Evermore, an Arotas Novella (The Arotas Series) by Amy Miles Read Free Book Online

asks, turning her gaze back onto the man.
“Why are you here?”
    “My
name is Ashir. I have come at Elias’s request.”
    “That
doesn’t sound good,” Gabriel mutters under his breath. He
places his own sword on top of a nearby table and lowers into a chair
with a groan. Roseline follows suit as the angel ruffles his feathers
and sinks down onto the cold concrete floor, his legs crossed before
him, hands placed upon his knees.
    “There
is a great unrest within our realm.” He begins. His dark eyes
watch both of them carefully. Roseline realizes his irises are a
couple shades darker than his sapphire wings, making them appear
almost black.
    The
lights buzz and flicker overhead. In a distant part of the compound,
she can hear the generator groaning in protest as it struggles to
warm up.
    “After
Lucien was killed by Roseline, the hierarchy of the Shadow Lands
began to crumble with no one to lead. Powers and principalities, as
your Bible would know to call them, began to rise from around the
world, each one determined to take Lucien’s place. There were
great battles. Scores of dead mounting on both sides of the battle
lines. I lost many friends to the battle.” The great man’s
deep voice bears hint to a small waver. He clears his throat before
continuing. “This is where Elias has been these past few
months, on the front lines, trying to keep our realm from spilling
over into yours.”
    “What
of the Fallen Ones? They are part of our world,” Gabriel says,
leaning forward. His elbows dig into his knees and his hands begin to
redden with the intensity of his thumb rubbing against his palm,
evidence of his growing tension.
    “They
were sent here a long time ago, cast out in one great horde, but
there are countless others waiting to enter. We are all that stands
between them and your world.”
    Roseline
blows out a breath that she has been holding. She knew something like
this would happen. Fate taught her long ago that a good thing never
lasts.
    “So
you want us to fight.” It is a statement, both as obvious as it
is painful to say. She has spent three hundred years fighting, for
her life, for her freedom, for the people she loves. One war melds
seamlessly with the next in her mind. Fighting is all that she knows
now.
    Ashir
nods. “You are already preparing. We have seen your soldiers
fighting alongside immortals. Your castle is no longer a home. It is
a training ground. What purpose could you have for such work if you
do not intend to put these warriors to action?”
    “In
our world.” Gabriel protests. “Against immortals who
attack humans. Not against spirit beings that we know nothing of.”
    Ashir
looks at Gabriel with a soft, knowing smile. Roseline bristles. “You
are one of us, Gabriel. The prophecy gives proof to that.”
    “No!”
Gabriel surges to his feet. “No way. I played my part.”
He spins and jabs a finger at Roseline. “I gave up the one
thing I loved most in this world for the sake of that stupid
prophecy. We killed Lucien. That was all that was expected of us.”
    Ashir’s
gaze turns thoughtful, then shifts into something Roseline can only
guess expresses utter sadness. He places his hands upon the ground
and rises slowly to his full height. She has to crane her head back
to look up at him as he spreads his wings. Even in this large room,
he is unable to fully extend them. “The prophecy is not done
with you two.”
    He
turns and walks toward the door. His wings slowly fold back toward
his body. He topples metal chairs and shifts tables as he passes. At
the door, he turns back and the look in his eye makes Roseline
shiver. “This war is coming to your doorstep whether you like
it or not. Sooner or later, you will no longer be given a choice.”

SIX

    Roseline
blinks against the tears that freeze as they roll down her cheeks,
crystallizing along her lower lashes. Her nose feels raw and her
throat tight as her fingers dig into the ice. It cracks around where
she plunges them