Jude; The Fallen (The Fallen Series, Book 2) (15 page)

“I know, Alex,” she said. “You have to stay.” She shook her head and lifted her chin. “One of us needs to be here for Ash.” She broke from him and pulled Alex into a hug, pressing a kiss to the top of his head as he buried it in her shoulder. “We’ll find her. We’ll bring her home.”

Jude bristled and drew himself up, anger fuelling his words. “This isn’t my place. If anyone should be going—“

“He can’t!” Coriander barked, letting Alex go. “And that’s the end of it. If you don’t want to go with me, fine, I’ll go on my own. But he stays.”

Her words were firm, determination and fire shining in her eyes. She would go on her own, he had no doubt. She’d go, and knowing that stubborn streak, get herself killed. He thought about Lucius and the others, but had a feeling if the kidnapper knew they were all traipsing around after him, little Ash didn’t stand a chance. He’d kill her.

Jude looked over at Alex, able to see the worry and the guilt stretched on his face. Maybe the dog had a good reason for not going to fetch his daughter. Maybe. But as the memory of Ashtiru’s light laughter filtered into his ears, he couldn’t imagine what it could be. Because if she was
his
kid, he’d give The Almighty the finger and fall all over again at the chance to save her.

He set his shoulders in a hard line and crossed his arms over his chest. “Fine. I’ll go, if only to keep you from getting killed in the process.”

Coriander let out a sorrowful whine and threw herself at him in a tight hug. Coolness slid over his skin, and he wrapped his arms around her. He met Alex’s eyes over the top of her head, and the other man gave a sharp nod in return. Jude watched as Alex turned and left them alone in the room.

She shuffled in his grasp and pulled back. “Thank you,” she whispered. “I know we can find her.”

His lips pursed in a tight line, unable to manage a reply. Jude pulled her back to the circle of his arms and let her sag against him. It was going to be a long couple of days. And he fucking hated Egypt.

The mood was tense as evening slipped into moonlight. Emotions ran high as Alex watched the angels flock to Coriander and offer her words of comfort he knew were of no use. Nothing would comfort her until Ashtiru was safely home once again. Persephone was just as much of a wreck as her sister, and he watched her cling to Lucius in a quiet bundle of sobs. They rose from the couch, and the blonde woman gave Coriander one last hug before the angel ushered her up the stairs to retire for the evening.

The noisy one, Alex had only met her a handful of times, was reserved now, grasping Coriander’s hand tightly in her own. She squeezed it before announcing she would spend the night with her bandmates in the caravan outside. He heard something about “strength in numbers” before she headed out the front door. The blind one had yet to make an appearance, and frankly, given the volatility of the situation, his absence was probably a good thing. The deaf one and the mute sat together on the opposite sofa, side by side, practically sharing a cushion. Their hands were intertwined as well. They projected an odd strength, tempered with gentleness, and he wondered about the closeness that came so easily to the pair. Their worry and concern was evident, a united front against the evil that had transpired.

Alex saw them share a look and an unspoken word, just a gesture of fingers, and then they rose as one. They smiled at him with sympathy and crossed to Coriander. She hugged each one in turn, and they were gone as well. It was then that he met Jude’s eyes.

The big angel said nothing, and wrapped his arms around Coriander. It hurt, he had to admit, but the sting was mitigated over the blatant concern in the angel’s face. Whatever was going on, he had genuine emotion for both Ashtiru and her mother.
Point to you, sir. That makes what I’m about to tell you so much easier.

Coriander sniffed and wiped her face with the back of her hand. “It’s late, and there’s nothing we can do now. We can start fresh in the morning and make a game plan. I’ll get Avalon here as quick as I can.” She extricated herself from Jude’s grasp and went to the stairs.

The words were out before he could call them back. “Jude, a word.”

“Sure.”

Coriander didn’t bother to look down from her ascent. “Don’t keep him too long, Alex.”

“I won’t.” Alex gestured to the parlor at the other end of the living room. “Drink?”

Jude sighed and his shoulders sagged. “Make it a double.”

Alex shut the door behind them and proceeded to pour two generous glasses of something from a crystal decanter. He sniffed one glass experimentally. Scotch. Single malt. Old. Perfect. Something told him this conversation would require top shelf booze. He handed a glass to Jude.

“I feel like we’ve been here before,” the angel smirked.

Alex smiled as he sat down. “Yeah, let’s not revisit that ending, shall we?”

“I have a problem with you not going,” Jude said flatly.

“Good to see you’re not wasting time with pleasantries,” Alex shot back.

“I don’t think we have time for the bullshit, do you? Your little girl is out there—“

Alex sat up and snapped, “I know that. But you need to know why I can’t go.”

“I don’t fucking care. Whatever it is, sack up and get out there. Cori needs you.” Jude sat down and gulped the contents of his glass. “I’m nobody’s replacement.”

Alex felt his face pinch and his cheeks flush with anger. “We’re really going to go here, aren’t we? I thought we settled this.” He took a sip of the scotch, needing the burn to keep going. “And you couldn’t replace me if you tried.”

Jude paused for a moment and sighed. “You’re right,” he admitted. “The dick-swinging is getting old. Spill.”

Alex placed his glass on the low table and sat back to rub a hand over his face. “If he had taken her anywhere else, I would be out there so fast it would make your head spin. It’s Egypt. I can’t return to Egypt.”

The big angel’s eyebrow quirked in amusement. “Piss off the government? Been banned from the country?” He leaned forward. “I didn’t think something as little as that would keep a man like you grounded. Afraid of being arrested?”

Alex shook his head. “I’m afraid it’s a little more dramatic than prison.” He ran the words over in his head, unable to find a better way to express himself. “If I go back to Egypt, I will die.”

