Page 108 of Wings of Death

His room is dimly lit, and his fire is crackling away in the corner, providing a comforting warmth. I glance at the double doors to his room, where Mikel is standing guard.

“Nice to see you back in Silanthia.” He smiles at me as I approach.

“I can’t say it’s good to be back in all honestly after what happened at the ball, but I’m here for my father,” I tell him.

He nods and opens the door to let me through.

My father sits up in his bed as I hover near the doorway. “Zarla?”

“Yes, it’s me,” I say.

He fumbles out of bed and storms toward me on unsteady feet. Okay, so he seems pretty well. Well enough to scold me, anyway.

“Have you any idea how worried I have been? What were you thinking? You could’ve been killed!” His voice is harsh, but there’s serious concern laced into his words that cuts at my heart.

“I’m sorry,” I softly say, “but I had to go with him.”

He rakes his hands over his face. “Youhadto go? I don’t think so, Zarla. An enemy angel? Have you any idea how dangerous that is?”

I grit my teeth together as I try to contain my anger. “He is not dangerous, and nor is his Kingdom. I seem to be in more danger here. Astelle stabbed me after the explosion, and that’s why I left with him. I could’ve died.”

His eyes widen at my words. “Shewhat?”

“Why have you been lying to me?”

He frowns at the turn in conversation. “I haven’t lied, Zarla. They can’t be trusted. How long have you known he was from Zarquon?”

I swallow hard and bite the inside of my cheek. “A while,” I admit, “but none of this matters. I know who murdered my mother, and it wasn’t an angel from Zarquon.”

He moves past me through the door and into his living quarters. He stops by the fire and pours himself a glass of something strong, and then he throws it back in one go before smashing the glass against the stone fireplace. It explodes into a thousand pieces, and I jump.

My focus shifts to Mikel, who shuffles uncomfortably before leaving the room to join Amaros in the corridor outside.

“I forbid you to leave this Kingdom,” my father says in an even voice, ignoring what I’ve just said. “I forbid you to see that angel ever again. You are a Silanthian, Zarla, and you will remain here where you belong.”

I notice his skin is off coloured, and although he’s far away from me, it almost looks as though his veins are green and are protruding out of his face. What in the gods is wrong with him?

I ball my fists at my sides as my powers build inside. “You can’t do that,” I say as I move halfway across the room toward him. “Did you hear what I said? It wasn’t an angel from Zarquon. It was?—”

“Enough!” His voice booms through his quarters.

He storms toward me and stops inches away, his eyes red as he glares at me with a deep anger.

I panic. “What are you doing?”

He grabs hold of my wrists while his powers surge up my arms, and I scream as deep pain cuts through them. I watch in horror as my guardian markings slowly disappear. I try to yank my arms away, but it’s no use. He is far stronger than I.

In my peripheral vision, the door bursts open, and Mikel and Amaros hesitate near the doorway, unsure whether to do something.

“Stop! Please!” I scream.

“What are you doing?” Amaros demands, but my father ignores him.

The pain intensifies into a burning sensation as I desperately try to escape his grasp. He eventually releases me, and I crumple to the floor.

Amaros rushes to my side to check on me while I lay shaking from the intensity of the pain.

“What have you done to her?” Amaros demands.

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