Broken Wings (Hidden Wings Series Book Two) (7 page)

BOOK: Broken Wings (Hidden Wings Series Book Two)
10.28Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

His sad eyes foun
d mine and they spoke very loud and clear. He knew exactly what I was talking about, because he probably didn’t feel them either.

“It’s not
that I don’t have any feelings for you, Kade, because I do. But it’s the other, overwhelming feelings that used to happen when you were close, or we touched. They’re not there anymore.”

Kade
sighed and closed his eyes.

“I’m
so sorry, Emma. It was the only thing I could do to help.” He took in a deep breath and exhaled. “I requested to the head of the Midway, that they make me mortal. Every immortal has that choice, and can only make it once. I was assigned to protect you, no matter what the cost, and if that cost was becoming mortal so I could travel into Hell with you to keep you safe, then it was an easy decision. A decision
I
consciously made on my own.”


Kade,” I whispered. I was overcome with sadness. Tears filled my eyes knowing that he’d chosen me over his immortality.


Don’t cry, Emma,” he said shaking his head with a sad grin. He gently touched the side of my cheek, wiping away a tear. “I’m at peace with the decision I made, and I’ll still be able to protect you. I’ll always protect you.”

I looked into his eyes, and they were filled with so much love.

“Thank you,” I whispered. My heart wanted to burst.

“Hey don’t get all teary eyed for me. I’ll be fine. Being mortal isn’t so bad. You’ve been one for the past, what… seventeen years? I think I can manage it,” he said with a crooked grin. I wanted to hug him. To kiss him, and tell him how much I loved him.

Wow. Thinking about it
made me realize something. I had fallen for him. I
was
in love with Kade. Maybe the bonding thing was real, and we were meant to be together forever. All I knew was that the feelings I was experiencing deep inside were true. I’d never felt so strong about wanting to be with him, and knowing that my life would never be the same if he ever left.

He smiled at me and I melted.


So they can really do that? Change an immortal to a mortal?” I questioned.

“Yes,” he answered.

“Will they able to change you back when we’re done? You know, after we get back from our quest…they
will
be able to turn you back into an immortal, right?”

He pau
sed. His eyes stared blankly at his hands, and then he slowly shook his head.

“No. Once you change from immortal to mortal, you can never change
back.”

My last breath caught in my throat, and m
y heart felt like it had been bashed in and broken. It began to ache with pain and sadness. I could only imagine what Kade was feeling. His whole life, like mine, had completely changed in an instant. He went from immortal to mortal, and it was because of me.

My head began to flood
with questions, and my heart began to swell with an unknown warmth and admiration for him. I reached over and took his hand in mine, lacing my fingers through his. He squeezed, and softly rubbed his thumb along mine.

Yes, t
here was still a strong connection between us.


Kade, you didn’t have to do this for me. Samuel and Danyel could have taken care of me. They are my Guardians too.”


Yes,” he hesitated. I could see a faint glimmer in his eyes as he took in a deep breath and exhaled the truth. “But,
I
am your true Guardian, Emma. I was the one assigned to watch over and protect you, and I was the one given orders directly from above. They sent me to Alaine first, to wait until the time my mission started.


I guess they got wind of Lucian’s executions, and told me that I was to start protecting you right after your sixteenth birthday. My orders were very strict and specific. Someone in the upper hierarchy must really care about you, because I was to keep an extra close eye on you, and protect you at all costs. No other Nephilim has been assigned a Guardian, except for you and Alaine.”

I felt my mouth gaping wide
as my brain processed his words.

Kade was
mine. He was my Guardian, sent to protect me, and only me.

“I didn’t know
,” I breathed. Another thought crossed my mind. Something Courtney had mentioned earlier when she was giving me the tour of the house. She said Kade had been gone for a year, and went away for work. Well, she was right. I was his work.


That’s why I was the one that came to escort you from the hospital. Alaine sent Malachi to assist me. He’d met me the night before, and had also been given orders, along with the Watchers, to assure your utmost safety in reaching Alaine.


I’m still pissed that the damn Darkling touched you at the airport, and I’ll never forgive myself for letting him hurt you. Every time I picture that bastard on top of you, with his hand wrapped around your neck… It’ll haunt me for a long time,” he sighed. His beautiful hazel eyes swam with a mixture of sadness and relief. Relief, most likely, that he’d finally told me the truth. Now I understood why he made the decision to become mortal.

“Kade, that
wasn’t your fault. You told me not to go, but I had no idea that a Darkling would be waiting for me.”

“S
till. It was my job to protect you, and I failed. I’m sorry,” he breathed.

I squeezed his hand
tighter around mine. “You didn’t fail. I’m still here, and that Darkling is dead. I’d say mission accomplished,” I smiled, trying to make light of the situation.

He smiled, but only slightly.                   

“So, if you were sent to watch over me after I turned sixteen, then why haven’t we met before?”


Guardians aren’t supposed to be seen. We’re supposed to be invisible to those we protect. During the day I wasn’t too worried about you being attacked, because the Fallen and Darkling do most of their evil affairs under the cover of the night. But once night came, I would keep an extra, watchful eye over you.”

Yeah, t
hat info was kind of overwhelming. Knowing that he was watching over me for a whole year and I had no clue.

Kade chuckled, probably reading my
expression.

“Don’t worry. I’m not a creepe
r or a stalker. I was just doing my job and fulfilling my orders. And, just so you know…I never entered your home or your room. I always watched from a distance, and never interfered with your privacy.”

