced so quickly to us staying in separate rooms? We’d been inseparable since we’d met—aside from my unfortunate abduction—and last night had been amazing. So why had he agreed to sleep separately without missing a beat?
“I’m sure he didn’t want to put you and Rami in an awkward position. Or maybe he didn’t want to shock the nuns. It’s not like any of us are wearing wedding rings.”
Sara raised one eyebrow. “You sure?”
“We are staying in a religious property that houses a basilica. Maybe he didn’t want to be disrespectful of the holy site.”
Sara barked out a laugh that was far from feminine. “Yeah, right. He’s a fallen angel. I think disrespecting holy rules is one hundred percent in his wheelhouse.”
I shot her a look. “Trust me; it has nothing to do with us.”
Sara twitched one shoulder up. “If you say so, but the guy did get hit with a bombshell last night. I wouldn’t be shocked if it was a lot to digest, even for an immortal who’s used to all this angel drama.”
“Angel drama?” Now I put a hand on my hips. “You think I’ve got angel drama?”
Sara walked over and put her hands on my shoulders. “Your mom’s secret baby daddy was an archangel, and it turns out you’re part angel. I’d say that’s some pretty heavy angel drama.”
I shrugged off her hands. “It’s nothing Dominick can’t handle. Besides, he didn’t seem to have any issues with it last night.”
Sara’s eyes widened, and she playfully slapped my arm. “Look who’s the bad angel now.”
I rolled my eyes, laughing as I took a few steps to my bed and opened my bag. “Hardly. You could have been sharing a room with a real fallen angel if you’d played your cards right.”
Sara flopped onto her bed. “No, thank you. I prefer my men with both feet planted firmly on the ground. Besides, I’m sure he can have his pick of women—and has.”
I didn’t say that she protested an awful lot for someone who claimed not to be interested in Rami as I dug in my bag for a change of clothes. “Maybe, but you’ve never been one to turn down a good time—or a sure thing who’s as hot as Rami. Besides, he’s your type.”
She flipped her long hair off her shoulder and groaned. “Why couldn’t I be attracted to human Ken dolls? Why is it the dark, swarthy ones who get me going?”
“Because bad boys are more fun.”
“Says the woman who never dated bad boys before now.”
I gave her a wicked smile. “What can I say? I’m a fast learner.” I glanced at the door. “Speaking of my fallen angel boyfriend, Dominick will probably be here soon. Just because we aren’t sharing a room doesn’t mean we won’t be hanging out.”
“You two have fun,” Sara mumbled, kicking off her shoes and swinging her feet onto the bed. “I’m still exhausted from our crack-of-dawn flight and even earlier wake-up call. I need a nap.”
I glanced over at her and stifled a yawn. We had left the castle while it was still dark, taking a helicopter to a small airport on the mainland and then hopping in the private jet for the flight to Jerusalem. The trip hadn’t been long enough for any of us to get decent sleep, not that I ever slept well on planes.
I picked out a change of clothes and then put my bag on the floor, looking at my best friend stretched out on the bed with a certain amount of envy. “Maybe I’ll close my eyes for a few minutes before Dominick gets here.”
Sara’s only reply was the deep, rhythmic sound of her breathing. She was already asleep.
I yawned again and didn’t bother to hide it, lying down on the bed and pulling the brown blanket over me. Even though sun streamed through the window, along with the noise of shopkeepers and the wailing prayer, my eyes drooped.
Sleep started to overtake me as I tried not to think about what Sara had said about Dom. Still, her questions became mine. Was she right? Was he having a hard time dealing with everything that had happened and all he’d learned about me? Even in my drowsy state, I shook my head. Impossible. I’d handled the truth about him without freaking out. Well, pretty much.
I pushed aside the jumble of worry in my mind as I drifted off. All I needed was to look into Dominick’s eyes to know that everything was fine between us. Angel drama—as Sara had put it—wouldn’t bother him. He’d been an angel forever, after all. Me being part angel, and the daughter of an archangel, couldn’t have been the craziest thing he’d dealt with—could it?
