Dark Angel Academy (The Complete Series) - G. Bailey Page 0,29
as I step into his cabin, which smells of fresh laundry and the burning wood from the open fireplace tucked into the corner of the large room. Unlike Henry’s house, this place has no rooms and is completely open plan other than a bathroom I can’t see. One side of the room has a small kitchen with dark wood counters, a glass table for two, and a bookcase jammed with random books. In the middle of the room is a giant four-poster bed, the posts of which are hand-carved into horses that are jumping into the air. They match the gold sheets and big white faux fur blanket hanging over the bed. The fireplace has a TV hanging on the wall above it, and on either side is a beautiful painting of horses running in a field. There is a cosy leather sofa and coffee table facing the fireplace, with one glass of what looks like whiskey on a coaster on top.
“My mum always said it was terrible to ruin a table with the bottom of a glass. We had coasters everywhere around the house because my dad would constantly buy them for her when he had to travel,” I say rather randomly as Thallon closes the door.
“Your parents sound very in love,” he replies. “Would you like a drink?”
“Yes, they are, and I’d love a cup of tea,” I say, walking into his space, noticing the piles of books on his bedside tables and a small unfinished wooden horse sculpture, and a knife next to it with some wood carvings. “Milk and one sugar please,” I say to his unasked question as I choose to sit on his sofa, crossing my legs. The room is oddly silent as he makes the tea; the only sounds are the kettle boiling and the spoon hitting the cup as he mixes the tea.
“Thank you,” I say, accepting the red cup, and Thallon sits down next to me, picking up his drink. I don’t dare sip the tea until it’s cooled down, but Thallon downs his whiskey in one go before putting the empty glass back down.
“I presume you know fallen angels are angels that went into hell and lost their wings, becoming the fallen,” he asks, and I nod. I didn’t know they lost their wings though. “The only angel known to make this choice was Lucifer, the previous king of hell. But recently an angel I was friends with made a choice to go into hell after his mate.”
“Why would he do that?” I ask. “Losing his wings for his mate...it sounds terrible.”
“At the academy, they will teach you that not only is magic the most powerful thing in this world, but so is love. I don’t know why Morgan did what he did, but I know he did it for love,” he answers me. “But why do you ask about fallen angels now?”
“I heard the teachers are worried,” I admit, and he frowns.
“It’s not the fallen angel that has them worried, but what the balance of the souls has done to another race,” he explains, though I can tell he is holding back some truth here. “Not every race in the world gets along, and any change makes ripples across the world that we all feel.”
“Like a fallen angel?”
“Yes,” he replies with a sad smile. We both sit in silence as I sip my hot tea, and I’m happy to report Thallon can make a damn good cup of tea.
“Do you read a lot then?” I enquire, nodding my head at the piles of books.
“Yes, but all my books are in Latin, and they are my way of finding answers about who I am and why I’m not clearly light or dark,” he tells me. “So far, there isn’t an answer other than someone pushing me into a choice.”
“That would be horrible. I might be new to this, but I understand that everyone should have a choice,” I say.
“And that’s another reason I like you, Kaitlyn Lightson. You never judge me when everyone else does,” he says with a grin.
I smile at him, a real smile that makes me feel safe. “You might not like me in a few hours when I raid your fridge and steal your TV to watch anything. You have no clue how much I miss Netflix and my movies.”
“My home is yours,” he waves a hand. “But touch my peanut butter cups, and we might have a problem.”