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“Answers for?” Lifting her chin, I bring those strikingly beautiful eyes up to meet mine.
“My parents. I know they’re not in Heaven or Purgatory. There’s no record of their arrival at all. They’re not in Hell Hold. I know Belphegor and your father are keeping secrets about them, and maybe it’s to protect them, or me, or maybe it’s because my parents want to be left alone. After Michael is gone, and everyone is safe, I’ll get my answers then. For now, it’s best to wait.”
I wish I could give her the truth. Fuck, I want to so badly it nearly destroys me from the inside out. I can’t even imagine what not knowing must feel like. However, I’ve been sworn to secrecy and it’s an oath I made in blood, long before I even met her. Had I known, I would’ve never agreed to the terms.
Though there’s nothing that says I can’t let her figure it out on her own. Which I’ve made an effort towards, starting with the library. I’ve purposely arranged books where she’d see them that would teach her of our world, of deals, of angel customs and the architectural makeup of Limbo. If she snuck in here—even if I don’t agree with the tactics–I have to admit it’s working.
Skimming my thumb across her cheek, I lean down, pressing my lips to hers. She lifts on her tippy toes, melting against me, and chases the connection the moment I pull away.
“As much as I’d love to continue this, we should get back. My father could find out at any moment that I stole his card, or someone could catch us here. And if that’s not enough to worry about, the barrier will be up soon and we don’t want to get locked in here. Not with what we are.”
Her arms slide around my middle as she pulls me close, hugging me tightly. “Okay.” Resting my chin on top of her head, I breathe her in, mesmerized by the way she fits so perfectly against me and getting lost in the lavender scent of her hair. I don’t even bother breaking the hug before teleporting us back into the castle.
21
Alice
Alarms split the air, forcing my eyes open wide. I gasp, leaning back to peer up at the mountain of a man my arms are looped around.
“Is that….” My voice dies before the words are out and Kai lurches away from me, jogging into the closet. A slew of curse words float from his lips and my heart quickens, picking up the pace. That can’t be good.
“It’s a warning. My guess is the High King knew about the barrier,” he says, filling in the blanks while yanking his shirt off. It’s replaced by another. Then plates of golden armor slip around his frame and hug his broad shoulders.
“Warning… As in…”
“Yes! As in we’re at war, Alice. You need to go get dressed.” He pauses, letting out a sigh and turning back to me. “It’s going to be okay, but I need you to move.”
“Has anyone seen the prince or the princess!” Finn’s voice carries through the door, screaming at those scurrying through the halls outside our room. The door burst open to reveal six feet of golden armor and a sweaty, out-of-breath man on the verge of a heart attack. “There you two are! Where the hell have you been?”
“Lim—” I start to answer, but Kai clamps his hand over my mouth, stopping the word short.
“Busy,” he says, sliding on boots and strapping plated sleeves around them. “What’s happening?”
“The High King has a force moving into our realm as we speak. And Alice, your cat is in the foyer. She crashed through the front doors a bit ago, carrying an interesting little man between her teeth. One of their runners. The king scared some answers out of him, but I think it’s safe to say she’s on the Devil’s good side now.”
Kai stands, strapping on his sword and reaching for his crown. “You should go,” Finn tells him. “I can help her. The men and your father need you more right now. We’ll be down soon.”
Kai nods, standing up to his full height. He crosses the space between us, kissing me deeply before disappearing from the room.
“Well…” Finn steps closer, resting his hand on the hilt of his sword. “How are you feeling?”
“Fine, I suppose.”
“If you’re not, or if you don’t think you’re ready, I’m more than happy to hide you someplace safe until it’s over. There’s no need to—’’ I cut him off, lifting my hand and bowing my head for a second.
“No. I won’t hide in the tunnels. I’m ready. Besides, maybe seeing me on the battlefield will get the village masters to stop looking at me like the enemy.”
A smug, closed-lip grin crosses his face as he gives a curt nod. “Very well, then. Let’s get you dressed, yeah? I’d send in Clamara, but most of the women have already been moved below. So, I hope you’re not shy.”
He winks at me, which does little to hide the gleam in his eye.
“I’m pretty sure it’s impossible to be shy around you. You’d find a way to turn it into some kind of joke.”
“True,” he says, gesturing for me to follow him into the bathroom and through the closet on the far side. “Everything is much more enjoyable when you can laugh about it.”
Finn snatches the mannequin holding the leather armor made of dragon skin from the stand and carries it like a surfboard into the center of the room. They had it made for me since the metal-plated armor was too heavy. It nearly swallowed me whole. Not to mention, I could barely move in it.
He grabs a thin camisole from the hangers and tosses it to me. “Here, throw this on and I’ll get the corset thing off. Or try, I should say. I’ve never been good with strings. Meet me in the room when you’re done.”
