“Are you complaining?” Patrick asked, raising his eyebrows.
“It doesn’t fit.” Luke reasoned. “It makes much more sense to kill us.”
Patrick shifted again, wincing as it caused him more pain. Luke wondered why he kept fidgeting, but supposed there wasn’t a really comfortable way to sit with metal shoved through your wing.
“The barriers.” Patrick groaned.
“What about them?” Luke prompted.
“The highest ranked Angel is the only one that has the power to control the Beacon’s Barrier.” Patrick explained, taking a breath every few words. “Either Cale succeeds in killing Danny so that his Angel Talia can do it, or…”
Patrick trailed off to catch his breath. Luke digested the information that he’d already said.
“Who’s the highest ranked Angel?” Luke asked. Patrick raised his eyebrows and gave him a pointed look. Luke felt his jaw go slack when he realized what the General was implying. “You’ve gotta be fucking kidding me.”
“My husband tells me I don’t have much of a sense of humor.” Patrick grunted, wincing again. “You are Angel to the Queen’s heir. The Barrier is only leaking a small trickle now, but Cale plans on opening it all the way, possibly by forcing you to do it.”
“Why?” Luke asked. “Why’s he doing all this?”
“He is a traitor.” Patrick said flatly. “He sees the return of the knightmares as a sure way to take power. The Barrier must not be opened under any circumstances.”
“What happens if it is opened?” Luke was almost afraid to ask. Patrick let his head fall against the wall behind him.
“Hell on Earth.”
Patrick’s simple statement sent a chill down Luke’s spine and he settled his aching shoulders against his own wall, suddenly terrified. He wished Danny were there. She would know what to do. He hoped Theo had gotten back to her.
“Danny and Theo are coming for us.” Luke said, as much for himself as for Patrick.
“I know.” Patrick whispered, nodding as he closed his eyes. “If only they would get as far away from this place as possible.”
“They won’t.” Luke stated. Patrick nodded again.
“I know that, too.” Patrick sighed, opening his eyes and staring into the fluorescent light flickering above them, his tired eyes worn with worry.
“How did you and Theo meet?” Luke asked him. Patrick picked up his head, seemingly almost surprised by the question. “We don’t have anything else to do and I don’t think how Danny and I happened was particularly normal. I’m just wondering how it usually goes.”
“Partners coming together is never normal.” Patrick said.
“Tell me something I don’t know.” Luke replied. Patrick gave a small huff of laughter at that, followed by a few pained coughs. Luke feverishly hoped he got help soon, or else the General would lose his wing or worse.
“When he came of age.” Patrick finally began. “I was just starting my training. The youngest Prince was searching for his Angel and we were all pulled out of class to see if we matched him.”
“What, they lined all of you up?” Luke inserted incredulously.
“It’s custom.” Patrick explained, nodding. “The Royal Family needs to find their partners as soon as possible.”
“What did you do? Shake hands?”
“Believe it or not, that’s exactly what we did.” Patrick confirmed. “Prince Theodore obviously didn’t want to be there at all. He had to be prodded forward by the Queen and her Angel. He moved down the line of us, all soft and chubby and spoiled. I immediately couldn’t stand the sight of him.”
Patrick chuckled and Luke laughed a little with him, letting it die off as Patrick continued.
“All I could think was ‘don’t let it be me. Please, don’t let it be me.’” Patrick admitted.
“Why?” Luke asked.
“My wings had just gotten strong enough to carry me.” Patrick explained. “I was going to fly. I wanted to be head of the Wing Guard someday. I had things I wanted to do and I didn’t want to be…tied down by this little crybaby bookworm. I felt like punching him when our hands created the spell that signified me as his Angel.”
“What changed your mind?” Luke asked.
“Time.” Patrick shrugged. “It didn’t happen immediately, because I was young and bullheaded. But, it didn’t take long to see why Heaven made our souls compatible; what makes his so beautiful.”
