Page 132 of Wings of Death

I open my mouth but find I’m unable to respond. I stare into his icy-grey eyes and find truth there. But despite this truth,what of his lies? What of his involvement with Hethenos’s plans to take over the Kingdom? After all, she said she wasn’t the only one who wanted to. Did Amaros conspire with her?

“Say something, please,” he urges, his voice gentle as he reaches down and glides his fingers across my cheek and over my lips.

I suck my bottom lip into my mouth, afraid of his reaction when I say what I’m about to say, but I have to. “I love Kyle. Despite what you think, he is my fated mate.”

Pain fills his eyes as he releases my wrists and takes a step back. He rakes his hands over his face while agony unfolds in his features.

“I will always be here for you,” he says, his voice firm, “no matter the depth of your hate for me.”

He steps in close and presses a kiss to my cheek, lingering there longer than necessary, and I close my eyes. Half of me expects him to kiss me, and half of me wants him to.

“I don’t hate you,” I admit, my voice merely a whisper when I feel him step back.

And then he walks away, leaving me alone in the corridor.

The following two days pass by in a blur. I spend most of my time in my quarters, trying to connect with Kyle. I tried to send a messenger angel, but he was intercepted at the borders and was told he could not leave the Kingdom. Why is Harlum going to such lengths to prevent me from seeing Kyle? He knows nothing about him.

I even tried sneaking into the Dark Forest to the clearing to transport through the Gateway of the Gods, but Amaros followed me. I think he got a kick out of allowing me to think Iwas going to escape, only to show up at the last minute and stop me.

I am desperate to get back to Zarquon. To Kyle. It has been far too long since I last saw him, and I miss him more than I can bear. He’s my mate. I know it in the depths of my soul; I want to be mated to him. Then I will never have to experience this agony again, of being apart, wondering why he hasn’t come, wondering if he’s okay.

I can imagine us living together in Zarquon. It’s a beautiful Kingdom, and after everything I have been through here, after everything I have learnt, it no longer feels like home. It no longer feels safe.

During the past few days, when I wasn’t in my quarters, I spent my time in the Great Library, reading up on the gods, trying to gain an understanding of who they are. How many of them are still around, and where they live.

Thoughts of who my real father is have plagued my mind ever since learning the truth. A truth I think I always knew was there. Where is he? Does he know I exist?

I stare at my reflection in the mirror as I run my hands down my turquoise silk dress, and my bright green eyes stare back at me. My father’s eyes.

Brushing those thoughts aside, I plait my hair and let it hang over my shoulder with a few loose waves framing my face. I look nice, and although it feels strange wearing a dress, all my guardian leathers are being cleaned, so I have no choice. I really have to arrange more leathers.

Moving away from the mirror, I grab my white fluffy coat and slip it on. It immediately warms me, but the warmth doesn’t distract me from the sense of dread building in the pit of my stomach. The thought of seeing Hethenos again and knowing the fate she is about to endure knots my stomach.

She deserves nothing less than what The Throne will decide for her. I visited Kastal Kallis yesterday afternoon after I worked up the courage, and I explained everything Hethenos said about Finlay and how she threatened his family if he didn’t do as she asked. He appreciated the information, but I could see the rage burning in his eyes. He planned to find his son, have his sentence reversed and his wings restored.

I open my door to find Lacinda and Demetros waiting for me. They’re holding hands, and they look so comfortable together. It warms my heart seeing the two of them. Lacinda drops his hand and pulls me in for a hug.

“Are you ready?” she asks, concern etched into her features.

I let out a long breath. “About as ready as I’ll ever be.”

We walk to The Throne room together and find seats high in the stands amongst the crowds. I feel I’m being watched and glance down to meet Amaros’s eyes. He’s standing near the front of the room, and he clasps his hands in front of himself and looks down, breaking the contact. Guilt tugs at my heart for what happened between us, but I had to be honest with him.

He lied to me more times than I can count, and I just don’t know that I can trust him. Why is he here, working as a guard when he’s a god? Is he hiding from something, or someone?

I scan the room for Astelle, but she’s not here. It doesn’t surprise me though. I wouldn’t want to watch my mother’s sentencing for her crimes either, especially knowing it’s likely to be a death sentence after what she has done. I feel sorry for Astelle, having a mother like that. It clearly rubbed off on her in all the worst ways, and I can only hope she can recover from this.

A guard steps into the centre of the room. “Please rise,” he says, and everyone in the crowd stands as the nine Throne angels walk into the room through the side door.

Once they’re seated, a guard leads Hethenos into the room. She’s wearing white loose-fitting pants and a white loosejumper. Her blonde hair is a mess, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen her so dishevelled.

The guard leads her to her seat behind the bench where she sits facing the nine Throne angels. She scans the room before settling her gaze on me.

Lacinda grips my hand as I look down at my lap for a moment. I’m thankful when I glance up to find she’s no longer looking my way.

The Throne doesn’t give Hethenos an opportunity to speak, as they usually allow, likely due to the seriousness of her crimes. They step out of the room for a while as they deliberate, and they return once they have decided upon a sentence for her. The same guard stands at the front of the room to read out her fate, and I all but hold my breath.

“Hethenos Pagonis, The Throne has sentenced you to a punishment rarely handed down because of its cruel nature. However, given your crimes against your own Kingdom, against your King, The Throne has hereby sentenced you to the fires.”

---