I felt embarrassed and heat instantly flushed through my face
, probably turning a dark shade of pink. I don’t think I would have minded if Kade had stalked me. He’d be the kind of guy any girl would want stalking her, and I already knew he definitely wasn’t a creeper. He’d proven himself to be a loyal protector.

“So w
here’d you hang out, you know, while you were
guarding
me?” Yes, I was going to pick his brain. He was invisible for a whole year, and probably knew everything there was to know about me, and yet, I practically knew nothing about him.


Well,” he dragged. I wasn’t going to let him pass on this question. I stared intently at him, putting on the pressure. “I mostly hung out on the rooftop of the three story house across the street. The Taylor’s house. It gave me a good view of all areas surrounding your house, and was the perfect spot, to see any intruders. I was either there, or in a car down the street, but never too far.”

The Taylor’s?
They were a quiet family who traveled a lot, but they were friends with my parents. The thought of them sent a pang of sadness through me.

But wait!!!

If Kade
was guarding me since I was sixteen, and watching me extra close during the night, then did he see the accident? Was he there the night my parents were killed? Maybe he held the answers to the questions that I had been longing to be answered. What truly happened that night?

My heart began to race as I thought a
bout asking him. How would I approach him? I didn’t want him to feel bad from keeping it from me, and knew that if he was, it was only to protect me. Maybe he didn’t know the answer. I’d never know if I didn’t ask.

“Can I ask you a
serious question?” I asked. My voice was shaky. I could see a look of bewilderment enter his eyes, but he nodded.

“Sure.”


Were you there… the night of the accident? The night my parents died?”

He was silent. His b
rows furrowed deeply and then he closed his eyes. I waited patiently for his answer.

He knew.

He knew something.

“You were
there. Weren’t you?” I finally breathed.

He nodd
ed.

“Yes, I was there.
I was following your car from a distance, and remember how dark it was. The road you were traveling on didn’t have much light, and there was hardly any traffic. I had a gut feeling that something might happen, and sped up a bit to get closer.


You had just turned seventeen, and it seemed like the perfect time for the Fallen to strike. My instincts were right. One of the Fallen dropped out of the sky and landed directly in front of your car. The sound of brakes screeching echoed through the cold air, and smoke bellowed from the tires as your father hit the brakes. He must have panicked, and swerved out of the way. It all happened so fast. Too fast. The car veered over the embankment and headed straight for a bunch of trees alongside the road.


Before the crash, I managed to jump through the back window, and kept the impact from crushing and killing you. You were screaming and panicking, and were in shock and so much pain, so I did the only thing I could think of. I put the sleeper on you, and fled as help arrived.” His voice was weak, and sadness swam in his eyes. “Emma, I wish I could have saved your parents, but I only had time to save one. You were the one I was sent to protect. I’m so sorry.” He couldn’t look at me any longer, and I noticed a tear escape his eye and trail down his cheek. He turned away from me and tried to release his fingers from mine, but I held on tight. I didn’t want him to leave.


They said it was a complete miracle that I was alive. That the impact should have killed me, but the tiny area right around me wasn’t crushed, when it should’ve been. Now I know the reason why. It was because of you. You saved me,” I said, breathless. “Kade, it wasn’t your fault. My parents would be grateful that you saved my life. I’m grateful. I just wish you could have met them. They would have loved you…as I do,” I cried.

His eyes snapped up to me
, and in an instant, I closed the distance between us, burying my face in the warmth and security of his chest. I sobbed, and he wrapped his arms around me. I melted into him, and wanted him to hold onto me forever.

He was my hero, my protector,
my Guardian. Even though I didn’t get the overwhelming rush of euphoria I did when he first touched me, the connection we had was still very, very strong. Just knowing he was my Guardian, and had saved my life, made my heart grow that much more for him.

“I
’m sorry you gave up your immortality for me,” I breathed.

“I’
m not,” he returned. I felt the warmth of his breath as he kissed the top of my head. He raised my chin with his fingers, so that my eyes met his, and then softly wiped the tears from my eyes.

T
ime froze, and he had become my world.

“I wish I could kiss you right now
,” he whispered.

“Are they
watching us?” I asked.

He looked over my shoulder.

“Yep,” he nodded and smiled.

“All of them?”

“Mmm-hmm,” he hummed. “
All
of them.”

“Okay, then. I’ll
settle for another hug.” He laughed and I wrapped my arms around him and squeezed, and he hugged me back.


Get some rest, okay? We’ll be going through Hell tomorrow.” I caught his pun and laughed. He stood from the couch, gave me a wink, and then headed off into the kitchen with the others.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 4

 

 

 

T
he day flew by and before I knew it, night had arrived. If not for the clock on the wall, none of us would have even known the time. Being underground sucked, and I tried hard not to think about it. Whenever I did, I started to feel a bit claustrophobic.

Everyone gathered
around the table and discussed the plans for the morning’s quest. I stayed out of it and volunteered to tend to the weak and drugged Caleb. This time I didn’t want to worry about the details. I’d leave those to the others I’d be traveling with.  

After a few
boring hours of listening to Caleb snore, I ended up back on the couch. My mind was way too wound up, and insomnia would be my enemy. How was I supposed to function, let alone run and dodge demons, when I was exhausted?

BOOK: Broken Wings (Hidden Wings Series Book Two)
10.28Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

Other books

T*Witches: Kindred Spirits by Reisfeld, Randi, H.B. Gilmour
Private Message by Torella, Danielle
Yours for the Taking by Robin Kaye
I Too Had a Love Story by Ravinder Singh
Heavy Metal Heartbeat by Ambear Shellea
The Blue Bistro by Hilderbrand, Elin
Tales from a Not-So-Fabulous Life by Rachel Renée Russell