“And you didn’t care to fill me in on those guesses when I visited the library,desperatelyseeking answers?” he accuses.
Ah, he’s growing irritated.Good.Maybe he’s finally comprehending the gravity of this situation.
“Why would I?” I gasp in surprise, then smile coyly. “You appeared to have it all under control.”
“Well, I did have it under control, but the outside counsel would’ve been real nice.” He schools his features, no longer carelessly slouching. No, his knee is shaking rhythmically, and he’s rubbing his thigh, seeming uneasy now. “I crossed the veil and revealed myself to my sister. I also kept Jasper’s ability to see me a secret.”
“Yes.”
“I’m doomed, aren’t I?”
“Yes. Unequivocally doomed, Kai Greene.” He nods, then shuts his eyes tightly.Finally.He gets it. “Do you need a refresher on the five Guardian laws?”
“Why would you ask that?”
I lean in close to him. “Rule number one: do not harm your living being. Rule number two: do not alter fate—”
“C’mon, I know—”
“Rule number three: remain focused on your guarded’s journey throughout your mission. Rule number four: stay in proximity to your assignee. Rule number five—”
“You’ve made your point. I get it. I broke some rules, like the most sacred rule.I know—”
I lift his chin and whisper, “Do not cross the veil to reveal yourself.”
“Wow, okay. You are one for drama, aren’t you?” He holds my gaze, unyielding. “For the one hundredth time, I know I screwed up. If the only reason you dragged me into this room—against my will, I might add—was to drill shame into me even further, congrats. You did it.” He stands up, brushing his shoulder against me as he walks toward the door. “But guess what? I’d do it again in a heartbeat for her.”
He turns his back on me and reaches for theknob.
“Kai, wait—” And only for a split second, my voice breaks against my will. I clear my throat. “Don’t tell them.”
He pauses, resting his hand on the doorknob. “Why shouldn’t I? My destiny seems to be set in stone. What difference does it make?”
“Do you truly not care if they imprison or banish you from the realm? Do you not care to get your wings?”
“It’s not that I don’t care. I just care more about staying true to who I am. I’ve had to hide a lot of information recently, and it’s getting old. I’m ready to set the truth free.”
Does he truly have no regard for the consequences of his actions? I’ve been in this realm for decades, and during all that time, I have never come across an angel who broke this particular rule.
Not only will he be punished—I will be, too. I should’ve stopped him. As soon as I felt the thread tugging, I could’ve teleported to his side and forced him to submit. I also probably should’ve alerted the Archangels that Jasper could see him.
But for reasons I can’t logically explain, I didn’t.
Now we’re both doomed.
This might have been romantic in another story.
“I’m not afraid.” He turns around nonchalantly to face me, but upon glancing at me, he cocks an eyebrow. “Are you?”
I press my lips into a firm line. “Fine. If you won’t withhold the truth for yourself, consider doing it for me. You’re not the only one your heinous action affects. I’ll be punished, too.”
As if a layer of fog has lifted from his gaze, realization crosses his features. “I see. You could’ve stopped me from crossing the veil to reveal myself, but you didn’t. I broke the most sacred law under your authority.”
I nod, tucking a strand of black hair that fell into my face behind my ear and fidgeting with my light blue blouse to do something with my hands.
It’s ridiculous. During all my years of watching, I intervened in the simplest of rule breaks. Once I scolded a Guardian who teleported to Singapore for a quick getaway while his assignee slept one night. I’ve stepped in when Guardians pull small ghostly pranks on the living.
But I didn’t step in when Kai broke the biggest damn rule in the book.
