Page 91 of Wings of Death

Amaros keeps his eyes on me as we dance with our new partners, before switching back. His ice-grey eyes are glued to mine as we step, spin, and dance our way around the floor. The song eventually ends as he dips me back and holds me there, his lips inches from mine. I know he isn’t about to kiss me in front of other angels. His lips hover over mine for a moment before he swiftly pulls me up again.

I breathe rapidly while the music changes to a slow song next, and without asking, he pulls me against his chest once more.

“I’m sorry about this evening. I assumed you wouldn’t want to see me, so I sent the twins instead.”

I don’t respond, still pissed that he would do that to me.

“Did something happen?” he finally asks.

I move back a little to look up into his eyes. “Not really. They scared me, though. They came into my quarters, uninvited, and closed the door. Rimel… I don’t know. I just don’t trust him. I didnotlike him touching me.”

He tenses. “I will make sure that never happens again. You have my word. I should have been there. I would have enjoyed helping you.”

I don’t miss the hidden meaning in his words, and although it should bother me, it doesn’t. He glides his hand down my back, tracing his fingers across my bare skin. I shiver at his touch and abruptly step back.

His brows crease together. “I’m sorry.”

“You can’t touch me like that in front of everyone,” I whisper and hurry off across the dance floor away from him.

He shouldn’t touch me like that ever, but the real reason it bothers me so much is because I enjoyed it. What is wrong with me?

I look back to find him watching me. Gods above, this is bad.

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

I’m standing near the back entrance of the hall, and the idea of sneaking out the door to find Kyle passes through my mind for the millionth time. I’m almost certain I can go unnoticed. That is, until I spot Amaros across the room, watching me again.

Shoot. How am I going to escape him? He’s been watching me like a hawk ever since my father handed him off to be my first guard.

I never needed personal guards before, so why now?

My glass is almost empty, and I decide to hell with it, downing the last of it. Amaros shoots me a disapproving glare, but I ignore him.

Astelle is on the dance floor with her friends, and they keep looking at me. I can only imagine what she’s said about Amaros and me. They probably think I’m some evil bitch trying to steal her male from her.

I move through the crowds toward the bar, desperate for another drink. I’ll have one more drink, I decide, and then I’m out. There’s only so much of this I can take. I can’t get Kyle out of my mind, and I need to find him. To hell with Amaros andeveryone else. I am a grown-ass guardian. I can make my own decisions.

The keeper slides another bubbly over to me, and I notice the napkin beneath it has a message scribbled across it. I subtly pick it up and lower it below the bar to read it.

Zarla, meet me in private in the spare kitchen out the back. Come alone.

I frown and scan the hall and then glance at the keeper behind the bar. He doesn’t look my way, likely just as in the dark who the note is from as I. I screw it up and toss it into a fire on my way toward the back.

Amaros is preoccupied with Astelle, who is trying to convince him to dance. He takes his eyes off me to talk to her, and I take the opportunity to duck behind a group of angels. I peek out to see him looking around the hall for me as he’s dragged onto the dance floor.

Perfect.

I slip out the back and remove one of my daggers from my straps. Despite my curiosity, I still have to be careful. This could very well be a trap. The lighting is dim back here as I pass the main kitchen and carry on down the corridor toward the second kitchen. I used to hang out back here a bit when I was younger, and the keepers would make me snacks.

As if sensing my trepidation, dark magic swirls from my fingertips, reassuring me. Ever since harnessing the dark magic, I have felt safer. Stronger.

The door to the spare kitchen is up ahead, and the lights are off. I peer through the small window in the door but can’t see much. Taking a deep breath, I press my hand against the door, and it swings open without a sound as I step into the dark space.

“Zarla?”

I jump at the familiar voice and place a hand over my racing heart, squinting through the darkness as I walk forward and seeMikel, one of my father’s first guards, hovering near the back bench.

Woah. Not who I was expecting. Although, this can still be a trap, so I need to keep my distance.

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