Jude snorted. “Now who’s being dramatic?”

He narrowed his eyes on the angel. “Do you remember the conversation we had? Pretty blue lights over my stylish mop of hair? Ring a bell?”

“What of it?”

“I’m going to say this slowly, so perhaps you’ll understand me this time.” Jude frowned at him, but he continued. “Anubis,” Alex enunciated with a heavy drip of sarcasm. “Well, one of a long line, anyway. Let’s just say that a very long time ago, the Anubis left Egypt with the caveat that should he ever return, death is pretty much guaranteed.”

“You get that in writing? Or is this just shitty speculation?” Jude asked with a sardonic smile.

“Fuck you, it’s the truth. The point is, I don’t even remember the past lives I’m supposed to have led. I get flashes every now and then, but nothing that makes any real sense. The light show,” he waved a finger over his head, “it’s like a divine warning symbol to those in the know. Sort of a ‘hey, don’t lie to this guy, the blue jackal can tell’. Weighing of the heart, and all that. Been quite useful in my work.” At Jude’s snort of disbelief, he frowned. “For whatever reason, curse, destiny, fate, divine cruelty, whatever you want to call it, if I dig a toe in Egyptian sand, I will die there. So, let me ask you which one is a better choice. Both Cori and I going and taking the chance that neither one of us makes it home, or me staying here, making sure Ash has a parent to come home to?”

Jude said nothing, but the shadow that crossed his face told Alex the big angel was mulling it over.

“You know there’s a good chance Cori won’t make it back. It’s a given that I won’t. I can’t risk going and then something happening to Coriander. Then where does that leave Ash? Down two parents instead of one. Do the math.”He didn’t know if trying to make the angel see things from his point of view would make any difference. He knew he certainly wasn’t currying any favor, either. They’d at least managed a civil conversation long enough without resorting to violence and bloodshed. A small part of him lamented that fact, but then again, they had only started to drink. There was still time. And there was more than enough booze for the effort.

As if the big angel read his mind, Jude got up and poured himself another scotch, slamming it back without preamble. He wiped the back of his hand over his mouth and pointed at Alex. “I know what you’re doing. This noble shit. Don’t. Don’t make me start to like you. I don’t want to like you.”

“I don’t care if you like me, Jude, I just need you to keep her safe. Because this time, I can’t. And it kills me.”
More than you will ever know.

Jude shook his head and let out a groan Alex knew well. Frustration. He waggled a finger in Alex’s direction. “No, no. This is not what I do. I can’t swoop in and save the day. There will be no heroics, no epic destruction, no feats of supernatural savioring.” He jerked a thumb at his back. “These are just for show, buddy. They don’t work. I played hero once and it was a mistake. I’m going to hang back and make sure she doesn’t shoot her foot off. Or mine. That’s it. We find Ash and bring her home.”

“She believes in you.” Once again, the words bled out of his mouth on a sting. “Coriander has faith in you.” Alex paused and considered the big angel and his awkwardness at their impromptu confessions. “She’s a smart woman. Maybe she’s right.”

He put down the glass and frowned back at Alex. “She’s too mouthy for her own good. Never seen a woman who could talk so much and not say a damn thing.”

“You love her,” he blurted. Jude’s eyes went wide and Alex had to smile. “You do.” He leaned back, enjoying the look of abject terror that crossed the angel’s face. “And it’s freaking you out.” He threw his head back and laughed. “God, this is rich. I was worried before, but this… oh, Christ—you really don’t know what you’re going to do with her, do you?”

“Shut up.”

Alex stood and moved across the room to stand in front of Jude. The big angel’s eyes flitted around him, and he knew he was taking in the light show. He pointed to his head. “Can’t lie to me, remember?” Alex narrowed his eyes, knowing they would darken to slits. The image wasn’t terrifying, but it managed to unnerve most people. Jude was no exception. “It’s the weighing of your heart.” His hand came up to poke Jude in the chest. The angel didn’t flinch. “I can see right through you.”

The shock had drained from the angel’s eyes, replaced by a calm and calculating scrutiny. The big angel wasn’t objecting to being read, per se; it was the truth being pointed out that he didn’t like.

“And what do you think you see?” Jude’s voice held an undercurrent of warning.

“I see your darkness.” Alex let his eyes rove over the angel, watching as his Adam’s apple bobbed with a hard swallow. Jude’s nostrils flared and the fingers of one hand flexed, not quite curling into a fist. He was holding back, restraining himself. “I see your pain. And when you talk about her, I see golden light. Truth. Love.” He stepped back to give Jude some room. “Whether or not you want to admit to me, it’s true, and you know it. You love her. And Ash, in your own way.”

“How does that make you feel?” There was a catch to Jude’s voice. Guilt? Regret? It was hard to place. But the emotion was genuine. No reason not to reward honesty with honesty.

“I hate it,” he said simply. “But I have no choice. Just make them happy.”

“I’ll try. That’s all I can promise.”

Alex’s eyes danced over Jude again, soaking in the truth of the big angel’s words. “Yeah, but that’s enough for me.”

The big angel downed the rest of his drink and set the glass down hard. Jude rose to his feet and headed for the doorway. “I sure as hell hope you mean that, because if you come at me again, it won’t be Egypt you have to worry about.” The angel didn’t wait for a response and left, heavy footsteps echoing across the floor.

Alex flicked two fingers in a mock salute at the empty doorway. “Noted.”

Chapter Eight

Jude wasn’t surprised to see her small frame curled up on his bed when he entered the room. Her own bedroom, he surmised, would be filled with photos and other reminders of Ash. The guest room was neutral ground. Easy enough for her to escape to.