Divinity: Immolation: Book Three (The Divinity Saga) (31 page)

She chuckled. “No shit. I get why he’s scared of you now. He really hates you, which means you guys must be doing something good.” She smiled crookedly.

I nodded, flattered.

There was another long pause and I thought about her words. I wanted to know and hear everything
that she had to say, only because she hadn’t spoken for so long since rejoining the other warriors.

“What’s the name of the fallen that befriended you?” I asked her.

A light seemed to turn on in her eyes all of a sudden and she appeared both hopeful yet sad at the same time.

“Xavien. You—you can call him back?”

“I can’t make any guarantees. I’ll see what I can do.”

Her shoulders slumped a bit but she nodded.

Why did that name seem…familiar?

XXXVI
: Starling

M
y eyes slowly fluttered open. The room was a bit chilly but a thick comforter had been pulled up to my chin.

Where was I?

I sat up quickly and looked around the unfamiliar, dim room. It was cozy, and set-up with the smell of brand new furniture but it wasn’t anything or anywhere I’d been before. Am I in the human realm now?

Voices carried from below, sounding familiar and then Cam stepped into the room with a tray of— bless him, a nice juicy burger, fries, a coke, and a shake!

The smell alone made me salivate for the fattening meal, and though I felt ornery, I began to grin gratefully.

He was obviously alright but then the sadness of what had just happened suddenly slammed back into my gut and I wasn’t as hungry anymore.

He waited for me to sit up before setting the tray across my lap.

“I figured you’d be starving. You woke up sooner than I thought.”

I pursed my lips.

“That
was low down of Ry and Edanai.”

“You didn’t give them much of a choice.”

Cam kissed me softly on the lips right before I shoved a hot, salty, delicious French fry in my mouth.

“Is everyone here?
And where is here? It’s cold.”

He shook his head. “Still waiting on a few others. We’re back in the city where you went to school. It’s out in the country
and it’s the middle of winter.”

He paused.

“I’ve just turned the heat up a bit.” He then said.

Anxiety slammed into me with a mixture of nostalgia at simpl
y being back in the human world and what was to come, once I came face to face with China again.

“Is Lira back yet?” I had to ask, feeling my gut twist and my chest burning already, threatening to bring the fry back up.

“I don’t really know what she did or what she was trying to do but I’m gonna guess that it shouldn’t take this long. That’s what your friends said”

I sighed, depressed at the bad thoughts that suddenly filtered into my mind.

Cam wasn’t finished yet, that much I could read on his face. He sighed before continuing, “And Jamie isn’t doing so well.”

I tensed. “Why?”

Cam sat down on the bed beside me.

“The seraphim, Spencer
, was apparently kidnapped at some point after he was last with us.”

I nearly spit out a spray of chewed up potato, coughing with a hand over my mouth as I sat up straighter in the bed and nearly toppling the tray that Cam held steady. He handed me the coke but I didn’t want it.

I leapt out of bed, stumbled out of the doorway into a strange, dark hallway, and raced towards the source of light and voices in the direction of what looked like stairs.

I was at the bottom of the spiral staircase in a flash,
my eyes searching for faces, seeing only Durien, Anthony, and Gabe sitting in the kitchen, eating.

“Where is everyone?” I asked.

“In their rooms. No one has much of an appetite right now, especially Jamie.” Gabe said.

“Poor Kaia looks physically sick. I think that as an earthbound seraphim, she and Spencer are kindred-linked. She was the most devastated and she’s been in a deep state of meditation ever since we made the discovery.” Durien explained.

Cam was behind me already, “I’d let them all rest. Everyone has had a really big shock and this news doesn’t help.” He soothed with his hands gently massaging my shoulders.

I whirled around to face him in panic. “What about Lira?”

Cam went silent. I wondered if he were going into another mental conversation.

Then, his eyes darkened, almost making my skin crawl and I took a step away from him. I’d never seen him do that before. It temporarily reminded me of what h
e truly was for a split second.

