Page 107 of Wings of Betrayal

“There’s something else. We know how the lost ones are being controlled. It’s Zalore. There’s a powerful weapon of the gods in Galespo. We believe that’s how Zalore could open a portal to the Realm of Lost souls and keep it open.”

Zeta and Kyle head over to join us.

“Let’s take this conversation outside, shall we?” Zeta asks.

Apollon nods, and we step out into the corridor.

“I saw something similar when I was in the…Spirit Realm,” I say to them.

Apollon draws his brows together. “You were in the Spirit Realm?”

Zeta covers her hand over her mouth, her eyes wide.

I glance between them and then look to Kyle, who takes my hand, threading his fingers through mine.

“I have been able to pass into the Spirit Realm. I’ve seen my mother there a few times. She told me it’s an ability she, too, possessed. To open and close portals between the realms.”

Apollon paces around the small space outside the healers’ chambers before he stops and looks at me. “What did it look like? The weapon you saw there?”

“It was a blue orb, hovering in the air, surrounded by lost ones and angel spirits. It’s like they were in some kind of trance, just staring at it. And there was a portal there, sucking the angel spirits through it. My mother said it’s taking them to the Realm of Lost Souls and turning them into lost ones.”

“By the gods, he’s building an army,” Zeta says.

Kyle leans up against the stone wall and pulls me against him, wrapping his arms around my waist. “So what the fuck was that yesterday? A pre-attack?”

Apollon smashes his fist into the stone wall, cracking it. “He’s testing our defences. Seeing what we are capable of. Our wards need to be strengthened. Immediately.”

Something dawns on me then. “The weapons must be working in unison.”

“It would make sense. There must be one in the Realm of Lost souls also,” Zeta adds.

“There’s something else,” Apollon says, his expression grim. “Our spies overheard Zalore and Amaros talking about you, Zarla. Amaros has been looking for you. He wants to take you back to Silanthia.”

Kyle tightens his grip around my waist and lets out a low growl. “He can try.”

“We need to save my sister. Zalore has her in Galespo.” I can’t leave her there, no matter what issues the two of us have.

She doesn’t deserve that treatment. No female does.

Apollon balls his fists, his jaw tense. “He may be using her as bait, knowing you will attempt to rescue her. Also, having the weapon there, they will both know we plan to take it.”

Apollon’s right. He will absolutely use Astelle as bait.

“He knows I’d never let my sister die,” I say. “But if we take that weapon, and I can’t control all those lost ones guarding it, they could kill us.”

Apollon steps forward. “Unless you learn to control them.”

Over the following week, I train with the archangels, learning their unique and powerful fighting methods. I see progress.

I’m sparring with a female down in the training arena when I spot Kyle walking down the stone steps. He takes a seat in the stands and watches as we fight. Sand covers the base of the arena, which makes it that much more difficult.

This is how they learn speed. Training in these gruelling conditions makes it easier when on firm ground.

The afternoon sun beats down on my neck and back. I tie my hair up in a bun on the top of my head, and it’s a welcome relief having it off my neck. Sweat beads at my temples as I await the female’s next move. She flips in the air and strikes me hard across the face.

I roll and land on all fours before leaping to my feet again.

She smirks. “You’re getting better, Zarla. I’m impressed. Now try to strike me.”

---