There’s not a chance in fucking hell that will go unnoticed.
26
Run!Raphael calls through the bond as we take off in a sprint away from the barn.
Stay to the ground. No one flies, do you hear me?Zeke shouts, but he doesn’t have to warn us. We were all on campus that day, and we heard enough in that barn to know there weren’t just angels nearby.
There’s a racket coming from behind me, but I don’t bother turning back to see what it is, not when I’m running downhill and the slightest misstep could cost me.
Tall grass at the foot of the hill beckons us onward, so close I can almost smell the damp, earthy scents already. Zeke reaches it first, but he doesn’t dive into the reedy throng like I expect him to. Instead, he holds the reeds open for Raphael and me.
I breathe in deep, out of breath, but not from exertion. It would take a whole hell of a lot more than that to tire us, but the fear of getting caught steals the very air from my lungs.
We’re safe.
Except, when I look around, I don’t see Theo anywhere.
Where’s Theo?I ask through the bond, terror seizing my every thought.
I move back to the entrance of the tall grass and find Theo crouched low near the stump of a tree, trying to take in deep breaths but seeming unable to. Shouts come from the house or the barn, I can’t tell, but I have a feeling they know someone’s been snooping around where they shouldn’t have.
Raphael, is this like what happened at the assembly?
I think so, but this looks worse. I’m going to go help,he says only seconds before he bolts from the tall grass, but Zeke stops him. I watch on in horror, wondering if these two idiots are about to throw punches at a time when we really don’t need a fucking dick measuring contest.
Stay with Hayliel. Protect her with your damn life if you have to. Keep to the grass and head up the river. Theo and I will join you there.
Raphael only stares at Zeke, and I wonder if maybe he’ll say no. That’s his best friend out there, and until recently, Zeke hasn’t been very warm and welcoming to either of them.
It should be me,Raphael grits out mentally.
I know it should, but if they spot us, I have a better chance at protecting the both of us.
If the two of you can’t agree, then I’ll fucking go get him myself,I add, annoyed. We don’t have time for infighting right now. Shit or get off the fucking pot.
Like hell you will,Zeke replies at the same time Raphael says,Not a fucking chance.
They exchange a weird manly nod before Raphael pulls me deeper into the tall grass and Zeke makes his move toward the open expanse of land and Theo’s waiting form.
Inside the tall stalks of grass, sounds are muffled beneath the swish of their movements on the wind. I try to hear beyond it, to listen for any sign that Zeke and Theo are in trouble, because as much as I want to do as I’m told, I won’t leave them. And deep down, I know Raph won’t either.
We make it as close to the river as we can while still hidden in the safety of the grass, but we head up the river like Zeke told us to. Raphael stops and pulls me into his arms.
“They’ll be with us soon, sunshine. I promise,” he whispers, placing a kiss on the top of my head.
I stay there, tucked in his arms and play his words on repeat, trying to get the images of angry demons and a panic-stricken Theo out of my mind.
When we finally pull apart and continue walking, we keep our hands clasped tight, each of us pulling strength from the other.
We don’t get very far before there’s a commotion from beyond the grass, loud enough to be heard but too faint to make out exactly what it is. I squeeze Raph’s hand, and he squeezes back.
“We both have to put our faith in your house leader now. And as hard as this is for me to admit, he hasn’t let us down in a situation like this yet.”
“You’re right. We’ll have faith together,” I tell him as we push on.
Seconds turn into minutes, but we keep walking. Inside the grass, I can pretend I’m somewhere else. Somewhere without demons and changing wings. The rainforest, maybe. I read a book about that place once. Maybe it’s like this.
All of a sudden there’s a flap of wings, followed by a gravelly voice that’s way too fucking close for my liking. We drop to the ground, crouching low and staying completely still. After a fewminutes, whoever it is flies away, but we stay unmoving. For all we know, this could be the fake-out leave just to catch us in action.
