Page 50 of Wings of Death

Finlay backs up a bit, and I yank myself away from Kyle.

“Finlay, please,” I say. “There’s something going on with the watchers and with Kyle. We need to figure it out together.”

He laughs. “Oh, so you do need me?”

I bite my lip from saying what I really want to say.

Finlay, please. Don’t do this. We’re friends,I say through the mind link.

He laughs again, only this time it’s a sinister sound. “Didn’t hear that, did you, Kyle?” he taunts. “Zarla and I share a mindlink. It’s a perk of our bond. We can have a private conversation up here,” he says, tapping his head.

I told you we could be something special, Zarla. It’s not too late. Leave with me. Leave him to fend for himself. He doesn’t need you.

Finlay, you know I can’t do that. We’re friends, that’s all.

He reaches out and strokes my cheek. “You know I want more.”

Before Kyle has a chance to reach him, he’s gone.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

As I stare after Finlay, fear snakes its way into my chest. Although Kyle is an angel, I’m forbidden to lower my veil around him, my bonded “human.” If Finlay makes a case to The Throne that I did that previously, and showed myself to Kyle, it will be enough for them to act. Or worse, he might tell them Kyle’s an angel from Zarquon, and I’ll be forbidden to see him ever again. The thought twists at my stomach.

I broke angel law, regardless of the circumstances. But so did Finlay. Surely he won’t tell The Throne, because then I will tell them that he broke it too. Will they understand these circumstances are different though, now that we know Kyle isn’t even human? Somehow, knowing Finlay’s father, they won’t. Law is law. What better way to show your authority than taking down the King’s daughter?

Kyle places his hand on my shoulder and gently guides me back to the porch. We’re both soaked. Again.

“I’ll get some more towels,” he says, disappearing into the house.

I lean against the side of the doorway to the house as I wait for him. We can’t stay here. It’s far from safe now that Finlay knows the truth. If the watchers come back, or Finlay and hisfather, we’ll be screwed. Well, we may be able to take them on, but I can’t risk that. Kyle hasn’t been through the training I have at the academy. Despite how he handled himself with the last watcher attack, I can’t assume he will cope as well next time.

If only he had his wings, then we could go back to the Kingdom and look for answers, together.

The door creaks open, and Kyle holds a towel out to me. He wraps it around my shoulders, and we head inside to dry off by the fire. The flames lick up the fresh logs Kyle must have just put on, and the warmth helps soothe my worries.

He hands me a black mug, and I take it, breathing in the delicious, sweet, cinnamon aroma. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” he replies and takes a sip from his mug.

“I have an idea,” I say, and try the delicious concoction he has made. “This is incredible, by the way.” I place my mug down on the coffee table.

He raises his brows. “It’s a spiced chai latte.”

I towel my hair off. “I don’t know how to get your wings back, yet, but I might know a way to restore your memories.”

His lips part. “How?”

I hang the towel on the back of a nearby chair. “In my Kingdom, Silanthia, we have what’s called the sacred golden fountain. It’s used in our guardian ceremonies to bond guardians with their human. It uses powerful magic from the gods, and I think it could help.”

He rubs the towel over his hair, leaving it dishevelled in the most gorgeous way, then tosses it onto the floor near the fire. My eyes drift down to his damp, white T-shirt clinging to his muscles, and I gulp, refocusing my attention on his face.

His shoulders slump a little as the excitement drains from his face. “Do you think that’s a good idea? I mean, if our Kingdoms are enemies, I shouldn’t step foot in yours, right?”

Although he has a point, I know I can get him in unnoticed. We just have to be careful, and to be fair, he doesn’t have wings, so no one will know he’s from Zarquon. No wings are pretty suspicious though, but I have a plan. Sort of.

“It’ll be fine,” I say, tugging off the soaked jumper he lent me. “We’ve just got to make sure no one sees us.”

His focus drops to my leather corset, and he swallows, lifting his gaze back up to meet mine. The desire we both feel for one another is strong. I can see it each time he looks at me, and it’s hard not to run into his arms right now and kiss him, feeling his soft lips on mine again.

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