Just then Ameana and the rest of the team appear. While the team helps Marcus and I get back on our feet, Ameana spots Rahell lying on the floor motionless.
“You killed her? You killed Rahell? She’s Gabriel’s only daughter and you killed her. You just sentenced our Aaden to death!” Ameana says hysterically.
“She’s not dead. I hit her with a small fireball. And I threw it at her feet. I made sure of that,” Rage replies.
Relief washes over Ameana. She goes over to Rage and embraces him. As Marcus tends to my wounds, the team goes over to check on Rahell.
“You’re right, your fireball didn’t kill Rahell,” Miku says.
Ameana looks up at Rage and smiles warmly.
“But, it did send her hurtling across the room, and when she landed, she landed on the Exton,” Miku continues.
We all run over to where the team is and there lying lifeless on the ground, with blood seeping from every orifice, is the last child of Gabriel the Original.
The mass panic that happens following the discovery of Rahell’s lifeless body is unprecedented. Ameana is inconsolable. Rage just keeps looking at the body, as if that will somehow bring her back to life.
“They’re going to kill him, Thomas.” Ameana insists with tears in her eyes.
Miku tries to comfort her, but she breaks free of her best friend’s hold and curses at Rage.
“This is all your fault,” she cries.
“It was a small fireball. I swear, Rachel,” Rage pleads.
I have never heard anyone call Ameana by her middle name before. There’s something so endearing about it. I back him up and confirm that Rage wasn’t trying to kill Rahell. It does no good. Ameana keeps repeating that her son will be murdered.
“Everyone needs to stop,” Marcus orders.
The room is still. Even Ameana takes a pause long enough to look at her leader.
“This wasn’t Rage’s fault. He aimed to wound; not to kill. We will fix this,” Marcus promises.
“How? How will we fix this? She’s a Para. Once they find out Rage was anywhere near this place, they will throw Aaden out of the light.” Ameana shouts.
“Wait, maybe we can hide that fact.” I suggest.
“It won’t work. A few Originals are clairvoyant. Chances are, they already know this has happened.” Miku says.
“We can talk to Raphael. He’ll help us.” Jay replies.
“If Gabriel wants Aaden dead as revenge for Rahell, there is nothing he or anyone else can do.” Jay says.
“That’s not true.” Ameana replies.
We all give her our undivided attention.
“I went to see Wolf when this whole thing first started.” Ameana confesses.
“You did what?” Rage asks, furious.
“I had to, Thomas. I had to know if there was anyway to change his mind,” she pleads.
“And it was a waste of time because your ex is a child murdering bastard!” Rage blares.
I put my arm on his shoulder to get him to settle down.
“Mimi, did Wolf say anything useful? Is there anyway we can get him to change his mind?” Marcus asks.
“Yes,” she replies.
“Wait, what? You knew there was a way to save our son this whole time and you never told me? What the hell were you thinking?” Rage asks.
“Wolf asked for…” Ameana whispers.
“Asked for what?”
“He asked that I leave you and be with him. He would then rescind the order to have my Sib killed. Then, nothing the Originals decided would matter because Wolf is a Kon.”
“Oh.” Rage says, dying right before our eyes.
The team exchanges looks of discomfort at having to witness the scene before them.
“I thought we could take our chance with the review, but with Rahell’s death…”
“With Rahell’s death, what?” Rage counters.
“Well, I don’t really have a choice do I?”
Rage goes berserk. The two of them argue back and forth for several minutes. Finally, as Marcus and Jay help move the body, I take Rage aside.
“You need to keep your temper in check.” I remind him.
“How? She wants to rip my family from me!” he snaps.
“No Rage, she doesn’t. Look at her,” I order him.
He looks across the room at his frantic Ameana. She is biting her nails and pacing the floor.
“She is scared. She loves you, but she’s a Mom now, and she is putting Aaden first,” I tell him.
“You think I should just give in? You think I’m being selfish, but I’m not. I know what it’s like to be raised by people who don’t want you. Wolf hates me. He hates Aaden and I will not allow him to grow up in a home like that.”
“I agree, but you can’t fight her fear with fire. Talk to her,” I reply squeezing his hand.
It takes nearly an hour, but Ameana and Rage are finally talking to each other and not at each other. Rage tells her that her and Aaden are the most important thing in his life and he would sooner die than let anything happen to them.
He makes us call Alex and explain what happened in hopes that Alex can take our side when the Originals find out. At first, Alex refuses, but I assure him that Rage was just trying to save my life. That seems to do the trick. Alex agrees to talk to the Originals on his behalf. That’s when Ameana finally puts the thought of being with Wolf out of her head.
