Origin of Angels: Elemental Legacy Book 1 (22 page)

He inhaled as he watched me, his expression bleak. “It appears the Order captured whatever mechanism your aunt had been using to generate the shield.”

I closed my eyes, the whole mess jumbling my thoughts until I couldn’t think at all. “I’ve been so stupid. I should have wiped Valen off the face of this planet.”

Heath’s fingers grazed my cheek. “First of all, you were commanded not to touch him. And secondly, how do you know this is his doing?”

“Come on,” I said, not sure where he was going. “He’s the one orchestrating things.”

Heath shook his head. “Don’t you realize what he did, Rayla?”

I opened my mouth but stopped to consider. “He did a lot of things. What do you mean?”

“He joined forces with the father of evil. Valen no longer has control of his followers. They have been incorporated into the opposition of the creator.”

“You mean the devil?”

“You could call him such. What is important here is the separation of fae powers. Free will is the emblem of your God, no matter what humans call him, no matter what religion tells. He allowed Valen and those who followed him to choose for themselves.”

I shook my head, hugging myself. “I don’t understand any of what you’re saying. I thought I knew what we were up against, but now, I have no idea.” I pulled him away from the others so we could speak more freely. He laughed at me, but I ignored him. I didn’t like using telepathy. It was unnatural. “I think once we get back to Faeresia, we should call a meeting. I want to step down as queen.”

Heath sucked in a breath. His response hissed out so quickly, he startled me. “Absolutely not. I realize you are uncertain, and you don’t have much experience, but you are the best thing to happen to my people in millennia. We haven’t worked together since the beginning. You have us all focusing on life instead of vain ambition.” He shook his head, taking my shoulders between his hands. “Don’t you see? You’ve brought us to a common goal. We don’t need to go back to the way things were. It would be the worst course we could take now.”

All my insecurities welled until they burst. “But I don’t know if I can do this. I don’t know how to lead your people.”

His brows furrowed as he dipped his chin. Disappointment carved a path down his face and into my heart. “I thought they were your people, too. Or were you lying when you said you’d become one of us?”

I wanted to say it was a slip of the tongue, but he knew better. The man could read me without any effort. “I’m trying,” I said, hoping it was enough.

He leaned down, pulling me close. Gentle fingers tipped my chin back. “Doubt is natural for mortals, but you need to realize one thing. I have existed longer than you can fathom. I know people and ability. There is no one better to lead us than you.”

Before I could respond, his lips whispered over mine. Heat spread from my chest to my toes, and I suddenly wished we could shed this mission and have a real honeymoon. He let out a groan, and I deepened our kiss. I didn’t care if the others were close enough to see us. Natalie laughed. I’d know her laugh anywhere, which brought me up for air.

She was near the porch while Heath and I were close to the barn. When I spied her, she shook her head, smiling knowingly. I waived her off, but my neck pulsed with a flush. I’d teased her about how open she and Sam had been with PDA. Well, here I was on the other foot, and it wasn’t a comfortable place to be. As I stared at her, regret hit me. She’d lost the man she loved, while I had mine near.

Heath clasped my hand. “She is healing.”

I nodded. She’d been smiling a lot more lately, but I couldn’t help feeling responsible for Sam’s death. “I think as much as can be expected.”

With all the hustle-bustle going on, I hadn’t made the time to talk to her
— to truly catch up. I shot Heath a pleading look, and he bowed out. I mentally promised him some totally alone time later. As I walked to Natalie, I glanced over my shoulder, and he smiled, pumping his brows. I grinned, shooting him a mental image of us together. He started toward me, but I waived him off, giggling.

When I spun to face Natalie, she watched me with pained eyes. My heart tumbled to my toes. “I’m sorry.”

Her voice, soft and light, had my full attention. “You know pity is the worst part. I miss Sam more than I ever thought possible, but being reminded of my loss everywhere I turn keeps the wound bleeding.”

