Page 115 of Wings of Betrayal

Klara leans her forearms on the table. “Let me get this straight. Alaron, the God of Death, controls the realms? How did I not know this?”

Apollon clasps his hands together. “Because you did notneedto know.”

“What does this weapon do?” Klara presses.

Atticus grumbles something under his breath, and everyone glances at him. He raises his hands in the air as if to say,What did I do?

“Alaron uses the weapon to control the realms,” Apollon explains. “It’s comprised of three separate orbs. With them, he is able to control which spirits go where—the Spirit Realm or the Realm of Lost Souls. With Alaron potentially hurt, or worse, the realms are left wide open for all sorts of nefarious activity.”

“If there are three orbs, and only one of them is in Galespo, where are the other two?” Klara asks.

Apollon glances at me and then refocuses on Klara. “We do not yet know, but we will find them.”

I breathe a sigh of relief. I don’t want anyone here to know I found the other two orbs in The Spirit Realm or The Realm of Lost Souls. Questions will be asked about how I got into those Realms, and I don’t want everyone to know of my abilities.

Atticus raps his fingers on the wooden table’s surface. “Sneaking into Galespo is dangerous. Zalore will not take kindly to anyone who is caught, to put it mildly. He is a powerful and brutal male. But I do agree, Zarla. Your sister deserves to be saved from his ruthless clutches. She certainly won’t be safe there.”

Apollon glances at me and then addresses the table. “It’s settled, then. We will assemble a team to sneak into Galespo and find the weapon.”

“I need to find Lacinda and Demetros,” I insist. “They’re not safe on Earth. Amaros could use them against me. And if we’re assembling a team, there are no two people I trust more than them. And Finlay.”

Kyle lets out a low growl at the mention of Finlay’s name, as per usual, and I roll my eyes. He clasps my hand firmly in his as we make our way through the corridor toward his quarters, and I pull it to my lips and kiss the back of it.

“I know you don’t like him, or trust him, but I do. He’s changed, I promise. And I need him.”

I sense Kyle’s possessiveness, and although I like it, knowing how much I mean to him, there’s no need for it. Maybe once he sees Finlay again, he will see how much he’s changed.

“You’re right. I don’t like him. But I trust you.”

I smile up at him. “Thank you. I should go and get my friends now, and I can link with Finlay on the way to Earth and tell him to come here.”

Kyle abruptly stops walking and yanks on my arm. Oh crap. He didn’t know about the mind link. I grit my teeth as his nostrils flare and his chest rises with each rapid breath.

“You still share the mind link?” he asks, and although he’s pissed, I can also see the hurt in his eyes.

I reach up and cup his cheek. “I’m sorry. I should have told you. I thought it would have severed the moment he was sent down to Earth as punishment, but upon his return, it reignited.”

He doesn’t say a word, and I chew my lip while wondering what he’s thinking.

“It’s been really beneficial,” I continue. “It’s saved me from some pretty intense situations. Without it, I don’t know what would have happened.”

Frowning, he reaches up and cups my face between his hands. “Anything that has kept you safe is important to me. Ifthat includes your mind link to Finlay, then so be it. I will accept it.”

I press myself into him, holding him tight and his cinnamon scent fills my nose.

“Let’s go now. We’ll find your friends and bring them back.”

Pulling back, I stare up into his grey eyes. “Okay, let’s do it.”

We head outside the castle and release our wings then fly to the border. Kyle glances at me before diving off the edge of the Kingdom through the clouds and down to Earth, and I follow closely behind him.

Finlay, can you hear me?I ask through our mind link.

Gods above, Zarla. I have been so fucking worried. Are you all good?

Kyle glances back at me, knowing I am likely communicating with Finlay already, and I smile at him.

I’m fine. Kyle and I are on our way down to Earth to find Lacinda and Demetros.