Battle Angel (Immortal City 3)

“Everything . . . okay?” he said.

“I don’t know,” Maddy said. “What about you?”

“I don’t know, either.”

A meaningful silence settled between them, and they began walking together through the ruins. They came to the famous entrance where Guardians were led just before Commissioning. The stone arch had collapsed, but the monument at its center was still intact, though it now lay on its side, partially buried in the wreckage. Most of the big block lettering etched into the stone was still legible.

“I read that oath right before my Commissioning,” Jacks said to Maddy. “‘Do Your Duty.’ Those words flashed through my head right before I left to save you outside Ethan’s party. And I wasn’t thinking about my duty to the Angels. I knew I was being called for some higher duty. It seems so long ago now.”

“You’ve done your duty, Jacks,” Maddy said. “We all have.” Her voice quavered as she spoke.

Jacks put his arm around Maddy to comfort her as they sat down on the edge of a slab of marble that had toppled down and cracked into three giant pieces. “I haven’t had a chance to . . .” His voice trailed off. He didn’t know what to say. But he did know that, when it came to Maddy, he didn’t really need to say anything.

In this predawn winter hour, Maddy’s body felt cool under his arm. “You’re cold,” he said. “Here, have my jacket.”

“That’s okay. I don’t want you to be cold, Jacks. I’m fine. . . .” she said unconvincingly.

“Yeah, right. You’re shivering, Mads,” he said. “Just take it.” He wrapped the jacket over her shoulders.

“Thanks,” she said, smiling slightly.

They sat there in silence for a while, just being.

Until Jackson broke the silence.

“Remember our first date?”

“At the diner?”

“That didn’t count,” Jackson said. “Our first date, not when we first met.”

“You mean up at the viewpoint.”

“And then flying,” Jacks said. “You were so suspicious.”

A wisp of a smile came across Maddy’s face. “With good reason.”

“I was just trying to be nice,” Jacks said.

“You were trying to show off.”

“Well, it worked, didn’t it?”

“I guess you’re right,” Maddy said. “Maybe.”

“You have to admit you liked it.”

“The Ferrari was a bit much.” A thoughtful, dreamy expression overtook Maddy’s face. “We flew over Angel City. My first time. The city was so beautiful.” She looked out at the ruins around her. “That’s how I want to remember it. Not like this. Not . . . broken.”

“It can be rebuilt,” Jacks said.

Maddy nodded but kept her gaze fixed on the destruction.

“Let’s go back inside, where it’s warmer,” Jacks said. They made their way back into the section of the temple that was still partially covered. The half-wall blocked out the cool breeze, and it was almost cozy.

“Kris and Chloe . . . ,” Maddy said, thinking of Jackson’s mother and sister, who were suffering the loss of Mark Godspeed, too. “How are they?”

“In shock. We all are. Everyone’s lost someone. No Angel family is untouched. Gabriel’s evil has run deep.” Jackson’s voice was breaking up as he spoke of his stepfather. “I know he and I had some differences in the past. But even if he wasn’t my real father, he was always my dad.”