Angel Fury (Immortal Legacy #2) - Ella Summers Page 0,63

deserve each other,” Jiro laughed, loading the now-calibrated Magitech devices into a backpack.

“Yes, we really do.”

Little did I know, I would soon be eating my words.

Jiro and I walked out of the garage. Damiel stood in the open hall beyond, the rebels gathered around him. Contentment warmed my heart when our gazes met from across the room.

“Do you have all the devices packed?” Damiel asked.

“Yes,” I said.

“During the operation, it will be your job to set up the devices at the Hive fortress,” Damiel told Jiro. “You’ll be with me and most of the rebel forces, assisting in our efforts to break through the fortress’s magic defenses.” He looked at me. “You will take a group of rebels and block the Hive’s retreat. Capture any soldiers who try to flee.”

His orders given, Damiel dismissed the group. The rebels and Jiro set off toward the exit, ready to go. But I stayed behind.

“What the hell are you doing?” I demanded the moment Damiel and I were alone. “You assigned me to block the Hive’s retreat? That’s ridiculous.”

“It’s hardly ridiculous. If any Hive soldiers escape, they will warn their forces at the other fortresses. I’ve given you an important job.”

“You’ve given me a pointless job, and you know it. I’ve fought the Hive before, just like you. We both know their style. They won’t retreat. They won’t give any ground. They’ll all be staying in that fortress to attack us. So why are you assigning me to do nothing?”

“We must cover every contingency.”

“Don’t bullshit me, Damiel. We both know you’ve taken me out of this battle, and I demand to know why. Is it because you don’t think I’m capable?”

“On the contrary, I have seen firsthand just how capable you are.”

“Then why aren’t you using me in this battle?”

He glanced around to make sure no one was in sight. Then he met my eyes. “The Hive is dangerous,” he spoke in a low whisper. “Their pooled magic is very formidable. We only won our last battle with them by sending them away to their world, but right now we are already on their world. There’s nowhere to exile them to. And we are about to walk right into one of their strongholds, a place they know far better than we do. We will face many more of their soldiers than we did last time. Things have changed. I have changed. If something were to happen to you… I don’t think I could cope with that.”

He was trying to protect me. Again. That warmed my heart, but at the same time, it boiled my blood.

“Things have changed for me too, Damiel. What the two of us have means something to me. You mean something to me. And maybe I don’t want anything to happen to you either. If you effectively take me out of the battle, you hurt your chances of success. You might not make it out of there. You need me.”

“But what I need much more is for you to be safe,” he said.

“You don’t get to make that choice.”

“Actually, I do. I outrank you.”

He did not just pull rank! Not after everything we’d been through.

I growled in frustration. “Nyx would never agree with your decision to leave me behind just because you thought I might get hurt.”

“Nyx isn’t here. After this mission, if you want to go to her and report me for misconduct, then go right ahead. But just remember that this is not a mission sanctioned by the Legion. Talking about it to Nyx will likely land you in front of an inquisition squad.”

“You are a conniving bastard,” I snapped.

“Well, that’s exactly my job, Princess. I accomplish what I set out to do by being smarter than everyone else. You knew that from day one, so don’t go crying foul now.”

“Smarter than everyone else,” I repeated in disbelief. “Why, you arrogant son-of-a…”

“Careful now, love,” he said softly. “Don’t say anything you’ll regret.”

“I already regret a lot. I can’t believe I ever thought I had feelings for you.”

“I love you.”

I snarled at him.

“And nothing you say will ever change how I feel about you,” he added.

I opened my mouth.

“Nor will anything you say change my decision,” he cut in before I could speak.

He must have read my thoughts in my eyes because he wasn’t reading my mind. I’d clamped down my mind like a steel trap. And I wasn’t letting him in.

“My orders stand. You will lead the rebel group to block the Hive’s retreat.”

“Very well, Colonel Dragonsire,” I