What could I say? Apologies were out of the question. Since she wasn’t in a reminiscing mood, I went for the next thing on my mind. “Are you ready for your mission?”

She rolled her eyes, but her expression shifted to interest. “Go on.”

“How are you with going undercover?”

VALEN TOOK A SEAT ON THE carpet next to me and Blade. My first instinct was to protect my son, which earned me a frown from the fae. “I’ve already told you I do not wish to harm you or your child.”

Chit-chat wasn’t something I wanted to do with this man. “What do you want from me?”

He peeked at me through dark lashes. “Are all modern Elementals this rash?”

I smirked. “Are all fae so vague?”

He smiled, relaxing his posture, then spreading out on the floor. His long body took up entirely too much space. I scooted back a tad, shifting Blade to my other hip. I waited for him to respond — and waited. Exasperated, I attempted to ignore him. Blade wobbled to his blocks and grabbed one before he returned to me, holding it out. I smiled and took it. On my knees, I made my way to the blocks and perched it where it had been. Blade frowned and shook his head, pointing to a place near the top of his makeshift fortress. “I don’t think it will stay,” I said.

His dark eyes pleaded with me, so I set it down gently, holding my breath. When the structure remained sound, Blade clapped. A low chuckled sounded behind us. Whipping around, I cornered him with a stare. “What do you want from me?
No more evasion, please.”

“Very well,” he said, picking at a tuft of sandy carpet. “I want you.”

I grunted. “You said so before. Why do you want me, and what exactly do you mean by want?”

His full lips pressed together in a thoughtful pucker. “Perhaps you were once naïve, but I suspect you are no longer so. I desire you to be my bondmate. The why is relatively
simple. I have grown fond of you.”

Vomit edged up my throat. I couldn’t be the fae’s bondmate. I couldn’t give myself to someone else when all I wanted was Travis.

Valen stood. “The boy does not deserve you.”

A seething huff puffed out of me. “And you do?”

He gave a simple shrug, content to remain emotionless. “I would like to think so.”

I stood and paced, picking up my son along the way. Over my shoulder, I said, “I do not share your ardor. Please leave me be.”

One moment he was on the floor. The next, he stood in front of me. Gone was the cool exterior. His expression held anger and hurt, something I thought was impossible for the man. “You do not have a choice in this matter, girl. I suggest you get used to the idea.”

Then, he did the unthinkable. He reached out and brushed his fingers against my arm. My world tilted and my mind jolted with unfamiliar longing. I found myself staring into those fathomless eyes until Blade screamed and kicked me in the hip.

Disoriented, I rushed past the fae and raced for my room. Once we were securely locked inside, I let Blade down and covered my trembling mouth with shaking fingers. I’d never experienced such a visceral reaction to a person before, not even with Travis. With stiff legs I made myself march to the bed and remove my journal. I opened to the first page and devoured the words, seeking the comfort of real emotion.

When the knock sounded at my door, I yelled, “Go away!”

Lambert kicked the door in, followed by three beefy men. I jerked up and sprinted for Blade, but Lambert was quicker. He grabbed my son as the men lunged for me.

In the chaos of punching and kicking, I lost my grip on my journal. “No!” I cried, bending for it, but they had me sandwiched between them. One yanked my arms and another shackled my legs. The last shoved a bag over my head. Something smelled wrong. I thrashed until I choked. They were killing me. With my vision al-ready black, the last thing I remembered was the wail of my son.

CREED MATERIALIZED IN FRONT OF ME, carrying a grim expression. He brushed past pleasantries and Luke, who had jumped up from the grass.

I blocked out the rest of my team and their suspicious looks. Creed pulled me with him until we stood un-der a large tree, out of earshot, or so he thought. With the way Luke inched closer I was sure he would hear most of the conversation.

Creed’s voice remained hushed yet carried well. “Valen has issued the price on Travis.”

