“Just because you don’t feel like dealing with something, doesn’t mean you can act out with violence, Ms. Roe.” I narrow my eyes at him because he should know better than to assume I’m being dramatic, so I step up to him until I’m in his personal space, looking up at him.
“My bad. I thought him insinuating my vagina was a revolving door for anyone to join was enough of a reason. Add on him stepping into my personal space so he was touching me? I will make sure to not make such a mistake again.”
Brian and Colten have to hold Orion back from jumping on Pete and beating him to death, but the looks of anger and darkness in their eyes is clear. Even his buddies take a step back, feeling the need for violence radiating from them.
Dad looks at me like he’s fuming and wants to beat the shit out of him too, but as an authority figure, he’s not allowed to show favourites.
“Detention. Both of you. Get ready to work your anger out on the bags. We do not use violence with one another!” he snaps and walks into the building as he blows the whistle, letting everyone know the class is over.
Pete’s friends help him up and walk with him into the building, while my guys and Addy surround me.
“I’m killing that fuck,” Orion growls, and I walk into his arms, knowing I’m the only one that can bring him down from the edge when he’s like this.
“He’s an asshole, but he doesn’t deserve to die, O.”
He growls and holds me tight.
“I disagree!” Colten snaps, and Brian has to rein him in with his calming ability.
“Harleigh is right. We have enough on our plate without killing some stupid fuck who thinks he’s hot shit.” But his face is just as angry as theirs, he’s just better at keeping a level head than my other guys.
Sighing, I step away from O to hug Colt and Bry before readying myself.
“I better get in there and beat the crap out of some bags. Again.” I groan, and start walking toward the gym and they follow me in, breaking away to do their own thing as I head to the bags.
I let out all of my anger and frustration as I picture Pete and anyone else who is against us.
Bring on the next hour.
Orion
“Detention? Really, Mark?!” I am so close to strangling Harleigh’s father for this bullshit.
“Harleigh didn’t deserve that,” Brian states, staring him down. He’s too calm, even when he’s pissed off, and it’s irritating.
“You don’t think I know that?” Mark hollers at us from behind his desk. “But unless you want everyone knowing she’s my daughter and getting special treatment, I had to follow the rules.” He throws himself down into his chair, and glares at us.
“That bastard deserved worse than he got,” Colten sneers, and I nod in agreement.
What I wouldn’t give to have some time with him and my tools. He’d learn pretty fucking quickly whose girl to stay away from.
“I’m with you.” He runs a hand down his face in frustration. “But she used her abilities on another student out of violence. That can’t go unpunished. Not with your father going missing from the board.”
“Fuck,” Colten swears under his breath.
“The school is under a microscope right now. If I don’t follow the rules to the letter, I could find myself without a job and banned from the property. I won’t let that happen when my daughter damn well needs me,” he growls, and it’s similar to Lucifer’s when he’s more beast than human.
“Then let me handle him.” He’s shaking his head before I can even finish my sentence.
“There’s nothing I want more than to see his ass beat to a pulp for even looking her way, believe me. But we all need to behave because we can’t leave Harleigh unprotected.” He looks me straight in the eye, and I catch a glimpse of fire blazing in them. “Behave and follow the rules. She needs you here.”
14
Harleigh
Four days.
That’s how long it took to get everything out of Colten’s father that he had to give, before throwing him into a time loop of his own living nightmare.
There really is a place in Hell for everyone, even if they aren’t actually dead.
This is all becoming too real, and I wish I could just hide away in my bubble where things are simpler. I don’t want to be a part of a war.
The battle between the angels and us shouldn’t be a thing, but it’s happening and we can’t stop it. They plan on making their move in a few short months when everyone else goes home for the summer.
“How do we know they won’t change their plan of attack now that we have Alexander?” I ask them, petting Orion as he’s curled into a ball on my lap. He changes form for me when I’m overwhelmed, and it’s adorable.
“They can’t. It’s the only time that makes sense. They aren’t going to want to take out other students and teachers. Innocents are too much collateral damage,” Gramps states, and I huff.
“Adeline was innocent.” Lucifer winces. I’m glad Addy isn’t here for this discussion. She’s currently on a call with the elder vampire from this summer, and doing some virtual training.
“She was. I should have said collateral damage on a scale of that magnitude. There are too many students here. They would never get away with it.”
“They aren’t going to get away with it now!” I scream, and Orion stands on his hind legs, rubbing his nose along my jaw, and I sigh, curling him into a ball and hugging his soft fur.
“No, they won’t. But they don’t know the Father has given us an all-clear, either. They’re banking on us not being able to defend ourselves without dire consequences,” Gramps explains, and I feel myself getting pissed off.