Marcus makes me go back to the villa with Rage and Ameana while the rest of the team wait for the Paras to come get Rahell’s body. Before we even get to the Villa, the team text us, and of course the Originals are livid. Gabriel is calling for Aaden to be thrown out of Noni and an emergency meeting has been scheduled for tomorrow night.
Rage and I thought Ameana would be back to her frantic state, but instead, she is quiet and pensive. Once back in the Villa, I try to give the expecting parents some space. Still, I can’t help but look in on them to make sure they are really okay.
I find them out back. Rage has convinced Ameana to try and relax by getting into the whirlpool. He lights candles with small sparks from his palm. Rage massages her shoulders and kisses her reassuringly.
“I’m sorry I blamed you earlier. I know you didn’t mean to kill Rahell.” Ameana says as she leans into his chest.
He wraps his arms around her protectively.
“I think Alex saying he is on my side will really help. And if it doesn’t, then we will think of something else. We can’t lose Aaden, no matter what.”
“I know,” she says softly.
“It’s crazy to even think this far ahead, but…I can’t wait to take him on his first flight,” Rage says beaming.
“I’m sure he’ll be a natural, like his Dad.”
“I’m gonna be a Dad. Me…” he says, amazed.
“Hey, I figured out Aaden’s middle name.” Ameana says proudly.
“What is it?”
“Grey.”
“Like the color?” Rage asks.
“Yeah, I mean his whole life is going to be lived in the grey area. He won’t fit in anywhere, completely. Not in the light or the dark, but it’s also in the grey where he’ll find most things worth holding on to; like love and protection. I only had those things when I was with you. And you and I are definitely ‘living in grey’. So what do you think?” she asks.
“Aaden Grey; I like it.”
Just then, Ameana’s markings begin to glow.
I guess Aaden likes his name too.
The next morning, the news of Rahell’s death is all over the Angel world. In fact, it’s the only news that’s big enough to replace the fiasco that was the Sapphire Ball. We all decide not to bring up the Splash article to Ameana. If anything else happens to that girl, she’ll be so stressed out; we fear the marking will start to disappear. Then Aaden would never be born.
Rage wants us to go with him to see Alex to make sure that what he’s going to say to the Originals later will actually be helpful. We try to get Ameana, but he insists we leave he
r behind. He says she requested time alone to think and he didn’t want to upset her by intruding.
We agree and get ready to go see Alex. Marcus is less than happy about Alex being a necessary part in anything we do. In fact, the mere mention of Alex causes Marcus’ face to darken and cloud over. Since Rahell’s attack, we haven’t really had a chance to talk.
She swore that Marcus and I would get back together, but then again, Rahell was deeply disturbed by that point.
As we head out to the patio, Tony pops up on a Port looking very unhappy.
“Tony, I told you to stop popping up like that.” Marcus warns him.
“Well, I can’t wait for a call, can I, since you don’t have my number.” Tony replies.
“We have your number.” Miku says.
“Oh, I didn’t think you did, since I never hear from you,” he says, dramatically.
“Maybe we never call because you are too busy finding lost Angels to bring to parties,” Marcus snaps.
“I tried to talk her out of it. I am but one Seller,” Tony says.
“Whatever, what do you want? We’re busy,” Marcus tells him.
“Yeah, too busy to call an old friend of the family and invite him to the wedding?” Tony accuses.
“Tony, I have Jay’s Rah, but we have not had a ceremony yet. When we do, you will be invited.” Miku promises.
“That’s better, but I wasn’t talking about you and speed racer,” Tony says.
“Well, whose wedding were you talking about?” Marcus asks.
“Duh, Ameana and Wolf; they got married this morning…”
END OF BOOK 6 PT. 1
Other Books by
Lola StVil
The Guardians Series
Book 1: The Girl
Book 2: The Fallout
Book 3: The Turn
Book 4: The Triplex
Book 5, Part 1: The Quo
Book 5, Part 2: The Lyris
Book 6, Part 1: The Shoma
Book 6, Part 2: The Nycren
The Noru Series
Book 1: Blue Rose
Book 2: The Last Akon
Book 3: Fall of the Chosen
Book 4: When Angels Break
Book 5: Ways of the Wicked
About the Author
Lola StVil is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author living in California. She enjoys spending time with her family and staying in touch with her readers.
Lola St. Vil, The Shoma
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