Page 114 of Wings of Death

I know exactly what she means by that, and I’m going to get my memories back.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

The following morning, I throw on my guardian leathers, not bothering to tame my wild waves, and use my locket to unlock the door to my balcony. I hardly slept at all, but exhaustion made me crawl into bed after my argument with Amaros. Although I’m unsure exactly what Alaron meant and have no idea how to get my guardian markings back, I’m fairly sure my mother was directing me to the sacred golden fountain to regain my lost memories.

When I’m sure the coast is clear, I release my wings, leap off my balcony, soar high into the sky, and fly over the castle gates toward the sacred golden fountain. The fields of lush flowers and green grass are visible up ahead, and when I see I’m alone, I glide down and land on the shingle surrounding the fountain.

The fountain gave Kyle his memories back, and I have to believe it can do the same for me. Thanks to my mother’s advice, I’m going to attempt it again using the dark magic.

I sit on the edge of the fountain and look around to ensure I’m alone before dipping my fingers into the water. Nothing. I focus on releasing the dark magic and watch as it seeps into the water, praying to the gods this doesn’t break the fountain.

Still nothing. I pour more magic into the water, and just as it starts to glow, Rimel and Yimel swoop down and land next to the fountain. I yank my hand out of the water and jump to my feet. They both glare at me, and I notice the large hammers they’re each holding.

Before I can question them, they smash into the fountain. I scream for them to stop, but they ignore me.

The ancient stone cracks as my body trembles with rage, my powers building inside me. I blast a beam of pure white power into Rimel, which sends him flying. He lands hard on his back. I turn to Yimel and blast him, and he too is flung back and smacks his head on the ground.

“What in the gods is wrong with you two?” I demand. “This fountain was handcrafted by the gods. You have no right to damage it!”

Rimel laughs as he gets to his feet.

I glance down to see my ring glowing red, and panic swirls in the pit of my stomach.

“We know exactly what it is, and we have been instructed to destroy it,” he explains before Yimel swoops at me and knocks me onto my back.

Rimel rushes to my side, yanking a familiar wire from his pocket that he then wraps tightly around my wrists. I cry out as it cuts into my skin and watch with wide eyes as they both go back to smashing the fountain. I’m helpless to stop them. It eventually smashes into a million pieces, and a burst of gold light shoots up out of the water before dying off into a faint glow.

“No!” I scream as I get to my feet. The fountain water pools around me.

Yimel stares at me, unblinking through cold eyes, and Rimel circles me.

“I can sense that dark magic you possess,” Rimel says, pointing his hammer at me. “How did you like the God of Death? I bet he liked you,” he says, licking his lips.

I wrinkle my nose at his seedy implication as he stalks toward me and then stops far too close. I take a step back, and he laughs.

“What exactly are you doing here at the fountain?” Rimel asks.

I ignore his question. “What do you think my father, the King, would think of your behaviour?”

Rimel tilts his head back as a deep laugh rumbles in his chest. “We do not care,” he says. “We will deal with him soon enough.”

I try not to let my face show the fear that is growing inside me. A gust of wind steals my attention, and I look up as Hethenos swoops down and lands with a splash next to Yimel.

Her features are twisted with pure evil as she focuses her dark eyes on me. She then turns to Yimel and passionately kisses him, sliding her tongue into his mouth while he pulls her hard against his chest.

My stomach turns at the sight. Then Rimel walks to her side, wrapping a thick hand around the back of her neck, pulls her head toward him, and kisses her.

Disgust lurches in my stomach, and I have to take a deep breath to settle it.

Hethenos smirks at me, enjoying my reaction. “So you visited our dear friend Alaron, I see?” she says, gesturing to my hands.

I glance down and my black magic is swirling from my fingertips.

“No need to answer,” she says as she slowly walks around, inspecting the rubble from the fountain. “I can sense the dark magic, and you’re not exactly hiding it, either. You see, I possess it too, and have for many years, which is why I have the power I have. I have been told by my watchers that Kyle has regained hismemories. Of course, that just won’t do. This time, I will end him for good, as I should have done the first time.”

She kicks a chunk of stone from the rubble across the ground, and water splashes up around it.

My body shakes at the thought of her harming Kyle, and I’m struggling to contain my powers from tearing her apart.

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