ANGEL WINGS

Thirty-Nine

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Thirty-Nine

Luke was overwhelmed by Jade's words. He certainly hadn't been expecting them. Using the hand that enveloped Jade's, he turned her to face him. As he took in her features, her wavy black hair messed from her frustration and her smoky grey eyes bright with tears and emotion, he rejoiced in the way he could feel her pulse in her wrist beating at twice its usual rate.

"Do you mean it?" he whispered.

"Yes, of course," she replied, "but I'm confused."

"About what?" he asked, excitement and joy seeping into his voice, "if you love me, I think we can figure out what happens next."

Jade laughed, the kind of sound that is always followed by tears, caused by the turmoil of mixed emotions. "Don't you get it? I love you both!" she exclaimed as a tear slipped down her cheek, "and now I have to choose."

"I'm afraid that's going to have to wait, Jade," interrupted Mikayla, "the angels are here."

~*~

In the excitement of the past four hours, Jade had forgotten entirely the reason the Fallen were in Coober Pedy in the beginning. But with those four words, 'the angels are here,' Jade remembered.

And it was crushing. She could see no feasible way to succeed in war now, while her thoughts were scattered and her heart was torn. The idea of leading the Fallen into battle felt more like leading the Fallen to their deaths.

Jade's heart rate increased and she began pacing back and forth over the ground, running her hands through her hair frantically. She began to feel breathless, despite the fact that she was inhaling at twice her usual rate. It took her several seconds to realise that she was hyperventilating.

She didn't understand what was happening. Her eyes were blurred with the tears that flowed hot over her cheeks, the tears she knew it was pointless to wipe away. Jade lost herself for a moment and a second later, she found that she was crouched on the ground, her head in her hands, sobbing uncontrollably.

When she felt a pair of firm hands on her shoulders, she looked up hoping to see Jordan's face, but instead found Luke gazing at her with concern in his amber eyes. "Jade," he said soothingly, "calm down. You can do this-"

"No!" she protested, "I can't! It's too much, it's too much! I can't do it...I can't-I can't do it..." she trailed off, shaking and crying.

UPDATE - Aug 3, 2015

This book is in the Watty Awards, so please vote! I love you all and it literally only takes a second!