Free Phoenix Contract: Part Five (Fallen Angel Watchers) by Melissa Thomas Page A

was a particularly touchy subject, and Aiden could hear the defensiveness and guilt in his voice. That personal failure, even though it had served a greater good, bugged Magnus more than the murder of an innocent girl.
    The contradictions and complexities of his personality were a puzzle that she simply didn’t have time for. She needed to figure out whether she could trust Magnus not to betray her as he’d done to Mariah, and yet she had no other real options. She wasn’t willing to drag innocent people like Kieran, the twins, or Tristan to certain death.
    “You’ve kept so many secrets, told so many lies that I just don’t know what to believe. I wouldn’t consider trusting you at all except I’m running out of time. I suppose you know that the big event is supposed to happen tonight?”
    “I was recently made aware,” he replied with an obscure little gesture that might’ve meant just about anything. “Are you going to grab for the brass ring?” Magnus asked before she could inquire about his source.
    “I wasn’t aware I had a choice,” Aiden said. “This whole thing was presented to me as a destiny thing.”
    Magnus shrugged. “You always have the option to just walk away.”
    “Walk away, just like that.” Aiden frowned, surprised at the emotional jolt his suggestion caused. Everyone else, from Matthew to Ah-Loi, had given her the impression that becoming the Phoenix, or dying in the attempt, was inexorable. Yet, here was Magnus suggesting that she could escape fate and regain mastery of her own destiny.
    “Just like that,” he agreed.
    The next minute was the longest of her life as Aiden considered the possibility. Could she just walk away? Run for freedom? Though an appealing prospect, the weight of her conscience made it seem impossible. Matthew had raised her to be responsible by instilling a strong sense of obligation to both their House and their people.
    “I can’t.” She forced the words past her lips in a rush. “My entire life is gone. Ruined. All I have left is this enormous thing that’s been dumped into my lap. I just can’t let Guillaume have it without putting up some sort of fight. No matter how futile the attempt or how doomed I am to challenge him.”
    “Oh, he’s not so tough.” He had that little smile in his voice again, the one that conveyed visions of his lips twisted into a smirk.
    “For you, maybe,” Aiden snapped. Her palm itched to slap at him. Smug bastard.
    “Well, if you’re determined,” Magnus said, and she received the impression that he’d known all along that she’d refuse to surrender. The Celt reached into his cloak and extracted the .45 which Aiden had used to destroy both Matthew and Katsue.
    A ball of ice formed in her gut as she watched Magnus load a new ammo clip.
    “Here.” He offered her the weapon.
    “Will this kill Guillaume?” She took the gun and slipped it into the pocket of her jacket. It made a sizable bulge, but it wasn’t like she was trying to sneak it into an airport.
    “It’ll slow him down if he somehow gets past me,” Magnus said, making it sound like he believed the possibility would be highly unlikely.
    “Were you planning on coming with me?” Aiden asked, taken aback at his presumption.
    “Were you planning on doing this alone?” Magnus managed to convey subtle disbelief mixed with two parts skepticism.
    Aiden sighed, because honestly, she’d planned on having him along, and obviously he knew. No point in denying it.
    “Do you know where Guillaume has the Heart?” Aiden asked, instead of acknowledging his implicit offer. She still had no idea whether he could be trusted not to betray her.
    “Yes, and you can trust me,” Magnus said with that uncanny awareness that made her wonder if he were a mind reader. “I’ll help you against Guillaume to regain Shemyaza’s Heart. You have my word.”
    As simple as that—a promise made and assurances offered—he expected her to put her doubts aside and trust him. He