Page 81 of Trust the Fall

I never look Leeanna’s way because I don’t want to see her concern. It’ll only increase my anxiousness.

“I’m sorry. I’m just … nervous.”

“That I wasn’t expecting,” Leeanna admits. “You’re typically too stubborn to be nervous. Color me surprised.”

My head swivels toward her. “I’m not stubborn.”

“You are, but I forgive you. And for the record, I’m sorry too.”

“For what?” I ask, having a feeling I know, but wanting her to say it anyway.

“For turning my back on you. I didn’t know that Heaven orchestrated your fall. Now that I do, I’m ashamed of how I treated you.”

I huff. “Don’t feel too bad. Heaven didn’t push me to Earth, Lee. I chose that all on my own. I fell in love with Luke despite their plans.”

She snorts. “I’m positive Satan wasn’t part of God’s plan.”

I smirk. “Yeah, well … being the reaper queen isn’t part of mine.”

She shakes her head, looking frustrated. “I didn’t know that part. Not even Michael did until recently. You know this.”

“If he’s to be believed,” I grunt.

Michael has always been privy to things the rest of us weren’t. He was the one who carried out the orders and ensured the key players were in position. To think that he was in the dark about something this big is insane.

“He truly didn’t know. It’s eating him up inside, Victoria. He cares about you.”

I roll my eyes. “He turned his back on me.”

Her eyes lower to the floor and we don’t say another word.

I appreciate her acknowledgment that she was wrong, and I do forgive her, but it’ll be a while before I put any amount of trust in her. Besides, she’s an angel and I’m fallen. Our time as friends has ended. We’re two different people from two different worlds now.

I’ll always love Luke, and that’s not something she or Michael will ever approve of. That truth will always separate us on different sides of the invisible line. They’ll always believe they’re on the right side of it, and I’ll always know better.

Just because you’re an angel by title, it doesn’t truly make you good. Being decent requires you to step away from norms and see the person before you condemn them. There are always two sides, and I’m finding that Heaven’s isn’t always right.

When we enter the elaborate castle, Leeanna whistles. “This is something straight out of Heaven.”

She’s not wrong. The golden columns leading into the foyer gleam under the bright sun, shining through the three-story windows lining the front of the castle.

A woman dressed in reaper leathers scurries toward River.

“Sir,” she says, bowing, “welcome home.”

“Thank you, Apple. Can you show these two ladies to their rooms?”

“In what wing would you like me to put them, sir?”

“The west wing. Directly across from my quarters, Apple. Thank you.”

She bows low before rushing off, completely forgetting me and Leeanna.

“Apple? That’s … an interesting name.”

He shrugs. “She’s a sweet kid. Came to the castle at the age of ten. She was left an orphan after a demon raid during a soul transfer.”

I have absolutely no idea what any of that means, but my heart hurts for the young woman.