“Cam, what’s wrong?”

The darkness lifted when he looked down at me, and without an explanation he quickly said, “Stay put. No one leaves. I’ll be right back.”

“Hey…wai
t!” I reached for him but he ghosted away and was gone in an instant.

“Cam, tell me what’s wrong, please!”

“I will as soon as I know.”

“Be careful.”

I sighed, feeling drained already even though I had just woken from a deep sleep.

I was afraid, wondering what had happened and
praying that it wouldn’t be more bad news.

“What’s the deal with Spencer? What happened?” I asked, joining the guys at the table.

Durien shook his head and shrugged, though he was definitely upset. “I don’t know and I don’t get it. Nothing looked out of place. I don’t understand who or what managed to get him so easily either. There wasn’t a body or any blood. Spencer would never let himself go out like that, not without a good fight and magic. He was a damned good fighter.”

“But he didn’t have any way of calling any of us for help either. If several or more powerful demons got to him, he didn’t stand a chance no matter what he was throwing at them.” Anthony added.

I sighed in despair, thinking of the short amount of time that I got to know Spencer, and our last meaningful conversation. He was a playboy and a flirt, he was also Jamie’s man, I think. Though he was rigid and by the book…we really needed him. I agreed with Durien in that he was a very good fighter. He was knowledgeable and he had access to some defensive magic.

It was quiet. Too quiet and I didn’t like it.

A door creaked open softly and both Devlin and Lorelei emerged, weary.

“Y
ou’re up.” Lorelei tried to smile despite the circumstances.

She looked around the room, “Where did they go?”

We all figured that she was referring to our new, fallen allies and friends.

“They’ll be back. We’re still waiting on Lira, Crystal, and Scarlet. Lira hasn’t returned to her body yet.” Gabe answered.

Lorelei looked pained again as she pulled out a chair and sat down beside Anthony, eyeing the bags of fast food in the middle of the table with disinterest.

Devlin hopped up onto the counter next to the stove. She seemed different to me now. More alive, normal, and engaging in conversations.

“It took forever to get Jamie to calm down. She finally cried herself to sleep and Kaia has basically zoned out too.” She said.

I felt bad for her but I didn’t know what to do. None of us did.

“I still can’t believe that you’re pregnant.” Lorelei flicked her eyes up to meet mine. I could see that her thoughts went beyond that simple statement and realization; like what was it like sleeping with a fallen and one of Cam’s size, too.

I wasn’t sure how to take her expression and statement.

Should I feel guilt or embarrassment?

“I can.” Devlin stated.

We all turned to look at her. Her expression was actually bright and almost playful.

“How far along are you?”

I shrugged.

“Pretty early I imagine.  You’re not showing at all.” Durien pointed out.

“Do you feel sick or anything?” Lorelei then asked.

“No.”

“What are you going to do when you get bigger?” Anthony asked.

“Probably not much of anything.” I tried to joke.

I didn’t like being the center of so many questions but I couldn’t blame them for having them.

Procreation, let alone love between a fallen and a warrior, was absolutely forbidden. I didn’t have to be one for very long to know and understand that much.

“What about prenatal care? I mean, how did you find out anyway?” Lorelei inquired next.

I shifted in my chair. “I was told and it was confirmed by Ilka first, then Cam, and then Aon. Essentially, I was the last to know.”

They all gaped.

“No shit! Ilka knew?” Durien replied.

I nodded.

“Yep, they all know now then.” Gabe nodded in assurance.

“Damn. It’s so weird. I mean, you didn’t know that you could get pregnant?” Lorelei then asked as if I should have known better.

I sighed. “You’re making me feel like an afterschool special now. I did know but I didn’t know, meaning that it never crossed my
mind since we’re immortal now.”

Lorelei thought about that as if the possibility didn’t dawn on her either, and then she turned her head
, once Anthony moved in behind her and touched her shoulders gently.

