“That’s because they aren’t the ones who summoned the Tribunal, uh, the court.”
He cocked his eyebrow. “Tribunal?”
“We have a lot to talk about.”
“Just a minute.” He dropped a kiss on my forehead and stepped back. “Do you have anything to eat around here?”
“Sure. We have some cold cuts. I can make you a sandwich and—”
“No, I’ll do it.” He stepped around the counter and went to the sink to wash his hands. He knew where everything was. “I overheard what you told the Cardinals about Gavyn.” He spoke calmly, but the way he scowled said he wasn’t calm.
Wishing I could spare him the heartache, I said slowly, “I, uh, didn’t mean for you to hear that until I explained everything.”
“Then explain away.” He got busy making his sandwich.
“Gavyn was in high spirits when he came to Jethro’s,” I started. Bran went chalk-white as I talked. He came around the counter and sat on a stool, his sandwich forgotten.
“That’s a load of crap. For starters, no one convinced me to change sides. Second, the contract I signed to fight on Jarvis Island was a fake. It was between me and Damien, but since he doesn’t exist, the contract was null and void. I’m no more the winner of that stupid combat than you are.” Angrily, he turned and grabbed his sandwich.
That thought had never crossed my mind. Hope stirred deep inside me as I continued to talk while he demolished his sandwich. His eyes flashed dangerously when I explained Gavyn’s claim that the Tribunal could bring a demon back from Tartarus.
“That’s explains why you think Valafar is alive. Yeah, I overheard your conversation with Solaris. Tartarus is the end of the line for demons, Lil. There’s no coming back until time stops. Who represented us in this cockamamie court? Either they weren’t prepared or they were just incompetent.” Bran blew out air, ruffling the hair sloping over his forehead. “Did Gavyn ask about Celeste?”
I shook my head.
“It doesn’t make sense. He knows this place,” Bran said. “If he and his new friends summoned the Tribunal, why didn’t he give the archangels our location?”
“I don’t know. Maybe he wants you and Celeste out of harm’s way first. Remember, he wants to see you.”
Bran grunted. “I’m tired.”
“You can nap here. I’m sure you don’t want to deal with your sour-faced guests.”
He chuckled. “I meant I’m tired of Gavyn’s bullshit. I’ve given him chances, always hoping he’d change only to see him blow it.” He got up to make another sandwich. “I thought Celeste would make him change, but his hatred for the Guardians keeps growing instead of lessening.”
“So you’re not going to see him?”
“No. I don’t want to listen to any more of his excuses for betraying me.”
This was what I’d wanted to hear since I’d fallen in love with Bran, yet now it made me angry. Gavyn was a poor excuse for a brother and always managed to drag Bran down. This time he had gone too far.
“What about Celeste? She loves both of you.”
“I’ll go see her before they destroy the portal. Want to come?”
I wrinkled my nose. He was lucky he got a free pass to go whenever he pleased after the CT proved he was Tariel’s grandson. “No, thanks.”
He paused in the process of removing another slice of bread and cocked his right brow. “The CT never said you can’t visit.”
“They never said I could, either.”
“You just want the red carpet, marching bands, and confetti,” he teased.
That he could find humor now was so amazing. “Why not? I’m the wielder of the Kris Dagger. We took out Coronis, stopped the demons from electing a leader, and rescued the Specials. I should get a hero’s welcome.”
“Not going to happen. Instead of marching bands, we have archangels gunning for us.”
And we were back to my nightmare. I sighed. “Actually, they’re gunning for me.”
“You mentioned that before and I went with it. Why are you so sure about that?”
I explained what Raphael had said. Bran’s eyes darkened the more I talked. He piled meat on top of the slice of bread absentmindedly. “What if there’s a connection between Gavyn’s rants and what Raphael said? According to Dante, the Chosen One will unite the Nephilim and lead them down the path to ascension. What if it’s already happening? Without me, you would never have switched sides or fought on Jarvis Island. Without me, the Specials would still be with the demons and Coronis would still be alive. Without me, Dante and Kael might not have found love.”
Bran shot me a skeptical look. “What?”
“They love each other. It’s really cute.”
“Are you sure about that? It doesn’t matter. The archangels won’t win. Like I said, we won’t let them. You won’t let them.” He rounded the counter to rejoin me, another sandwich in his hand. He paused instead of taking his seat and added, “Once we talk to your grandfather, you’ll see that I’m telling the truth.”
I should have stopped talking right there, but I couldn’t. “What if Valafar is alive?”
Bran scowled. “I’m beginning to hate this game. You know, when you say ‘what if and I come up with an answer.”
I pouted. “It’s not a game. I’m serious. What if he survived the attack on Jarvis Island?”
His green eyes darkened. A shrug followed. “Then wherever he is, he’s too weak to do anything. The last time we saw him, he was a shriveled old man. A shadow of the powerful nature-bender he once was.”
“Physically, yes, but mentally…” I shook my head. “He could be behind this mess.”
Bran shrugged and asked, “How are your powers?” His attempt to change the subject was pathetic.
“We have to explore all possibilities, Bran. About Valafar, the archangels, Gavyn’s agenda.”
He pushed back the hair from his forehead, his expression angry. “What do you want me to say? That there could be some truth to what Gavyn said about Valafar and that the thought of losing you to the archangels is already haunting me? Or that I blame Gavyn for all of the above? Is that what you want to hear?” he asked sharply.
“Yes,” I snapped right back. “I need to know exactly how you feel, so I know I’m not the only one feeling like this. I’m scared, Bran. Terrified. I keep thinking that this time we won’t win. That no matter what you or anyone says, this is it.” My voice was shaking by the time I finished talking.
“Come here.” Bran put his sandwich down and pulled me into his arms. “You drive me crazy, you know that?”
“I know.”
“But I love you anyway.”
“I know.”
“You are never alone, and we’ll find a way to beat them,” he vowed.
Should I tell him about the Goddess using me as a vessel? No, that would be too much information for now. There was always the chance that I’d ascend and escape the archangels once she was done with me.
Not liking my thoughts, I stepped away from Bran’s arms. Even though he picked up his sandwich and bit into it, his eyes stayed on me. I started making my own sandwich, wishing I’d eaten something at Kieran’s.
“How’s your headache?”
“Gone.”
“Your powers?”
“Steady for now.”
He nodded. “That’s good.”
“Do I look different since the attack?” I asked when he continued to watch me.
“You mean other than the glow and the sparkle in your eyes, or the fact that you’re the most beautiful girl in the entire world? Because that’s not different.”
Heat rushed to my cheeks at the compliment. “I’m serious, Bran. Something happens to me every time my powers are off. My heartbeat shoots up, I get hot and—”