Luke’s heart ached at the happy, faraway look in Patrick’s eyes, a smile playing across the General’s bruised lips.
“He was never a burden or chains to keep me from flying.” Patrick continued. “He’s a nest; a place to land. I’m home whenever I’m with him.”
“Yes.” Luke heard himself say quietly. Patrick spared a glance over at him, his eyes warm with understanding.
“It’s never clear at first - how much they’ll come to mean to us.” Patrick muttered. “But once it happens, it happens all at once.”
Luke had to heartily agree. It had been such a short time, but Luke couldn’t imagine his life without Danny now. He felt cold at the thought of her standing alone against Cale.
But what can I do? He thought to himself.
“I’ve been looking for her as long as she’s been looking for me.” Luke admitted out loud to Patrick. “I’m so scared I’m going to do something wrong.”
“We all are.” Patrick groaned in pain at his injuries. “Cross that bridge when you come to it – and you will come to it. Many times.”
“Thanks.” Luke said sarcastically. Patrick chuckled.
“I’m glad she found you.” Patrick told him softly.
Before Luke had a chance to ask Patrick anything else, the door of their cell opened, the hinges screaming from disuse. The Angel that had attacked Luke stood in the doorway, looking down at them.
“Talia.” Patrick croaked, leaning forward as much as his pinned wing would allow. “Stop. Please, don’t do this.”
Talia turned to Luke, her eyebrows pulled together as she stared at him. Luke glared back as defiantly as he could muster.
“It’s time.” She said.
Chapter 33
Theo and I stuck to the shadows approaching the Beacon, keeping a careful ear out for any knightmares hunting for us. Things were eerily quiet, nothing supernatural in the bustling city around us. The distinct lack of knighmares should have been a blessing, making our journey back to the Beacon that much easier, but it did nothing but put me on edge. They were somewhere, I just didn’t know where.
My best most terrible guess was that they had already gathered in the Throne Room, harbingers of Armageddon.
Fuckin’ dandy.
Getting in wasn’t going to be easy, to be sure. However, I had a plan; and if everything was in place, we should’ve been able to slip into the Beacon unnoticed by whatever beings were inside.
You know what they say about the best laid plans...
They can go to shit very quickly.
Or something.
I led Theo to an alley behind the Beacon, searching until I saw a small alcove cut into the side of the skyscraper’s design. I felt along the concrete of the wall, trying to ignore the feeling of my brother’s doubtful look boring into the back of my head.
“What’s the plan?” Theo finally asked.
“Whatever I pull out of my ear next.” I answered distractedly, my fingers still prodding the wall.
“Shut up.” Theo said. “What are you doing?”
“You remember when we played hide-and-seek when we were kids and I always beat your ass?” I explained.
“You didn’t beat me.” Theo defended immediately.
“Every. Time.” I chanted cockily. “Not that it matters.”
“It does matter. You didn’t beat me.”
“Focus, Theo.”
“I remember you using magic because you are a dirty fucking cheater.” Theo conceded. I finally found the crease I was looking for and I threw a grin at him over my s
houlder.
“Dirty fucking cheater? Yes.” I admitted. “Magic? No.”
I rapped on a few places on the wall with one of my knuckles, stood back, and triumphantly waited.
…and waited.
…and waited.
“Shit.” I muttered.
“What are we waiting for?” Theo asked in a thoroughly unimpressed voice.
“An anti-climax, apparently.” I answered, taking a curious step toward the wall.
It was at that moment the alcove popped open, swinging inward with a rumble of stone sliding against stone. I looked over at Theo smugly from where he stood next to me, his jaw hanging open.
“Pretty neat, huh?” I asked. He turned to me with his lip curled in annoyance.
“I don’t know what you think this proves.” Theo said petulantly. “You’re still a cheating piece of shit.”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake.” I rolled my eyes and walked through the door.
“I said we had to stay in the Beacon, Danny!” Theo’s annoyed voice said as he followed me. “In the Beacon. Is a fucking alleyway in the Beacon? No.”
