Redemption

Chapter 29

Her strength is growing. The change has been gradual, but she is beginning to feel it grow within herself. When she learns how to use and control her powers, she will be a force to be reckoned with.
~Bezaliel~

Rubbing my jaw, I glared at Marcas. "What are your plans, Craig?"

My voice trembled, and I hated him for it.

Marcas stood next to the massive four poster bed I was stretched out on. The rest of the room was just as massive and grand.

Everything was either pure polished mahogany or gilded in some shiny material. But, as pretty as it was, I was only interested in Marcas and his answer.

Glancing at me, his eyes darkening, he asked, "Do you think it's wise to keep running, Blainey?"

His look was full of disgust, and it angered me. I hadn't meant to tempt him. Biting my tongue was something I did when I was trying to keep myself quiet or to flood out other overwhelming emotions. It hurt, and it worked. Pain could be like that sometimes-reassuring, reminding me I was human.

"Do you think it's wise to turn ourselves over to a group we want to steal from while becoming sitting ducks for a group of Demons who want us dead?" I asked him in return.

He watched me, anger emanating from him. "I've fought in a lot of human wars as well as celestial ones. Do you question my knowledge of strategy?"

I found myself taken aback by his rage. I hadn't done this to us. "I question what I don't understand, Craig. You haven't involved me in most of your decisions. You've just dragged me with you. And you want me to feel safe in your ability to strategize? That's a lark."

He moved away from the bed. "There's no need for you to be involved more than you have to be, Blainey."

I swear, I hated the man. "You think I'm that weak, Craig?"

"I think you're that unprepared."

Maybe he was right. But I could change that. Climbing off of the bed, I faced him. "What do you have planned? I'm stronger than you think, and I know I'm more capable than this. I'm part Angel. That gives me an edge. I just need to know what that edge is."

"Do you even realize what being an Angel means?" he asked.

No, I didn't, and there was no use pretending I did. For a moment, we simply stared at each other, our gazes locked, our emotions high. For the first time, I read turmoil in his eyes.

Reaching out, he grabbed my shoulders. It was the first time he'd ever touched me without an underlying reason. It had always been done in anger or subterfuge. "We need the ring, Blainey. I can't teach you what you need to know. I play ball for the wrong team even when I'm fighting against them. Here," he waved at the room, "we can slay more than one dragon. Eventually we will have to face the group of Demons behind us. I'd rather have an army fighting at my side when we do. The S.O.S will give us that. At the same time, we can draw closer to the carpet. With the carpet, we get closer to the ring."

His plan made sense. I didn't know what the carpet was, but I still had time to figure that out. "And you think the S.O.S will protect me and tolerate you because they believe we're involved?"

"Yes, I brought Sophia here when I realized war with my kind was inevitable. The director, Roman, chose to fight with me. It seemed likely that they would choose to offer me sanctuary again. They're not aware of the bond."

My blood boiled. I hated every moment of this, hated that I'd not been content with my life before I was bonded with Marcas or after, hated that I had few choices, hated that my existence should be impossible. I wanted to cry out of anger, but I fought back the tears.