Page 118 of Wings of Betrayal

Lacinda tightens her ponytail. “We’ve got to secure someone to watch over our human. Then we can meet you both in Zarquon?”

I wrap my arms around her. “Thank you.”

Kyle releases his wings, and I do the same.

“Be careful,” I say. “Don’t let those watchers or guards see you. Find someone to watch your human and leave. As soon as possible. We leave at dark.”

Lacinda bites her bottom lip and fiddles with her nails.

“You okay?” I ask her.

She blows out a breath. “It’s my job as second to look after our human when Demetros can’t. I feel I’m letting him down.”

Demetros caresses her cheek. “He’ll be okay. We know other seconds who we can trust and who would be more than happy to help. This is important, and I know you would never abandon him unless we have no choice.”

She swallows hard and nods, then wipes her eyes.

Kyle gives my hand a squeeze. “We need to head back.”

“Yeah, you two get going,” Demetros says. “We’ll sort things here and meet you in Zarquon as soon as possible.”

Kyle nods in acknowledgement and then shoots up into the air.

“Good luck,” I tell them both before I do the same.

The fresh, cool wind whips past my face as I follow Kyle through the sky. We can’t be far from the barrier now.

I catch movement in the corner of my eye, and before I can do anything, someone crashes into me. The force sends me into a whirlwind, tumbling me through the sky toward the ground until I manage to right myself. I scan the sky for whoever that was and spot several watchers circling me.

Zarla, what’s going on?Finlay’s voice fills my mind.

I can’t see Kyle anywhere. Did he make it back into Zarquon?

“Zarla Quinn!” one of the males shouts. “You must come with us now. King’s orders.”

Shit. This is bad. Kyle, where are you?

I build my powers, blast them at the watcher, and shoot up through the clouds. I risk a glance back, and they’re gaining on me. I sense Kyle’s anxiety as I get closer to the barrier. He must know I’m in trouble. He must’ve crossed through the barrier already.

Zarla!Finlay shouts.

One of the watchers bumps into me, and I’m sent flying to the left. I right myself and continue on, pushing myself to fly harderand faster. The other watcher moves in on my left. They’re closing in on me. He reaches out and grabs my ankle. I kick my leg to shake him off, but it doesn’t work. I build my powers again and aim at him, but before I get the chance to blast him, the other watcher grabs my wrist, wrapping a wire around my arm.

Finlay, I need help!

My power immediately drains. Shoot. I try to blast him with my other hand, but the other watcher wraps the wire around that wrist, too. My stomach plummets.

“We’ve got her!” he shouts to the third watcher, who is flying somewhere below us.

“Get her back to Silanthia!” he instructs.

I’m coming!Finlay responds.

A figure darts across the sky with immense black wings I would recognize anywhere.

Kyle.

“I’ll take care of it!” the watcher below shouts. “Just get her to Silanthia!”

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