She waited for his nod before she went on. “What will happen to Az? If he’s Fallen?”
Gabe looked away, his words coming slowly. “Are you sure you want to know?”
“I need to.” She squeezed his hand, prodding him on.
“His impulses will take over the first few weeks. He’ll live off anger, hate. It will be all he knows. He’ll cause pain just for the sake of watching another in agony. He’ll glory in it. The Az you know will be dead, Eden.”
He didn’t look back, didn’t see the tear slip down her cheek. “Will he remember me?”
“He’ll be confused. It’s likely he won’t remember you at first, but he’ll remember me. He’ll see me as an enemy. Eden, if Az does Fall, it would be better if he forgot you.” Gabe took a deep breath. He finally turned to face her. “But we’re not going to let it get to that. We’re going to get Kristen’s help.”
“Gabe,” she said, trying to make her voice gentle. “Kristen’s heartless.”
“Trust me, she’s never quite been that. She’ll help us if we make it worth her while. Kristen can be an amazing asset when she chooses.” His face clouded over. “We need her, Eden.”
“She told me she owed you.” He nodded. “But she said you were even, because she took me in.”
“So I’ll owe her. She’ll love that,” he said, giving her a weak smile. “Kristen hates the Fallen. If it means keeping Az from them, she’ll help. And if that’s not enough…” His expression darkened. “Just trust me. I’ll convince her, Eden.”
CHAPTER 47
“Are you out of your fucking minds?” Kristen gripped the dark walnut railing, her face twisted by shadows the roaring fireplace cast. Eden tensed, sure Kristen would go over. Instead she yanked back and came down the stairs like a wash of fluid, the red taffeta of her dress blooming around her.
She pointed to Sebastian, who had ushered Eden and Gabe into the foyer. “You. Go!”
“Kristen,” he started, his eyes venturing among the three of them.
“Now!” she demanded. He hesitated, backing away slowly as if waiting for her to suddenly change her mind, decide she wanted him there. Finally, he retreated through the door to the kitchen.
“Hey, Kristen.” Gabe smiled apologetically. “Sorry to just drop by unannounced, but I know how much you’ve missed all your girl time with Eden.”
“Don’t think I don’t know what you want. You asked for an alliance and I specifically told you no. Did. I. Not.” She drilled her finger closer to Eden with each sentence. Each word twisted into a hook, barbed to yank Eden out of any hope she had of Kristen making this easy.
“We need you. We need your help,” Eden said. “We need your…”
“You need my numbers. You need an army and you can’t have mine! Did she tell you the Fallen are able to kill Siders?” she spat, her eyes once again on Gabe. “Or was it the Bound, Gabriel? You knew she needed to be prepared for this. You knew her abilities would bring them out and yet you did nothing! You said we were immortal!”
“Kristen,” he said, his voice calm, as if there was some chance of talking lucidity into her. “You don’t know what’s…”
“Oh, go to Hell, Gabriel,” she hissed. “You think I’m so cut off that I don’t hear? The Fallen want her and now you just expect me to jump in and protect her? I did my part. She’s going to get us exterminated.”
“It wasn’t an angel!” he yelled. “It was a Sider. She has the same talents as Eden. But this one is loyal to the Fallen.”
Kristen scoffed, trying to cover her alarm. “Another one? Wonderful. You gonna send this one my way too? Though if she’s with the Fallen, maybe you can pass her on to Madeline.”
“Kristen.” His voice was calm, demanding her attention. “‘Darest thou now O soul,/Walk out with me toward the unknown region/Where neither ground is for the feet, nor any path to follow?’”
“Whitman? Honestly, Bukowski says it so much better.” Kristen took half a dozen steps back, the eyelets of her antique leather boots squeaking against the laces. “‘Beware of them; for one of their key words is “love” and beware those who only take instructions from their God.’”
Gabe moved toward her, almost too quick to see. Kristen didn’t flinch at the hand he laid gently on her cheek. “They have Az, Kristen,” he said softly. “They’ve taken Az.”
A look of surprise washed over her face; Eden actually watched her