Page 144 of Wings of Betrayal

Kyle’s mouth gapes open as he takes me in, and everyone stands while we walk past them. I don’t take my eyes off my mate. It helps to keep me calm and distracted from all the focuson me. When I reach him, Lacinda holds my hand out, and he takes it, threading his fingers through mine.

“You are breathtaking,” he whispers, kissing me gently on my cheek.

“You’re not too bad yourself,” I tell him with a cheeky grin.

I look out into the crowd and spot Zeta and Apollon seated at the front. Demetros, Lacinda, and Astelle are too. I smile at my sister, and my heart warms when she returns it. I haven’t had a chance to speak with Astelle properly, only briefly, and I know there is much to discuss. But we will, in time. We both must heal from all the hurt.

Nilo and a few other angels I recognise are seated farther back, and Em is nowhere to be seen, thankfully. I don’t want her to be here for this, knowing her thoughts about Kyle and me.

Our mating ceremony goes perfectly. It’s so special celebrating this amazing moment with everyone. Once it’s finished, a fire is lit in a gorgeous golden fire pit, and everyone mingles with one another as the sun makes its descent. We enjoy the delicious food the keepers have prepared, as well as bubbly drinks they hand out on golden trays.

I drink mine fast and then reach for another.

Kyle slips his hand around my waist and whispers in my ear, “Easy. I want you to last the night, especially for what I have planned.”

He tugs me over to a seat near the fire and pulls me into his lap, and a sense of pure happiness and serenity washes over me. Despite the torment we have all endured over the past few months, we have all managed to get through it. Now, here we are, able to celebrate what we have achieved but also celebrate the lives of those we have lost. So much has happened in the last year, and the best part of it was meeting Kyle.

I cup his cheek and gently press my lips to his. “I love you.”

His gorgeous steel-blue eyes bore into mine. “I love you, too, my mate.”

Movement catches my eye, and I spot Em watching us from near the side of the castle, her angry glare obvious even from this distance. Why is she here? Angels walk past, obscuring my view, and when I look again, she’s gone.

Nerves flutter inside me, and I can’t help but think about what she may do.

“For you,” a keeper says, stealing my focus as she holds a tray out to me with a glass of bubbly on it.

I eye the drink. “Only one? Where’s Kyle’s?”

The keeper gives me a kind smile. “He has one already. Your friend sent this over.”

I glance around, curious who that friend would be, before picking up the glass and taking a sip. My head spins and it tastes different to the last one I had, but I put it down to having a few too many of them and just brush it off, taking another sip.

CHAPTER THIRTY

“Hey, Zarla, could we talk for a moment?”

I’ve been enjoying my time, relaxing in Kyle’s lap by the fire, admiring the endless beauty of the stars, when Astelle approaches me. I smile up at her.

“Yeah, sure,” I say, then climb off Kyle’s lap.

I follow her over to the edge of the lawn overlooking the ocean. We’re both silent for some time as we gaze out at the view, which I’m not sure I’ll ever get used to.

“I’m sorry,” she finally says, breaking the silence. “You were right. About everything. And I was an idiot and just couldn’t see it. You saved my life. I never, ever imagined you would do such a thing, especially for me.”

She turns to me, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.

I pull her into my arms. “It’s okay. Of course I would. You’re my sister. I will always be there for you, no matter what. You were manipulated, just as I was. But it doesn’t matter now. Let’s leave it in the past where it belongs.”

She pulls back and wipes her cheeks. “Agreed.”

The haunted look in her eyes cracks open my heart. Zalore broke her, in so many ways, and she’s a shadow of the strong female she once was.

I gently touch her arm. “Are you coping with everything? You’ve been through a lot, Astelle.”

She presses her lips into a firm line as she visibly composes herself then glances out over the Kingdom. “Not really, but I’ll get there.”

“You’re never alone. There are many who care about you. Please remember that, and don’t hesitate to talk to me whenever you need to. About anything.”

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