Page 125 of Wings of Betrayal

“You sure you can do this?” Kyle asks for the millionth time.

We’re in the armoury behind the castle, strapping ourselves with as many weapons as we can possibly carry. I attach several smaller blades around my thighs as Kyle eyes me doubtfully.

“Look, it won’t be easy, I’m sure. But I can try,” I say.

“Try what?”

I look over as Em yanks two large swords from the wall. She slides them into two holsters on her back and then snatches up some daggers. She widens her eyes at me and gives her head a shake as if to say,Hello? Did you hear me?

“It’s not your concern,” Kyle tells her.

She rolls her eyes and storms across the room for more weapons.

“Thank you,” I quietly say.

The last thing I need is anyone else knowing what I’m going to attempt to do. The pressure riding on my shoulders is enough already without their added concerns. Opening a portal is one thing; opening one for us all to travel through, including myself, is another.

Lacinda and Demetros walk into the armoury and immediately head our way.

“Looking good, you two,” Lacinda says with approval.

Demetros claps Kyle on the back, and it warms my heart to see him getting on so well with my friends. I knew he would, and I knew they would love him, too, but still.

“Any weapon suggestions?” Demetros asks Kyle.

Kyle takes him across the room to where the larger weapons are, leaving Lacinda and me to chat.

“Do you feel okay about this?” she asks. “If you’re not sure, we should just travel through the gateway.”

Even the gateway has its dangers, though. We don’t know what awaits us on the other side in Galespo. For all we know, it could be guarded by watchers, ready to fight us as soon as we pass through. Despite its dangers, opening a portal into Galespo, in a location I know won’t be guarded, is much safer in my opinion.

“I can do it,” I say. “We can’t trust the gateway for this.”

There better be some weapons left for me,Finlay says.

I laugh.Finlay, had you seen the armoury, you would know there is no need to worry about that. Where are you, anyway?

Silence stretches for too long before he responds,I’m walking in now.

As I glance up, there he is. He shoots me a wink and then heads straight for Em.

Lacinda leans in close to me. “Something going on with those two?”

I shake my head and reach for some daggers. I have my mother’s daggers strapped to my thighs already, but I could use more. Always more. “I think he would like there to be.”

Lacinda chuckles and takes some daggers for herself. “Good luck to him. That’s all I can say. You know, I bet she and Astelle would get along.”

We both laugh.

Lacinda and I step outside the armoury where the skies have grown dark, allowing us the cover we need. The others soon join us, and we glance around at one another before we release our wings and fly toward the forest. We land just outside the treeline in the field. Everyone looks the part, covered in weapons, and I don’t sense any nervous emotions.

We’re ready for this.

Kyle flips a blade in his hand and slides it into a holster at his hip. “As we agreed earlier, we’re going to split into two teams once we get there. Zarla, Em, Nilo, and I will look for the weapon. Lacinda, Demetros, Finlay, Zed, and Marlo will look for Astelle. Is everyone clear on their role?”

I only briefly met Zed and Marlo, Kyle’s trusted guards, earlier in the armoury, but they both seem like trustworthy males to have with us.

Everyone nods in agreement.

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