Free Angels of the Knights by Valerie Zambito Page B

in memory.
    And, his plan worked. She was here and soon the means to dispose of her would arrive as well. His soldiers were assembling, and his associate at the church was seeing to the details at his end.
    His only real concern was that the girl would disclose their true natures to his nephew. If she did that, he would be forced to leave Alden and start all over with a new body. He hoped to Tyras it did not come to that. He enjoyed his life here with money, prestige, and access to all of the beautiful young women he could get his hands on. No, he would not be pleased to have to begin again.
    The more he thought about it, though, the more he became convinced that she would not say anything.
    She was bound by her angelic oath to keep humans safe and dragging Kade into this would only endanger his life. In the end, she would handle this on her own, and it would be her undoing.
    He knew the Knights were under the mistaken belief that the Kjin were not organized, but they were. A new rigid hierarchy existed among their ranks, and he enjoyed a high position among his brethren, second only to his superior, a singularly ruthless Kjin, who had access to Tyras himself.
    Since Tyras was powerless at the moment to send additional Kjin to earth, he did not want to see a decrease in numbers before his plans could be put into motion. To that end, several Knights had been singled out and targeted for assassination.
    His orders were simple.
    Kill Fallon Angell.

     
    Fallon came awake slowly, reluctant to let go of her dream. Burrowing deeper into the sheets, she reached out and her hand found Kade. She smiled. It was not a dream after all.
    She fought the urge to wrap her arms around him and snuggle into his back. He said he loved her. For a moment, she let herself believe that she could actually have a normal relationship with him. Why not? Impossible as it seemed, the biggest obstacle had already been overcome. He knew what she was. He knew, and he still wanted to be in her life.
    She turned to gaze at him. His lips were parted slightly and his hair was tousled from sleep. He looked so innocent. So beautiful. It seemed like she had known him all her life instead of just a few days. He loved her. It was rash and ridiculous and she felt the same.
    He murmured sleepily as she rose from the bed. “Fallon?”
    “I’m here,” she replied.
    “Don’t go.”
    “I’m just getting into the shower. We’re late for classes.”
    He raised himself up on one elbow and the sheet fell down to his waist. He did not have a shirt on. Wow, how has he been hiding those muscles?
    “How are you feeling?” he asked.
    “Much better, thanks to you. I’m sorry about last night.”
    “I’m not. I found out that you’re an angel and that I am hopelessly in love with you. Nope, not sorry at all.”
    She walked over to him and kissed him on the forehead. “Thank you.”
    He grabbed her arm. “Wait. I just thought of something. After what you told me last night, it’s obvious that you’re not really a college student.”
    She shook her head, trying to ignore the sight of his smooth, naked chest. “No, but it’s still a cover I have to keep for now. You, on the other hand, are a college student, so get out of here and get ready. I’ll meet you outside in about thirty minutes.”
    Reluctantly, he got out of bed, retrieved his shirt from the floor and pulled it over his head. She was grateful that he was still wearing his jeans. “Okay, I’ll see you in a few.”
    As soon as he left, she went into the bathroom and turned on the shower. Letting the hot water pour over her face, it was not long before it was mingling with her tears. The thought of erasing her existence from Kade’s memory weighed heavily on her, with her heart and mind warring for control.
    Her heart was very convincing. What harm could there be in waiting a little longer? After all these years, why couldn’t she enjoy this special connection with Kade. At least for a few more days.