Falling for the Fallen

Chapter Thirty-Three

I widened my eyes in total surprise, speechless.

"Dad?" I blurted out in shock. Meredith nodded her head, and she continued to hug him.

"Total jaw dropper, isn't he?" Cam murmured, who stood beside me with his arms crossed as we both watched the gorgeous three greet. I gave Cam a look and cocked my eyebrow with a smirk added, and he quickly cleared his throat. "I mean, he doesn't make my jaw drop, he makes...your jaw drop."

"Sure." I said sarcastically.

"I didn't mean it that way, Cecilia! I'm not gay if that's what you're thinking." Cam assured with an annoyed look.

I started blushing as soon as Luke's dad and the two of them approached both me and Cam. I held my hand out nervously, all the nerves in my hand causing for it to shake erratically. "It-it's-it's...n-nice to me-mee-meet you, Mr. Marnori."

Mr. Marnori examined me for a few seconds with tense eyes, and then he relaxed and exchanged a smile to me. "Nice to meet you, Cecilia." He shook my hand gently, "You must be the girl that Luke watches over."

"Um, yeah." I said awkwardly, scratching the back of my head. Truth is, I wanted to be more than that to Luke. More than just the person he watches over, something way more...his girlfriend. I sighed mentally and threw on a sad face, knowing that that would never happen. Not ever. I don't want to break Matt's heart but I think he needs to know that that kiss we shared before Lilac came meant nothing, and that I'm in love with Luke Marnori. I widened my eyes quickly; Matt!

Luke gave me a soft smile, and I snapped my head around.

"Matthews!" I rushed over to the unconscious body that the stone still laid on top of. I squatted down beside him.

"He's still unconscious." Meredith stated, rushing over as well. She turned to her dad, "Dad, can you heal him?"

"I will do everything I can. I also have to put a spell in this air to filter out the gas that Lilac's laid out for the two of them." He was referring to both me and Matt, and I smiled at him.

"How did you know?" I asked with widened eyes.

"I can sense it." Mr. Marnori started to look around, and he finally turned to Luke, "I am proud of you, son. I've been watching you this whole time and I can tell you will make a great leader some day."

Meredith gushed at her brother, and I wanted to do the same, but not in front of royalty! I mean, erm, ruler or whatever they call it in angelic terms. Cam just smirked at Luke, who stood awkwardly.

"I don't understand, dad. If you have the ability to transport yourself here from California, how come you didn't get a chance to transport us before I regained all of my strength?" Luke asked, alternating the subject.

"That's kind of what I've wanted to know." Cam interfered in.

Mr. Marnori darted his eyes off to the side in thought, and then they met back with Luke's dark eyes. "Cecilia is your responsibility, not mines. If I interfered with helping you save her, then that would make me look like a bad leader to all of the other angels, wouldn't it?"

"I guess that does make sense." Meredith thought out.

"It does." I blurted out to Meredith. They all turned to me in confusion, probably astonished that I was including myself in the conversation. "Luke wouldn't be able to prove himself worthy of me if he let his dad help. And besides, if it weren't for your dad staying out of it, I wouldn't have earned my new wrist tattoo."

"And don't forget your improved upper arm tattoo." Cam added. I nodded my head at him.

Mr. Marnori turned to me, and he smiled. "You are very bold and intelligent for a human. Tell me, why is that?"