Tristan just hoped she had the strength for what was to come. Because if his many years of life had taught him anything, he knew this, their struggles had just begun.
13
When Daniel came home, no one said much. His brothers had already filled him in by text. But still, guilt ate at him. He had almost gotten Surcy killed. And for what? His own foolish pride? His fear?
I really am a broken, fuck-up.
Surcy went to bed and fell instantly to sleep. Thank god. He didn’t think he could speak to her after what he’d done. He needed time to rip his emotions off his sleeve and shove them deep inside.
And I can’t do that with her big eyes staring at me as if I’m some awful demon who’s about to tear her head off.
The three of them took turns watching over her, worried she would run again. Even though no one said it out loud. But we can’t do this forever.
His entire chest ached each time he looked at her, curled up in bed. Her wings gone. Her face pale and thin. She was a shadow of the woman he’d once known. Both on the inside and out.
What happened to her?
And how could I have let it happen?
His cellphone rang, jolting him from his thoughts. Tristan glanced at him from the couch, and tension sung between them.
Reaching into his pocket, Daniel looked at the blocked number, knowing immediately who it was. Swiping the screen, he answered. And waited.
“Have you found one yet?” The familiar woman’s voice came, whispered and intense.
Daniel took a deep breath. “No, we—“
“Then what the hell are you doing! I told you time is essential. We won’t be able to keep our plan from Caine for long.”
“We had a… complication.”
If finding Surcy could be called that.
“A fucking complication? Your brother has the one tool that can help us find them. And I gave you the information you need to use it. There’s no excuse for any hesitation. Find them! Before it’s too late!”
“We…”
But the dial tone said the mystery caller had already hung up.
“Was it her?” Tristan asked, although his tone suggested he already knew.
“She’s pissed.” Daniel stuffed his phone back in his pocket, feeling as if the weight of the world rested on his shoulders.
Which it did.
They had a goal, an almost impossible task set before them. They had to find and save The Immortal Ten, the ten immortals who had once been the judges of mankind until Caine had mysterious overthrown them. People we only learned about a few days ago. Caine erased their memories, scattering them like lost souls throughout the world.
Finding the immortals and returning them to power was the only way to change the world. And they were the only ones who could do it.
Even though I’m the last person who should have this kind of responsibility.
When Daniel and his brothers had first stared crawling up through the demon-realms after their deaths, his goal had simply been to return to earth and get back the life that had been taken from him. But this time not to fuck it up. But Surcy’s passionate desire to change the system had spread through them like a wild fire, and now, it wasn’t something he could simply walk away from. As much as he wanted to.
But things were different now. In order to protect their plan, they would need to keep it a secret from Surcy. But could they do that?
Probably not.
And if she told Caine what they planned, it would put the entire Rebellion at risk and the future of mankind.
Which we can’t do.
Daniel glanced over at his brother. Tristan was staring in the distance, his expression far away.
“How are we going to do this with her here?” Daniel asked.
Tristan spoke slowly, as if this was exactly the problem he’d been considering since she’d returned. “She needs to be reminded of the cause, of why we do this. We should pursue the first of The Immortal Ten with her by our side. She doesn’t need to know the significance of the person, only that he or she needs our help.”
Of course!
It made perfect sense. One of the many differences between Surcy and the other angels was that she didn’t simply follow the brainwashing ideas of Caine. She didn’t just see the world in black and white. She saw all the areas of gray and often got lost in them, just as the humans did.
Mark came back into the room, and Tristan stood, leaving to take his place by Surcy's bed. His brother said little as he grabbed a drink and collapsed onto the couch.
Too bad I’ve got to make this crappy day even worse for him. After all the pressure he already feels.
“Our mysterious informer called.”
Mark stiffened. “What did she want?”
“To find out why we haven’t started looking for the immortals yet.”
His brother touched the silver chain around his neck, a nervous habit he’d had as long as Daniel had known him. “I wish we could focus on Surcy and forget all of this, but we can’t. It’s too important.”
“I know.”
“But Surcy…” The pained look on Mark’s face was heart wrenching.
“Tristan came up with a plan.”
Daniel explained their brother’s idea, glad to finally have some good news to share.
Mark looked relieved. “That’s the perfect way to save the immortals and get our Surcy back.”
But will this really bring her back to us?
Something was bothering Daniel, and he finally realized what it was. “You know… that’s not the best way to bring her back to herself.”
There’s another better way, and we all know it.
An image came to him, of laying Surcy back on the bed, and spreading her pale thighs. Of reaching out to stroke her wet folds while she chanted his name.
He loved to drive her wild. He challenged himself to make her orgasms longer and harder each time. And he knew exactly what she liked.
He’d place his mouth on her hot core and lick
