“Not what, Lily? A Fallen? Because that’s what he is. Shit. I thought you knew better than this. I suspected there was more to it, more than what you were willing to admit to, but this?”
She ran a nervous hand over her hip. Maybe if she was honest with him, he would understand. Luke always listened to her in the past. She inhaled softly, meeting his gaze with her earnest one. “Julian isn’t like the others. He hasn’t fathered a Nephilim. He doesn’t corrupt innocents like the others do. He is different.”
Luke looked like he wanted to laugh. “That’s what he’s told you.”
“I believe him. He’s not bad. You have to see that. He’s saved my life twice, and God knows how many times I don’t know about.”
“So he did nothing to Micah?” Luke raised his brows.
Deciding that lying would likely come back and bite her in the ass later, she told him what happened and how Micah’s comments had provoked him. As she told the story, Luke grew angrier. “But he didn’t hurt him, Luke. I did.”
“Which makes it all the worse.” Luke stopped and sighed heavily. “I don’t think Nathaniel would take it as a breach of Contract, but you will be punished.”
She swallowed. A breached Contract was basically going rogue. She would be thrown out of the Sanctuary, left to fend solely for herself. It had been far before her time when the last Nephilim had breached their Contract.
Some of the steam behind Luke’s anger faded as he watched her. She felt terribly small now, lost and unsure. “I think its best that you come back to the Sanctuary immediately, admit fault, and stay as far away from Julian as possible.”
Pressing her lips together, she ran a hand through her windblown hair. “I need some time.”
Luke’s brows shot up. “What?”
“Time,” she repeated. “I need time away. I have to think about this.”
“You shouldn’t have to think about anything, Lily! You know this is wrong, and it’s gotten out of hand.”
A hundred different emotions bubbled up in her, spilling over. “I don’t know if this is wrong!” she yelled. “I’ve never done anything to earn any distrust. I have always put the Sanctuary and my duty first!” She turned away, trying to rein in some sort of control. “My whole life has been dedicated to this, and I didn’t ask for any of it.”
Luke stepped behind her. “None of us did, but this is our life.”
She stared out over the city—the night teeming with bright lights, streets filled with humans and minions. There were people out there living and dying. Some were even falling in love. Three things Lily couldn’t do so easily, and, damn it, she wanted to be like them instead of what she was. She wanted the freedom to choose.
“This isn’t you,” he whispered.
She paused for a moment, then murmured, “Maybe it is.” She smiled halfheartedly. “Thank you for running Micah off. I do owe him an apology, but if he follows me one more time…” She let the threat hang between them.
Luke leaned forward. “Don’t do this, Lily.”
He knew her so well. “Michael is doing very well.” She cleared her throat against the sudden tightening. “If you could check in on him later for me, I’d appreciate it. Rafe has been wonderful.”
“Lily,” he protested. “Please. It will be worse if you don’t come back with me. Please.”
“I just need some time. I know that isn’t what you want to hear, but I’ll be back,” she told him. “Ready to face whatever Nathaniel deems fit.”
“Come on. We can go to him together. You know how Nate is. He’s not going to be too hard on you.” He forced a smile, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “You have him wrapped around your finger after all.”
She stepped up on the ledge and inhaled deeply. “Don’t follow me, Luke.”
“Lily!” He reached for her. “Don’t! Think about this for a second.”
Her decision was already made, her path chosen when she let Julian in. She launched herself off the rooftop, disappearing into the night sky.
Chapter Twenty
Julian was waiting for her on the balcony of her apartment. She sensed him the moment the building came into view. Nerves made her fingers tremble as she fished out her keys and let herself in. The first thing a Nephilim should do after committing any wrongdoing would be to hightail her butt back to the Sanctuary and report immediately to Nathaniel. The worst thing she could do was turn her back and go into hiding.
It was too late now as she crossed her living room, unlocked the balcony door, and stepped aside. “Hey,” she murmured.
Julian entered, his bright gaze settling on her. “Lily…”
“I know.” She threw up a hand. “I shouldn’t have stopped Micah, but I did.” She met his gaze. “Can you give me a few minutes? Make yourself at home.” She gestured at the couch. “I’ll be right back.”
She headed for the bedroom, quickly discarding her hunting clothes in favor of cotton shorts and a baby-doll tank from the large armoire.
Julian had moved to the couch, sitting motionless with his eyes closed. She approached him slowly, wondering what he made of all this. Was he happy she had defended him? Guilty? Or did he also think she made a mistake? Biting her lip, she sat beside him. He immediately turned to her, a soft smile on his face.
“I admit. I’m surprised.”
“You’re surprised that I stopped Micah?”
“Yes.” He ran the tips of his fingers down her arm.
She forced a casual shrug. “Seemed like the right thing to do at the time.”
“And now?” he asked.
“It still does.” She laughed at his doubtful expression. “You stopped when I asked you to. Unlike Micah, you were walking away. You didn’t deserve to be stabbed when you weren’t attacking him.”
He seemed to consider her reasoning. “But I did attack him.”
“And you stopped,” she reminded him softly.
“Only because you asked. If you hadn’t been there, I wouldn’t have.” He leaned back against the cushion. “I would have killed him.”
Her eyes widened, needing to hear it spoken out loud again. “But you didn’t.”
He glanced at the television. “How much trouble will you be in?”
She sighed. “A decent amount, I imagine. I mean, I don’t think Nathaniel will kick me out or anything, but he’s not going to be pleased.”
“You’re here.” He frowned thoughtfully. “Doesn’t that mean you will be in even more trouble since you didn’t go to him?”
Odd how much he knew about the Sanctuary and their rules. She eyed him curiously. The sandy-blond hair fell forward, curving against his jawline. He was at ease on her couch, even though his mere presence swallowed it whole. “More so when I don’t show up in the morning, but it is what it is. I need time to think about…all of this.”
He tipped his head to the side. “You’re here because of me?”
This was not going to be a night where she could just lie through her teeth. Inhaling softly, she answered honestly. “Yes.”
A wondrous smile appeared, and he leaned forward, capturing her lips in a deep kiss. She thought she would surely melt into the cushions if he continued to kiss her like that.
When he pulled back, she was breathing heavy and his eyes were like brilliant sapphires. “Will they come looking for you?” he asked.
“I don’t think so. They tend to give me my space if I ask for it.”
He peered up through sooty lashes then. “Thank you, Lily, for risking what you have to defend me.”
Caught off guard by his thank-you, she laughed self-consciously. “You’re really not like them.”
“Neither are you.”