“It was a million years ago, would you let it go?” I groaned.
“I absolutely will not let it go, you ass…” Theo trailed off, staring into the massive bunker under the Beacon that should have been empty. “…hole.”
The bunker was filled with row after row after row of cots, occupied by Witches and Angels alike, food storage off the one side. It all looked a bit like a human storm shelter, if you didn’t notice the wings restlessly shifting on the Angel’s backs. Some were lying down, some were milling around the space, some were sitting numbly with their heads in their hands, and some simply looked shell-shocked. A large number took comfort in each other, and I felt a small shot of envy when I caught a glimpse of two Angels sharing a cot, wrapped around each other lovingly.
I feverishly wished Luke was safe and away from all of this.
Stubborn motherfu-
“Wow.” Theo breathed, looking at all the people in the bunker, bringing me out of my thoughts.
“Grandma built it in the 60s as a bomb shelter.” I explained. “Just in case the worst happened, I made sure to put a few safety measures in place.”
“Took you long enough, Your Highness.” A voice asked from beside us. Rodney grinned as he brusquely walked over to us and I felt myself grin so hard, my cheeks ached. I threw my arms around his neck and he returned my hug readily. “Good to see you alive.”
“Ditto.” I choked, then pulled back, full of concern. “Where’s Tracie? Did she make it here okay?”
“Here I am, Princess.” Rodney’s wife, Tracie, appeared next to him, her wings extended out of the back of her police department t-shirt.
“Good.” I breathed a sigh of relief as I shook her hand. “Did you get everybody down here?”
“As many as we could find.” Tracie answered.
“You put the protections up, right?” I asked Rodney. He raised his eyebrow sardonically at me asking him such a stupid question. It felt unbelievably comforting to see that bitchy look again.
“Used the elements you built in, Princess.” Rodney informed me anyway, lifting up his quartz.
“Good. Then Cale won’t know you’re here. The knightmares have already gathered in the Throne Room and shouldn’t be able to find you either, if you hurry.” I told him. “Follow through with the plan. You should have a clear run when I go upstairs. Use the tunnel down the eastern corridor. It goes underground and leads out of the city.”
“Danny…” Rodney began, all of his cockiness completely gone and replaced with concern.
“I don’t know how this is going to end. I don’t know what’s going to happen or even if I’ll make it.” I told him. “I need everyone to get as far away from here as possible so you at least have a chance if things go south.”
“We won’t just leave you here, Princess.” Tracie asserted.
“You’re not leaving me.” I said firmly. “You’re helping me. I’m going to the Throne Room and I’m going to finish this.”
“Where are the Angels?” My next question to Rodney came out of Theo’s mouth.
“Whispers say they’re in the interrogation room.” Rodney answered immediately. “We couldn’t get to it. It was too well guarded.”
I took a deep breath as I turned to Theo.
“I need you to go get them.” I told him. He nodded immediately. “Then take the tunnel out of the city with everybody.”
“I’m meeting you in the Throne Room.” Theo argued firmly.
“Damn it, Theo-“ I started in frustration.
“Damn it, Danny.” Theo mocked.
“Stop it. Do what I fucking tell you to do. I will beat you.”
“You can try.”
I clenched my teeth and valiantly fought back my tremendous urge to go into Little Sister Mode™ and get into a fistfight with my brother in front of our traumatized citizens. I took a deep breath.
“Theo, if I don’t make it, these people need a leader.” I explained, putting as much weight into my words as I possibly could.
“And I need my sister.” Theo answered, leveling me with a look. “You don’t have to do this alone.”
“Your Highnesses?”
I turned to the tentative voice that had spoken from behind us. One of the Angels I had seen embracing on a cot earlier nodded her head in respect before looking at me, then at Theo. Her face was stormy with trepidation.
