An Angel's Crusade (An Angel's Wings Sequel)

Chapter Thirteen: Trust

Iris

"So, how far is Miss Slayter's house?" Aiden asks an hour after we took off from the camp.

Bailey didn't want to be anywhere the White Angel rebel, so she and Charlie flew in the front of the group. Charlie has nothing against Aiden, but where Bailey goes, he follows.

After our tense talk about Aiden, Asher has kept his distance from me. He would sneak glances every now and then back at me, but every time I meet his eyes he quickly looks away.

Alex and Gabriel are switching back and forth carrying Payton. I felt bad for not being able to help, but Payton reassured me that she was fine and finally had a reason to thank her mom for giving her a slender figure.

So, by elimination, I was stuck with the White Angel rebel.

"Her name is Payton, stop calling everybody by their last names, your superiors aren't around." I'm already getting annoyed with him and it's still about another half hour until we get there. "Almost there, Aiden," I mumble through gritted teeth.

He pulls up to a sudden stop, almost causing Gabriel to run into him and drop Payton.

Alex reaches us and gives me a confused look. I return it with a shrug.

"You guys go ahead; I'd like to talk to Iris. We'll catch up." He gives them one of his famous smiles and Alex turns to me again, suspicion in his eyes.

I nod to him; a silent okay.

Alex nods, still uncertain, then faces Aiden, who's still smiling.

"She'll be fine, Alex. I promise I'll return with her in one piece."

"You don't and you won't just have to worry about Asher and Alex," Payton says giving Aiden a daring glare.

Aiden's grin widens with her threat. "I swear, I shall return her to you, Miss Slayter."

I roll my eyes. "Payton, not Miss Slayter."

Payton smirks. "I don't know. I think I like Miss Slayter."

Gabriel snorts. "Well, Miss Slayter, if we don't start going, I might end up dropping you and it won't matter what we call you."

Payton nods and sends a smile my way. "Come on, Alex, Iris can handle herself."

Alex hesitates, then, with one last uncertain glance at Aiden, he follows Gabriel and Payton.

I watch them fly away and marginally notice that neither Bailey or Charlie noticed we stopped. Asher is a quarter of a mile ahead, waiting patiently and watching like a hawk or a stalker, depending on how you want to think of it.

"What do you want?" I ask sternly, turning back to him. His emerald eyes are attempting to pierce my soul but I fight back. "Seriously, my friend's mom could be hurt and you're wasting time by hovering here."

He frowns and I return the expression. "Look, Iris," he starts and I almost want to roll my eyes but I fight the urge. "I get that you don't want me here." I almost ask him how he figured that one out. He continues, "I get that you're still not quite sure if you can trust me, and that's fine, I understand. But I promise you, I'm here to help. I want you to trust me. I don't care if your friends threaten me, I don't care if your boyfriend is always watching me." Without meaning to, I turn the direction where Asher was and see that even though the others have gone ahead, he's still hovering there, watching us closely. "The only thing I care about," Aiden's voice brings me back to him, "is that you trust me."

His deep green eyes are searching mine and I can't find the strength to keep his endless gaze. "I barely know you, Aiden." My words are barely audible, but he somehow hears me.

"I know, but I trust you. I don't need you to trust me right now, just in the future. I can prove myself to you, just don't shut me out. Okay?"

He puts his hand lightly under my chin and gently lifts my head to meet his eyes. "Okay?"

I'm lost in his eyes and can't seem to find words, so I nod.

A smile spreads across his lips and he nods to me. "Thank you."

I nod again, still unable to speak

His grin grows. "We may catch up now." He gestures the way we need to go and when I turn, I see an empty sky.

Asher is nowhere to be seen.