The man was depraved, but he couldn’t be so foolish. “Are you certain?” For the apparent insult, I was given the silent treatment. “Of course you are. You wouldn’t be here otherwise. Have you told Rayla?”

He shook his head, eyeing me if I’d lost the last of my brain cells. “I didn’t think it wise.”

I clapped him on the back. “Good man. Now, tell me everything you know of the situation.”

“It appears Valen has his sights on the girl Travis seeks. Travis does have a child
… a son.”

My gasp rushed past my mouth before I could stop it.
“Male Elementals?”

Creed shifted his stance, staring past me to where Luke stood gaping. I closed my eyes and counted to three,
then I turned and yelled for Luke to join us. His stride was rushed, but he didn’t run. I would have laughed if I could have. My mind rumbled with the news, trying to sort out what the development meant for my people.

When Creed’s voice erupted in my head, I jumped. As a courtesy, we did not violate another’s personal space. He wouldn’t take his eyes off Luke, who made space for himself by shoving Creed and I apart. “What’s going on?” asked Luke, but I barely noticed with Creed taking up my attention.

It is not wise to tell the others at this point, Creed said. I have reason to believe you have a traitor among you.

To Luke, I said, “If you’d give me a moment to figure out what is happening
, I might be able to tell you.” To Creed, I said, Who?

Luke looked between Creed and me before he gnashed his teeth. “Don’t leave me out of this! I hate it when you don’t include me.”

Creed stared incredulously at Luke, while Luke gave him a smirk. If Luke were the traitor, I would cut out my tongue. The man was rash, but he wasn’t stupid enough to assist Valen in his foolishness. Still, Luke had a big mouth. “Would you give us a moment, please?”

Crestfallen, Luke tromped away. I waited until he made it to a few of the others, watching him animatedly complain. When I turned back to Creed, I waited for a response.

As if making sure our conversation remained private, he continued telepathically. I was at the Order com-pound where Lambert is keeping Emily. Travis would kill for the information, so I had to wonder why Creed was here telling me. The boy is too rash. He will get himself killed and with him any chance we have of survival.

I nodded, letting myself pace in front of him. My best solutions came in the midst of action. Faine joined us, delving into my mind and retrieving the information in a second. Her posture remained rigid.
A traitor?

Creed gave a slow nod. The enemy has our plans. He glanced at the group of staring fae and the few mortals among us, which included Rayla’s aunt and uncle. His gaze rested on the latter.

If he was implying John Keller had betrayed us all, I would waylay the man. Creed’s brows rose as if in challenge. If he wanted one, I would give it to him. My muscles tightened until Faine brushed her fingers over my arm, drawing my attention. She gave a slight shake to her head.

She took over the questions, but my mind would not let go of the insinuation Creed had made. John Keller was no traitor. He’d been tortured in a very similar manner to how I was treated while on the Order
island. Any man who could come away intact from such a situation had proven his loyalty in my eyes.

Creed snapped his gaze to me. He may be compromised.

I frowned. How?

When his attention turned to Luke, I froze. You should ask your friend.

THE EXPANSE OF SPACE STRETCHED BEFORE us. We stood on a stone outcropping above a raging whirlwind of elements and matter. Unimaginable colors swirled together, while explosions erupted here and there. “Where are we?” I asked, whispering because I didn’t want to draw too much breath, afraid I might lose what I had left. Besides, who knew what dangers lurked in the cosmos?

My father smiled politely, settling into a casual stance. “This is one of my favorite places to think.” I frowned wondering at his mental capacity. To give him credit, the scene was strangely hypnotic, but why here? He answered my unspoken question. “Earth is too distracting when a person has decisions to make.”

The way he said it put my hackles up. “What sort of decisions?”

He appraised me, one dark brow quirking. “The kind which change worlds.”

His stoic tone battled with the smile on his face as he watched me try to figure him out.
Scenarios from the simple to the absurd shot through my mind. He could have brought me here to kill me: for all I knew he could have put the price on my head.