Page 92 of Wings of Death

“I trust you got my notes,” he says, immediately diminishing any concerns I have about it being a trap.

“It was you? This entire time?” I ask in amazement, and then slip my dagger back into my straps.

“I’m sorry I wasn’t able to let you know sooner. I had to be careful. Someone is always watching.”

Using my powers, I create a ball of white light between my hands and illuminate the kitchen. Mikel’s features are torn with concern, and I can sense that it has been a burden for him holding on to these secrets.

“Where did you find my mother’s locket?”

His eyes soften. “I was there the night she was murdered.”

The shock I feel must show on my face. Mikel takes my hand.

“Not in her quarters, but out in the corridor,” he assures me. “I heard a commotion followed by a scream, and several angels fled her quarters. I couldn’t see clearly from where I was, and the darkness didn’t help. But I am almost certain I saw a female and two males.”

My mouth gapes open. Two males? So two other males helped Hethenos. I ball my fists as anger ignites inside me like a raging inferno.

“I know it’s a lot to take in. But I felt it was time you knew.”

I nod, taking deep breaths to calm myself. “Thank you for telling me,” I say. “What did you do?”

He drags a hand down the side of his face, seeming to replay the memory in his mind. “I crept into her quarters and found your mother lying in a pool of blood on the floor, and you were crying in your cot. I knew her locket was powerful. She told meas much. She also told me if anything ever happened to her, to ensure I kept it safe for you. So I took it.”

Fresh pain slices through my heart, and I take in a sharp breath, picturing the scene as my ball of light power dissipates.

Pain stabs at my head, and I stumble against the bench. Mikel takes my arm to steady me as I cry out, pressing my hand into my head.

“Are you all right?” he asks as he continues to hold me up.

I crease my brows with worry. “I don’t know. It’s my head,” I explain as the pain slowly eases to a dull ache.

“Can I get you to a healer?” he frantically asks.

The pain gradually subsides, and I’m able to think straight again. What in the gods was that?

“No, no. I think I’m okay now.”

“You’re sure?”

I nod, and once he’s sure I’m okay, he lets me go and continues.

“It was strange, though. When I told your father of what I saw, he was very calm about it. Almost too calm, in my opinion, and simply said he would look into it.”

I frown at his words. That seems like a strange reaction to have. Shouldn’t he have rushed out of there and gone to find her, to see for himself? Was he not concerned about me?

“He eventually told everyone that it was an angel from our enemy Kingdom, Zarquon, who killed your mother.” He pauses for a moment. “There was no inquiry into her death. We never saw her body, or I didn’t see it again, at least. And no one was arrested or put before The Throne. I don’t even think anyone tried to communicate with the angels from Zarquon about it. It was all very fishy, and it never felt right to me. Who was this angel, and how did they get into the Kingdom, let alone the castle?”

I relight my ball of power, illuminating the kitchen in a soft glow once more.

“This is a lot,” I say, and then decide I better explain what I know.

I tell Mikel about Kyle, how he isn’t human. I tell him about the conversation he witnessed with whom we believe was between Hethenos and another male, discussing my mother’s murder. And I tell him of the watcher attacks, what Finlay did, and how I think someone put him up to it. His eyes widen, and he gasps now and again as he listens.

“I’ve always suspected Hethenos was involved. She was quite jealous of your mother.”

I pull my daggers from my straps. “Do you know much about these?”

Recognition flashes in his features. “They were your mothers,” he says as his eyes briefly meet mine before dropping back to the daggers. “They were very special to her, and I knew she wanted you to have them. Did the Guardian Master give them to you?”

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