Covenant by Maria Rachel Hooley Read Free Book Online

“You’re
wrong,” I say. Yet I wonder if the words are more for me than
her.
    The forced smile quickly
dies to nothing. “I was wrong about many things, Lev, but that…that
wasn’t one of them. Just what you are capable of.” She grits her
teeth. “How is it you still have your wings and are among his
favored? How is that possible when I don’t think you even have a
soul anymore? If you ever had one.”
    “ Perhaps you should go,” I
suggest coldly, sensing it is only going to get worse if she
stays.
    Instead of leaving, she
strides toward me and shoves at my chest. “Oh, so that is the way
you handle things now? You just try to brush everything you can’t
handle under the carpet and hope it stays hidden? Did you forget
about your mortal love so easily? Out of sight, out of mind, as
humans say.”
    Mortal love? Who is she talking about? Suddenly Elizabeth Moon’s face flashes to mind and suddenly I
feel angry chaos rushing through me. I step back, trying to break
the contact between us. “Leave Elizabeth out of this.”
    She steps toward me again.
“Oh, so you do remember her name, at least. How about that she
loved you? Do you remember that? And the fact your leaving
destroyed her. Got any memories that deal with the kind of pain you
inflicted upon her?”
    She prods me with her
finger, and again, I step back, even more unnerved. Unable to take
her hard expression and prodding finger anymore, I catch her hand.
“I don’t know what your problem is. I don’t even know who you are,
but keep your distance.” My voice is low and menacing, and suddenly
I realize just how many emotions I’m keeping hidden below the
surface, and how bad it’s going to be if they get the best of
me.
    Although she steps back, I
can tell it’s not because she feels intimidated, but rather
repulsed—yet another clue that whatever happened between us really
didn’t go well. She gives me a baleful stare. “You always were the
golden child, Lev, and even Evan wasn’t aware of your mistakes, but
they were there, tangled in your deceit. You can lie to yourself
all you want, but I know you,” she sneers, again stepping closer
and thrusting her hand at my chest. “You are one of the fallen, or
will be. It’s just a matter of time.”
    This time I grab her hand
and clench it tightly. “I told you to stop, and I meant it.” I
squeeze harder, hoping my abrasive attitude will send her
packing.
    Her lips part, and I can
tell she’s feeling the pain of my grip, but she says nothing. Her
eyes widen, and a groan escapes her throat. Although I know I’m
squeezing hard, what she is reacting to goes far beyond that.
Still, I thrust her hand away and take a step back in time to see
her stagger.
    She laughs, a hard, raucous
sound that grates on me. Then she surrenders to tears. “You did
this to me, not that you remember. Saint Lev. You cursed me and
Jayzee to a pain neither can bear, and I hope one day you fall for
it.
    “ Sarah?” I look up to find
an angel with long auburn hair speaking to the woman. “Are you all
right?”
    I lower my arms and take a
step back, giving Sarah her space. Suddenly weak, Sarah manages to
get to her feet and glare at me. “I’m fine.”
    Another man stands in the
background, and he quickly takes the blonde angel’s arms and leads
her away while her friend keeps staring. “I thought I told you to
stay away from Sarah, Lev.” She glares at me
caustically.
    “ Yeah, well, I wasn’t the
one who approached her. She came to me.” I rub my chest where she’d
pressed her finger. “And you are, by the way?”
    Another round of loud
laughter as she watches her two friends leave before fully turning
her attention to me. “So it’s true your memory has been lifted.
What a unique surprise.” She cocks her head to one side, studying
me. “I’m Jayzee. You could say we go back a long way.”
    “ How?” I don’t know what
else to say.
    “ That’s for me to know and
you to find out. I just wouldn’t