Truth in Legends [Part Three of the Thicker than Blood Series] Read Online Free Page A

rose, still staring at the man I thought I knew.  His eyes were a cerulean maelstrom of emotion focused on me, but his demeanor softened under my gaze.
     
    “That explains why I couldn't compel her,” Alex concluded, shaking his head.  “You already beat me to it.”
     
    I gasped.  “M... Matt... what is he talking about?”
     
    The anger in Matt's eyes switched to fear for a brief moment and then back to anger as he turned his attention to Alex. 
     
    “Matt, did you compel me?”
     
    He ignored my questions as his eyes scanned over the fallen angel and he did the same to me.  “Did you sleep with...,” he started but didn't finish. 
     
    “My once good friend, that is none of your concern,” Alex said smugly.
     
    “It is my concern!  Michael sent me to protect her.”  When Matt looked at me, color rose to my cheeks, giving him the confirmation he didn't want.  Anger raged once more.  “You should be burning in the pits of Hades with Lucifer,” Matt hissed.
     
    “Michael...,” I heard myself say.  Why did the archangels want me protected?  My hand gripped the mahogany table for support as my head began to swim from overload.
     
    “Kenna, what are you doing!  Do you know what a monster he is?”  Matt shouted at me, pointing at Alex.  “He's a blood thirsty monster!”
     
    “I've told her everything, Jeremiel,” Alex said calmly.
     
    Matt blinked at me.  “You... know?”
     
    What could I say?  I stared back, my mouth opening slightly.
     
    “You know and you still...,” Matt trailed off.  His body began trembling with anger; his expression bordering on disgust.  “I should have compelled you to avoid him!”
     
    Where did he get off saying such a thing?  I wasn't some pawn to be pushed around the board.  “What have you compelled me to do, Matt?”  It was my turn to get angry.
     
    “It doesn't matter.”  His wings faded, leaving him to look like a hot extra from the set of Troy.
     
    “Like hell.  Tell me now!”
     
    Matt's shocking blue eyes stared into mine and I saw despair replace anger.  He sighed.  “I won't tell you but I will undo it.”  He strode forward hesitantly, stared at me for a moment and then placed his hand on my cheek.  Suddenly, I saw it all.  Visions of Matt and I having sex where held me tenderly and told me that he loved me afterwards.  The times he told me he loved me before he left my house.  The first night we had sex... he told me he was falling in love with me.  The last night we were together, he told me he loved me and that he had to leave because he could no longer stand just being friends.  I gasped.
     
    “What did you do, Jeremiel,” Alex demanded, crossing his arms over his chest.
     
    “That's between Kenna and I.” Matt stared down at me.  “I'm so sorry,” he whispered as a tear rolled down his cheek that Alex couldn't see.
     
    My heart was thundering in my chest.  “Matt... you should have let me remember that.  Why didn't you?”
     
    “Because I couldn't.  I was to be just an ordinary man to you.”
     
    I wanted to laugh.  The thought of Matt ever being ordinary was humorous... but instead, I stared.  “Why?” 
     
    Alex came to stand next to me.  The expression on his face said, 'this should be good'.
     
    Matt sighed.  He turned, placing the huge sword against a wooden beam near to the shattered front door and approached Alex and I.  “Michael sent me to protect you and in order to do that, I had to gain your trust.  I needed to be your friend.”
     
    “Micheael?” Alex asked.
     
    Matt glared at Alex, malice seething from his eyes.  “Yes.  Our Father put Michael in charge of the archangels.”
     
    “Why did... Michael want me protected?”  Was I really having this conversation?
     
    “Because of what your blood contains.  Michael told me to watch over you, gain your trust and become your friend.”
     
    “My blood...,”  this was so overwhelming.  I went back into the