I suddenly understood why she was asking. Had she and Anthony been trying to have a child? Why would they want to bring a child into this world now with all that we had to face as warriors anyway? The worst was yet to come. Then again, look at me.

Anthony remained quiet, simply listening with his hands massaging her shoulders.

“How do you feel about it?” Durien then asked.

I thought for a moment and then shrugged a shoulder.

“It was definitely a shock but I’m cool with it now. It’s not like there’s any other choice for me.”

“And because she loves him as much as he obviously loves her. He’d die for her. That much I do know. That’s how the fallen are. I for one can’t wait to see this baby. It’s gonna be special. It has to be, that’s the only reason it was allowed.” Devlin sort of answered him for me.

We all looked over at her in surprise. She was serious about that statement and it meant a lot for me to have a fellow warrior understand and back me up in that regard.

I would have told them it was going to be twins but I really didn’t want to get that conversation started right now.

“Hey, is that a ring?” Lorelei took notice of the ring Cam gave me.

I didn’t wear it during training because I didn’t want to get it messed up, and I really hadn’t worn it since Cam first gave it to me. It wasn’t that I didn’t love it, it was to avoid an explanation to the others about it—like right now.

Lorelei leaned forward and pulled my hand to her
, and then everyone began to crowd around to gawk at it. It twinkled and sparkled beneath the low kitchen light hanging over the table.

“Damn, are all of those real diamon
ds?” Gabe asked.

I nodded.

“No guess as to who gave you that.” Devlin grinned.

They all looked at me,
awaiting confirmation.

“So does that mean you two are like engaged or something then?” Anthony asked.

“Something like that.”

“It’s gorgeous. It looks like…the design of your brandings on this side.” Lorelei pointed with a smile.

“Wow, that’s cool.” Devlin commented.

I pulled my hand away from the center of attention. “We need some soothing music or something.” I suddenly stood up, wanting to break the silence and change the subject. I began searchin
g for the remote to the stereo.

“Your car is parked outside. I want you to head first thing in the morning to the University and go on as if nothing has happened. Alright?”
Cam’s voice filtered into my head.

My heart began to pound with anxiety, feeling as if something was wrong
— and then my mind went to that weird chic on that ugly beast, Grace.

Didn’t he say he was going to meet her at her place later?

I mumbled to myself.

“Starling? You’re spacing out. Are you okay?”

I turned to look behind me. Everyone was staring at me as if I’d lost my mind, standing here with the remote poised but not turning on the television.

“Oh, yeah.” I nodded and clicked it on. “Here, someone want to pick a movie or something?” I set the remote down and Devlin came over to retrieve it, looking at me strangely.

“I’m not really in the mood or hungry. I think I’m gonna take a bath and just go to sleep.” Lorelei said quietly as she rose from the table.

“What is there to do here in Indianapolis anyway?” Anthony asked.

“Like she’d remember.” Durien said.

“Oh, yeah. Sorry.” He sheepishly grinned.

“Google it.” Gabe got up and went to retrieve the laptop sitting on the kitchen counter and powering it on, “I’m hoping we have some sort of internet connection.” he commented.

I sat down on the comfy, single recliner and pretended to watch the television while Devlin scrolled through the channels.

“Where are you? When are you coming back?”

“I’m in the spirit realm. There’s an issue but I’m taking care of it. Jerilah
, Rahab, and Vinnah should be showing up at any minute with Crystal and Scarlet. Your friend, Lira is still unconscious but her body is safe. I don’t want you to worry about anything right now. Go on as if life is normal and if you need any references when you meet your friend China again, let me know but be sure to arrive with the luggage that I already put in your trunk. They’re mainly for show but they do have some of the items, shoes, and clothing that I’ve gotten for you already in them. Get yourself some winter clothing. I’ve left enough money for all of you on the bedside table in your room to get what you need…including cars.”