Fallen 2. Torment(57)

brighter and the wind ripped across her body, tousling her hair across her face.

Up they soared, higher into the night, until the school was just a black smudge on

the ground below. Until the ocean was just a silver blanket on the earth. Until they

pierced a feathery layer of cloud.

She wasn't cold or afraid. She felt free of everything that weighed her down on

earth. Free of danger, free of any pain she'd ever felt. Free of gravity. And so in love.

Daniel's mouth traced a line of kisses up the side of her neck. He wrapped his arms tight

around her waist and turned her to face him. Her feet were on top of his, just as when

they'd danced over the ocean at the bonfire. There was no wind anymore; the air around

them was silent and calm. The only sounds were the beating of Daniel's wings as they

hovered in the sky and the beating of her own heart.

"Moments like this," he said, "make everything we've had to go through

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worthwhile."

Then he kissed her as he'd never kissed her before. A long, extended kiss that

seemed to claim her lips forever. His hands traced the line of her body, lightly at first and

then more forcefully, delighting in her curves. She melted into him, and he ran his fingers

along the backs of her thighs, her hips, her shoulders. He took control of every part of

her.

She felt the muscles beneath his cotton shirt, his taut arms and neck, the hollow at

the small of his back. She kissed his jaw, his lips. Here in the clouds, with Daniel's eyes

sparkling brighter than any star she had ever seen, this was where Luce belonged.

"Can't we just stay here forever?" she asked. "I'll never get enough of this. Of

you."

"I hope not." Daniel smiled, but soon, too soon, his wings shifted, flattening out.

Luce knew what was coming next. A slow descent.

She kissed Daniel one last time and loosened her arms from around his neck,

preparing herself for flight--but then she lost her grip.

And fell.

It seemed to happen in slow motion. Luce tipping backward, her arms flailing

wildly, and then the rush of cold and wind as she plummeted and her breath left her. Her

last glimpse was of Daniel's eyes, the shock in his face.

But then everything sped up, and she was falling so furiously she couldn't breathe.

The world was a spinning black void, and she felt nauseated and scared, her eyes burning

from the wind, her vision dimming and tunneling. She was going to pass out.

And that would be it.

She would never know who she really was, never know whether it had all been

worth it. Would never know whether she was worthy of Daniel's love, and he of hers. It

was all over; this was it.

The wind was a fury in her ears. She closed her eyes and waited for the end.

And then he caught her.

There were arms around her, strong, familiar arms, and she was gently slowing,

no longer falling--she was being cradled. By Daniel. Her eyes were closed, but Luce

knew him.

She began to sob, so relieved that Daniel had caught her, had saved her. In that

moment, she had never loved him more--no matter how many lifetimes she had lived.

"Are you okay?" Daniel whispered, his voice soft, his lips so close to hers.

"Yes." She could feel the beating of his wings. "You caught me."

"I will always catch you when you fall."





Slowly they dropped back to the world they'd left behind. To Shoreline and the

ocean lapping up against the cliffs. When they neared the dormitory, he clasped her

tightly, and gently coasted to the ledge, alighting with a feather-light touch.

Luce planted her feet on the ledge and looked up at Daniel. She loved him. It was

the only thing she was certain of.

"There," he said, looking serious. His smile hardened, and the sparkle in his eyes

seemed to fade. "That should satisfy your wanderlust, at least for a little while."

"What do you mean, wanderlust?"

"The way you keep leaving campus?" His voice held a lot less warmth than it had

a moment ago. "You have to stop doing that when I'm not around to look after you."

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"Oh, come on, it was just a stupid field trip. Everyone was there. Francesca,

Steven--" She broke off, thinking about the way Steven had reacted to what had happened

to Dawn. She didn't dare bring up her road trip with Shelby. Or running into Cam under

the deck.

"You've been making things very difficult for me," Daniel said.

"I haven't been having the easiest time either."

"I told you there were rules. I told you not to leave this campus. But you haven't

listened. How many times have you disobeyed me?"

" Disobeyed you?" She laughed, but inside she felt dizzy and sick. "What are you,

my boyfriend or my master?"

"Do you know what happens when you stray from here? The danger you put