Page 73 of Wings of Death

I follow his lead and blow on it, then take a sip. A deliciously sweet but bitter taste hits my tongue, and I’m sold.

Kyle’s expression turns serious as he walks around to me and takes a seat on the barstool next to mine.

“You had me worried yesterday,” he says as his eyes search mine.

“I’m fine. I can handle it,” I tell him.

Having someone care about me the way Kyle does makes me feel giddy inside. He opens his mouth to say something else when I sense Finlay is near.

My attention snaps to the yard to see him land on the grass, flanked by several watchers as they touch down, one by one. There must be at least ten of them, maybe more.

We both leap to our feet.

“What the hell?” Kyle says.

Come on out, Zarla. You didn’t think I forgot about you now, did you?

Finlay’s voice fills my mind, and the sinister sound lacing his words makes my skin crawl. He’s back to being an asshole, that much I can tell. Maybe he always was.

I turn to Kyle. His jaw is tense as he glares at Finlay through the window.

“Stay in here, please. You haven’t had the training,” I beg him.

His gaze meets mine. “There is no way I am sending you out there to fight all those massive males on your own.”

I’m waiting. Don’t be rude, Zarla.

I close my eyes and grit my teeth as I storm across the room and out onto the porch with Kyle close behind me.

“What are you doing, Finlay?” I demand, although I think I already know.

Was it him all along, sending the watchers to attack? I think back to our first surprise encounter with them and decide that he can’t have been behind it. He was just as surprised as I was.

Clearly, whoever is behind all of this has recruited him.

“Zarla, I’m giving you a chance here. Come with me, and no one has to get hurt,” he says and shifts his focus to Kyle. “Well, no one who matters, anyway.”

I immediately sense the lies wrapped around his words. Judging by the amount of watchers he has brought with him, he is here for one reason and one reason only.

To kill.

“He’s a danger to you, Zarla. He cannot be trusted.”

Kyle tenses next to me, and he moves to the edge of the porch. His black wings spring free, and Finlay gasps, taking a step back. I move to Kyle’s side, taking his hand in mine before meeting Finlay’s angry glare. His focus homes in on our hands, and he clenches his fists.

“Finlay, please, don’t do this,” I plead with him, but I know his mind has been well and truly made up.

He laughs and slowly crosses the yard toward us, and then he stops a few feet back from the porch steps. “Do you really think the two of you can win this?” He waves his arms around at the watchers. “He’s no match for any of us. Don’t be stupid, Zarla.”

I narrow my eyes at him, lifting my hand slightly in case I have to use my powers.

“You are aiding an enemy angel, Zarla. We cannot allow it.”

Finlay raises his hands, but Kyle is faster, blasting him with a powerful surge of his dark powers. Finlay shoots backward into the group of watchers and knocks several of them to the ground.

I release my wings and swoop down into the yard. Kyle follows, landing with a soft thud next to me.

“Be careful,” I whisper to him.

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