Nemesis (War Angel Academy #2) - S.J. West Page 0,2

head. “I refuse to believe that and you shouldn’t either. Lora is strong. She’s one of the toughest people I’ve ever met. I know she’s alive, and I know Cal is going to come here to take us back to Laed-i. You have to have faith, Caleb. We’ll all be together again soon. You always think of time as your enemy, but it’s actually our salvation. We’ve been here for a month and a half, but only 30 minutes have passed by in the living world. Someone has probably already found Lora by now, and Cal knows we’re here. He’ll come for us. I have faith that he will. Even if he’s mad at me about lying to him, I know he loves me enough to come here for me and his baby. I know it!”

Rose winces and clutches the sides of her belly. Pain contorts her face into a grimace. Like a scene from a horror movie, I watch as her child pushes its body against the walls of her womb as if it wants to rip its way out from underneath her skin. As soon as the movement stops, my sister begins to relax again, but I can tell she’s still in pain. With half closed eyes and an even paler appearance, she turns her gaze back in my direction.

“He’s strong,” she whispers, closing her eyes briefly before opening them again, “exactly like his father. Do you think Cal will be able to forgive me for lying to him?”

“Of course, he’ll forgive you.” Possibly another lie but it’s what she needs to hear. “He fell in love with your kind heart, not your name. He knows what a wonderful person you are, and he’ll understand why you did what you did.”

“I didn’t only sleep with him because our mother ordered me to.” Rose takes in a shaky breath before continuing. “I truly did fall in love with him. He has to know that, right?”

“I have no doubt that he does. Everyone could see how much the two of you cared about one another. I’m glad you were able to experience love—” I stop myself short before revealing my inner worry.

“Before I die?” Rose asks, knowing the train of my thoughts without me even having to say them. “I’ve had the same thoughts too, so don’t feel guilty for thinking them. Death is a part of life. No one can escape it. We’re not meant to live forever. Besides, death isn’t the end. Even if I die before he finds us, I know I’ll see Cal again one day.”

I wait for her to continue but she doesn’t. Rose gives me a meaningful look, prodding me into asking her why she’s so confident she’ll see Cal again even if she dies before he finds us.

“Why do you think that?” I find myself holding my breath as I wait for her answer.

“When I was with Cal, he told me that all anyone has to do to earn God’s forgiveness is ask Him for it. I did that.”

“Wait,” I say, taken aback by her answer. “You met God and didn’t tell me?”

“No, silly,” she says with a small smile and shake of her head. “I simply prayed to Him.”

“How do you know it worked?” I ask skeptically. “Mother said He couldn’t hear anyone’s prayers in the Void.”

“That was a lie,” Rose says so vehemently her cheeks momentarily show a small bit of color. “God can hear your prayers no matter where you are. All you have to do is open your heart and speak to Him.”

“Even if He did hear your prayer, how do you know He forgives you for what we did to Cal, Lora, and the others?” I desperately want to hear her answer, but I keep my voice level and steady so she doesn’t become upset again. The last thing I need to do is cause her any more stress in her condition.

Rose closes her eyes and takes in a deep breath. “I could feel it here,” she says, placing her other hand over her heart. “There was a calmness that overcame me and . . . well . . . I just knew.” Rose opens her eyes to look back at me. “When I die, I’ll go to Heaven, and I’ll be there waiting for Cal when it’s his time to join me. I’m not afraid to die. The only thing I’m afraid of is Levi using my son to hurt Cal in some way. I know that’s