A look of guilt must have crossed my face, because Daniel dropped his gaze and he put a hand to his forehead. His whole body shuddered like he was holding back a rush of sorrow, and he slumped against the wall.
“No, Daniel. No.”
I wanted to rush over to him and throw my arms around his shoulders, but I was afraid he’d just push me away. Any connection I shared with Talbot, whatever bond drew me to him, I realized now that it was skinny and hollow compared to how I felt about Daniel. Nothing compared to how the thought of causing Daniel this pain made me feel.
“It’s not like that at all. He tried to kiss me. I told him not to, but he still tried.”
“What?” Daniel shot straight up and grabbed his motorcycle keys off the table next to him. “Take me to him. Where is he?”
“No, Daniel. What on earth would that accomplish? It’s still not what you think.”
“Take me to that bas—”
“So you can do what? He’s Urbat. There’s nothing you could do.”
“I’m capable of doing more damage than you think.”
“Daniel, please,” I said, trying to calm him down. “Talbot is my friend and my mentor. That’s all.”
“No, Grace. That’s not all. If this guy is the one who told you to take off your moonstone, then he isn’t who he claims to be. He should know you’re not strong enough without it.”
His words stung, but only because they were true. “Well, you don’t have to worry about it anymore. I thought I could become a Hound of Heaven. I thought I could take on the Shadow Kings and find Jude. But all I’ve accomplished is hurting you. You’re right. I’m not strong enough. I’ve failed.”
And Gabriel’s right, too.
Falling is inevitable.
Daniel sighed. He held the keys dangling from his hand. His shirt hung open from where I’d torn it, and I watched his perfect chest heave as he breathed.
And that was when I noticed it: his perfect, unmarked chest.
“Daniel,” I said, taking another step toward him, trying to get a better look. “What happened to the gashes on your chest?”
Daniel looked down at his sternum, then hurriedly pulled his torn shirt closed to hide his collarbone, where the three gashes had been only a few minutes ago—the ones I’d given him during my frenzy. “It’s nothing,” he mumbled, and tried to turn away.
“That’s not nothing.” I grabbed his hand that held his shirt closed and pulled it away from his chest. I was right—the gashes were gone. The only evidence of them were three faint white scars. “What is this, Daniel? What’s going on?”
I grabbed his arm and pulled at the frayed bandage that covered the stitches he’d gotten at the hospital. I expected him to protest, to try to pull out of my grasp, but he only slumped against the wall again—resigned—as I removed the bandage.
Nothing was there. Not even a scar.
“What is going on?” I demanded.
“I don’t know,” Daniel whispered. He ran his hand over his uninjured arm. “I really don’t know.”
“But you did know this was happening. You’re angry at me for keeping secrets, and yet this is what you’re keeping from me?”
“I didn’t want to tell you yet.…”
“Because you don’t trust me?” I knew it was a stupid thing to ask. I knew I hadn’t been acting very trust worthy as of late—but this was too big of a thing to keep from me. “Or because you think I’m too weak to handle it?”
Daniel didn’t answer.
“Are all your powers coming back?” I asked.
“Yes. Slowly. But they’re developing.”
“Oh, God.” I stepped back until my knees hit the edge of the bed. “Does that mean you’re not cured? Does it mean …?”
Falling is inevitable … and there is no cure after all?
“I don’t know—” Daniel began, but he was interrupted by a loud banging noise on his front door.
“Grace Divine!” an angry voice shouted. “If you’re in there, you’d better come out now if you ever want to see the light of day again!”
Dad?
“Get the hell out here now, young lady!” he shouted. “Or I will break down this door if I have to.”