Golden Angel: (Broken Angel #5) by L.G. Castillo Read Free Book Online Page B

Both of them stood against the wall next to the entrance, watching her.
    They thought she was going to explode. They were probably right. She couldn’t help herself. She couldn’t go in the hall right now. It would be like she was giving up on Jeremy if she did.
    “We need to wait for Jeremy,” she said. “He’ll be here any minute. There’s still time.”
    “He won’t come. Uri and I tried to convince him.” Lash reached out to her.
    “He’ll come.” She moved away from him. She couldn’t let him touch her. She’d fall apart if he did.
    “He’s an archangel. He knows how important this is. He could never give up his rank. He’ll come.” She whirled around and bumped into a tall seraph.
    “Sorry,” he said, his eyes widening when he realized who she was.
    She scowled. Here was another nosy angel who should just stay home and mind his own damn business.
    “Why don’t you—?”
    “Naomi.” Rebecca was suddenly by her side, apologizing to the seraph.
    “Why are they even here? Lash, you said only the archangels were at your trial. This is none of their business!”
    The seraph scampered into the hall.
    “Jeremy’s an archangel. Michael wanted the trial to be open to everyone. He wanted to show the angels that no one is given special treatment.”
    “Special treatment,” she spat. “Jeremy gave them everything, and this is how they repay him? Public reprimand and punishment?”
    “We’re not one to judge the archangels,” Rebecca said.
    “He’s YOUR son,” she snapped. “And your brother. What is wrong with you all? And where is he? He’s supposed to be here. He has to be here. We need to go get him. We need to drag him here. Why isn’t he here? Why?”
    She slapped off Lash’s hands as tears blurred her vision. Ignoring her rebukes, he drew her into his chest.
    “He’s not coming,” she sobbed.
    “No, he’s not.”
    “It’s my fault.”
    “Shh, don’t say that. He knows you care for him. And he cares for you.”
    “I have to make this right. I have to do something.”
    She cried harder, wishing she could go back in time and take away the terrible words she’d said. How could she have been so hateful? And then to drive him away from his family. That was even worse!
    Jeremy had always been good to her. He’d risked his life for Lash. He didn’t deserve this.
    A ram’s horn echoed through the corridor. Angels quickly moved against the wall.
    “What’s happening?” she asked, brushing away her tears.
    “It’s the archangel processional. They’re coming,” Rebecca whispered.
    The corridor was quiet as the archangels made their way to the hall. Michael led the line. His brown eyes were solemn as he held his head high.
    Naomi remembered the kind words he’d said to them at the binding ceremony. He was a kind and reasonable person. After all, he had brought back Rebecca and Jeremy. Surely, he would listen to her. She just had to explain it to him.
    “Archangel Michael, I need to talk—stop it, Lash!”
    There was a loud gasp and a flurry of murmurs as Lash jerked her out of the way.
    “It’s too late,” he said.
    “No, it’s not. They haven’t even gone into the hall. I just want to explain what happened.”
    “That’s not the way it works. They will call on us only if Michael thinks it’s needed.”
    “You’re acting as if the decision has already been made.”
    Lash’s face was stoic.
    No, there had to be something she could do.
    She bit her lip as she watched the other archangels: Gabrielle, Raphael, Uri, and Rachel. They all had the same haunted expression on their faces.
    “Rachel?” her voice squeaked.
    Rachel’s lips quivered slightly as she passed. She didn’t stop.
    Naomi shook her head. These were her friends; they were Jeremy’s friends. How could they even think of hurting him like this without giving him a chance to speak for himself?
    She was about to follow them inside when there was another call of a ram’s horn. Rushed footsteps clicked