Page 53 of Fate of the Fallen

“I radioed one of the guards with a message and he says Baz and the Chancellor will see us. We’ll head over as soon as Hilda gets in,” she answered.

“Good,” he sighed. “This is exactly what we need.” He glanced at me again and I knew what he was thinking—that if I would just settle down, would just let him work out whatever plan he devised, this would all go more smoothly.

My heart beat wildly in my chest, knowing there were mere miles between Evangeline and I.

Elise gaged the tension that volleyed between Dallas and I before asking a question. “Did I miss something?”

I stood like a statue, saying nothing, but Dallas’ rationale had gotten to me. If there was a way to increase our odds of getting Evangeline out safely … I’d be crazy not to try.

The instant he saw my shoulders lose tension, the moment he saw my brow relax, he breathed a sigh of relief knowing I’d comply.

“Nope, everything’s all good,” he finally said, answering Elise’s question. “I’m gonna radio the boys and tell them to come in so we can brief them.”

Elise seemed content with that as she turned to leave us again.

“One day,” Dallas said quietly. “Give it one day to make sure things are done the right way, to make sure we kill this problem at the root.”

My heart ached in a way it never had before, knowing the sun would set again before I could go after her, but … there was no other option. As much as I hated to admit it, this problem was bigger than me and I’d need those around me to help fix it.

So, feeling completely defeated, I agreed to his terms.

“One day.”

Chapter Seventeen

Evie

They were all here—Liam, my brothers.

I wasn’t sure if this dream of them was just because my heart, literally, ached for them, or maybe it was another of the vivid memories breaking through. Either way, after a week away from home, I welcomed it, welcomed the feeling of being surrounded by love and family again.

I glanced around a large table, staring at each of their faces, feeling the closeness. Beside me, Ivan could barely get a statement out, laughing hard with a mouth full of food. I smiled, half-listening as I discreetly stared across the table at the new object of my obsession.

Liam.

Our love felt new and old at the same time.

New, because I was certain this memory was from shortly after he’d come to my room and we succumbed to our desires.

Old, because I was certain I’dalwaysloved him.

Maybe even before our souls were contained in physical bodies—like Hilda suggested.

I popped a grape into my mouth and tried to focus on only Ivan when he asked why I’d suddenly gotten quiet.

“I um … my apologies. I’m a bit tired,” I explained. “I didn’t get much sleep last night.”

There was a fleeting image that flashed in my thoughts—one of a silhouette being cast by candlelight onto the stone wall of my bedroom. It only took a moment to realize that silhouetted figure was Liam’s. A glimpse from yet another passionate night we’d had in secret.

At the memory, I swallowed hard, extending my hand toward a metal chalice filled with wine.

The table was silent and I glanced around to see why my brothers had suddenly run out of things to say. Their gazes were shifted from me to Liam and back again. There were smirks, too, an at the sight of them, my stomach sank.

“Didn’t get much sleep … ” Josiah said thoughtfully, bearing his teeth when he smiled.

My throat felt tight and a trickle of sweat raced down the center of my back.

He turned to Liam and asked a follow-up question. “Did you get a good night’s rest, brother?”