“My name is Jana and I’m a member of the Wing Guard.” She answered in a nervous voice. She paused for a moment, and then took a deep breath before continuing. “I was at the outpost that got attacked when the General was there. I fought as hard as I could, but I lost sight of him.”
“Are you alright?” I asked. Jana nodded enthusiastically.
“Yes. I just…” She took another deep breath, as if screwing up her courage. “I’m so sorry. If I had…”
“You did nothing wrong.” Theo told her immediately.
“The General made it back to the Beacon just fine.” I comforted. “I’m just glad you made it out okay.”
Jana breathed a short sigh of relief before she continued, looking between the two of us, tears in her eyes.
“I’m so sorry this happened.” She told me, her voice warbling, looking up at me. “I’m so sorry this happened to you.”
It was so simple. Just one simple statement that still somehow meant so much. I saw Jana’s Angel’s wide eyes, sitting on the cot that she and Jana shared and I felt suddenly speechless, the need for them to make it out alive burning through me. It all hit me at once.
Everyone. My family, my people, human kind…
Fighting for them, dying for them wasn’t the worst say to go by far, but the thought of making it through this and coming out the other side…
Being their Queen would be an honor.
“Thank you.” I whispered, laying my hand on Jana’s shoulder. “Take your Angel and make sure you get to safety.”
“Princess…” Jana began.
“You have your orders.” I told her with finality. Jana hesitated for a moment before she tipped her head again.
“Heaven and Earth watch over you, Princess.” Jana nodded and went back to her cot.
I looked over at Theo and the expression of pride on his face made my heart swell and shatter at the same time.
“Heaven and Earth watch over all of us.” Theo told me in a quiet voice, keeping eye contact with me.
I wrapped him up in a crushing hug, feeling his arms wrap around me for a brief moment. I broke away and quickly walked toward the upper levels of the Beacon, wiping my eyes without looking back.
Chapter 34
Patrick was so tired.
His inner mantra that going to sleep was very, very bad idea cut through the comforting allure that the warm embrace of unconsciousness promised. He gulped in air, feeling as if he couldn’t get enough oxygen despite the fact his chest was heaving. He tried to not lo
ok at the pool of his blood on the floor, congealing beside him.
He was going to die.
He had spent most of his life as a warrior, had been in plenty of life-and-death situations. He knew when bodies shut down, unable to keep going. He knew what it looked and felt like when time was running out.
Patrick found himself wondering what he would die thinking about.
He tried not to think of his lasts - his last meal, his last sleep, his last flight...
…his last kiss.
He thought of everything in the middle; of his life in all of its terrible conflict and breathtaking beauty.
The thought of Theo’s smile warmed his cold, broken body.
He thought of hard-won battles and he thought of bitter defeats. He thought of warm sheets and soft hands. He thought of lips against his skin and strong arms around him. He thought of petty fights and heartbreakingly grateful reunions. He thought of laughter and he thought of mistakes.
The thought of Theo facing life without him brought a gasping sob to his lips.
He allowed his head to tip forward so the tears could fall, his strength failing him.
The hinges of the door screamed open and he didn’t bother to look up. He squeezed his eyes shut, holding onto the beauty of his thoughts as a cold comfort so he could face his death with dignity.
“Patrick!” A voice like warm sunlight bathed over him. He felt someone stumble to his side and he cried out in happiness as gentle hands cradled his head, bringing his gaze upward.
Relief flooded Patrick’s body when Theo pressed their lips together.
A few tears slipped down his cheeks as he squeezed his eyes shut, lost in the sensation, his entire being hoping that this was not some sort of mirage or a merciful delusion gifted to him by his dying body. He opened his eyes and saw Theo’s flushed face. Patrick felt a thumb against his cheek, wiping the tears away and leaned into the touch, warm relief tingling against his skin, a grateful sigh escaping his lips.
“None of that, my love.” Theo whispered against Patrick’s skin, running his fingers soothingly through his husband’s hair. “I’m not letting you go. Not now, not ever.”
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