Fallen Academy: Year Two (Fallen Academy #2)(62)

That seemed to loosen them up. Chloe burst forward with her vampire-like speed and inspected the ring. “Oh my God, I’m so jelly. Promise rings are adorable.”

I chuckled.

Luke was next. “I’m super happy for you, and I know this is all about you, but something happened that I’ve been dying to tell you guys.”

Yes. Please take the spotlight off me. “Spill it.” I sat on the edge of my bed because if I didn’t, I was going to fall over.

Luke looked at Chloe a little awkwardly and then chewed his lip. “Donnie asked me out to a movie with a few of his friends, and I’m freaking out!” He jumped up and down like a lunatic.

I grinned. “That’s awesome. Is it like a friendly group hang, or…?”

Luke looked desperately at Chloe. “I don’t know. He said, ‘You wanna catch a flick with me and my buddies, Tommy and Bam?’”

Chloe nodded, impressed. “Tommy and Bam are dating, so it’s totally a double date.”

The shriek that left Luke’s throat was akin to a dolphin trying to find its mother.

“I’m going to faint,” he breathed.

I laughed, as did everyone else. Even my mother was laughing.

“Thanks for being here, guys. I love you all,” I told my friends as the exhaustion hit me full steam.

Lying back on my pillow, I tried to keep my eyes open but failed. The last thing I saw was my mother tucking the blanket around me and telling everyone I needed my rest.

Even at twenty years old, a girl still needs her mom.





Chapter Twenty-Four





The next morning, I awoke to a strong hand massaging my back. I inhaled and smelled bacon and coffee. My eyelids snapped open and drank in the sight of my man. Lincoln was sitting on my dorm room bed, rubbing my back in slow, soothing circles.

“Hey, it’s afternoon. I wanted to make sure you were okay,” he whispered.

I eyed the milky coffee, the plate of eggs and bacon on my dresser, and nodded. “I’m fine now,” I declared, shoving two full strips of bacon in my mouth in one go. If a man brought you coffee and bacon in bed, you marry that man.

Lincoln chuckled. “I’m glad to hear it.” He wrapped his hand around my left one and spun the ring on my finger. “Not exactly how I thought that night was going to end.”

Yeah, tell me about it.

He looked around the room at the balloons and toilet paper. “At least it looks like you got a little celebration.”

I chugged the coffee, feeling my soul finally join my body, something only coffee was capable of doing. “This is my life. Black wings, devil marks and… what happened last night.” I wanted him to know what he was in for.

Lincoln frowned. “But it won’t always be. This war is going to end, and we’re going to live… forever, really.”

Forever.

Whoa.

I’d conveniently forgotten about the immortality thing. Live forever unless killed.

I nodded. “But if it doesn’t, and I’m always going to be hunted by him....”

Him. I couldn’t even say his name anymore.

Lincoln shrugged. “Then we’ll deal with it. Together.”

I sighed, nuzzling my head into his neck. He always knew the perfect thing to say.

Tonight was Lincoln’s surprise captain’s promotion.

I glanced at the clock to see it was already three. I’d slept all day.

‘No more Celestial balls. Bad idea, not worth it,’ Sera exclaimed.

‘Agreed.’

“I should shower,” I told Lincoln and peeled back my covers. He looked at my bare legs and his eyes hooded.

“I could use a shower too.” He scooped me into his arms, lifting me off the bed.

Laughter erupted from my belly as he walked me into the bathroom. Threading my fingers through his hair, I couldn’t help but appreciate how perfect Lincoln Grey was in that moment.

I wanted to freeze it and capture it forever.



That night, Noah snuck me into the reception hall, and I sat at the large white cloth-covered table with Lincoln’s closest friends. Lincoln had been on the stage under the guise that he was helping Raphael honor some other Fallen Army soldiers, which they did. But when Raphael introduced his surprise promotion, I started to cry. He’d listed off my man’s achievements, including the numerous lives he’d saved, and families he’d brought to the safety of Angel City. It was a beautiful ceremony, and when Lincoln saw I was there, he’d beamed with pride.

Now we were at the after party. The archangels had gone home, the music was loud, and Shea, Luke, and Chloe had officially crashed the party.

I was dancing with Lincoln when he leaned into my ear. “I’m thirsty. Want a drink?”

I nodded.

As he made his away off the dance floor, Shea twerked her way over to me, much to the dismay of Noah who had been grinding up on her.

“So, I’ve been thinking.” Shea shouted over the music. “If you’re stuck on campus for the next few years, I’d bet we could convince Raph to give us our own dorm rooms next year, right next to each other.”

I smiled. “Really? You’d stay in the lame dorms with me, even though everyone else will be getting apartments?”

Shea nodded. “What can I say? I’m just that good of a friend.”