Free Fall from Grace (Book 2: An Angelblood Novel) by Linda L. Creel Page B

and
Jessica
arrived.
She
was
still
wearing
her
nightclothes.
Everyone
else
was
still
asleep,
including
Aidan.
She
motioned for the girls to follow her where she had tea and
muffins waiting in the kitchen.
Jessica was nervous.“Does your mother know why
we’re here?”
    “She does, but don’t worry, she agrees with you.”
“She does?” Jessica asked.
    “Of course, Mom agrees you can disable the
creatures and hopefully gain some vital information.” Aura
looked at her sister. “By the way, I think your plan is
brilliant. It will certainly send a message to Richard.”
“What plan are you talking about?” Jessica asked.
“I’ll tell you after we kill those Hounds bane,” Rita
smiled.
     
“Hounds bane that’s a great name for them, but
whywon’t you tell me now?”
     
“I don’t want to upset you.”
     
Jessica looked from Rita to Aura.
They were both
smiling. “I’m not going to like it am I?”
    “You’ll like it fine if it works,” Rita laughed.
“I trust you Rita.”
“When have I ever let you down?”
“Never and I intend to keep it that way.” Rita and
Aura started laughing and soon Jessica was giggling too.
    A
few
minutes
later
Aidan
joined
them
in
the
kitchen; already dressed for the day.
Aura passed him a cup
of tea.
He stared at Rita and Jessica. “Why are you both
here so early?”
     
“We wanted to speak to Aura before we left this
morning,” Rita replied.
    “It’s
justgirl talk,” Jessica smiled.
“You’re welcome to join us if you like,” Aura said.
    “No thank you. I have learned never to interfere
when you girls are talking. I’m sure it’s nothing earth-
shattering.”
While Aura and the girls thought he was making a
joke, he never cracked a smile.
     
Aidan put his cup down and pushed back from the
table.“I think I’ll do some exploring today.”
     
“If that’s what you want to do. We’ll be shopping
for most of the afternoon,” Aura said.
    Aidan quickly excused himself.
“Don’t you want any breakfast?” Aura asked.
“No thank you. I’m not hungry. Say goodbye to the
girls for me.”
     
They listened as Aidan opened and closed the front
door.
     
“What the hell was that about?” Rita asked her
sister.
     
“He’s been acting strange the last couple of days,”
Aura said. “I think he’s worried about Jeziel.”
     
“I understand he’s worried, but he was damn cold
towards you,” Rita insisted.
    Aura shrugged her shoulders. It was true Aidan had
been distant since Jeziels disappearance. She was confused
by his behavior, but she wasn’t prepared to discuss it with
him.
    Aura tried to remain calm.
“Aidan’s entitled to his
own choices. Maybe he was only staying here to be close to
Alannah. It’s not like we’re in a relationship.”
“He gave you a ring,” Jessica said.
    “He’s my Guardian and he gave me a promise ring.
He promised to protect me, nothing more. I’ve never asked
him if he wasinvolved with Jeziel and I don’t intend to.
That’s his business, not mine. We’ll talk when he’s ready.”
“You’re certainly more patient than I would be,”
Rita insisted.
    “I’ve just recently turned sixteen. I’ve got plenty of
time to decide who I want to spend my future with. As long
as Aidan understands that Alannah is staying with me, there
won’t be any problems. But if he tries to take her away,
that’s when things will get ugly. She may call him daddy,
but she is my daughter and I’m not about to let her anywhere
near Jeziel.
    Rita and Jessica stared at Aura.
They thought that
Aura and Aidan were growing closer, but shewasn’t upset at
all by Aidan’s sudden change of heart. They decided to drop
the subject.
    When her father and Adam arrived, Rita took them
into the library.
They were surprised when Eve and Jessica
joined them.
Rita made her request to bring Richard before
the Council. “It’s been more than a monthsince Virgil’s
death and we want a ruling in the