Page 147 of Wings of Betrayal

She gives me a knowing nod. “That’s fair. I’ll give you whatever space you need.”

I start to walk back to the celebration.

“Congratulations on your mating with Kyle, by the way. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t jealous, but I understand now that you two are meant for one another. You are fated mates.” She smiles at me, but it’s difficult to see her properly in the darkness.

My vision blurs slightly as everything sways.

Em smirks at me. “Not feeling so well, are we, Zarla? Perhaps you had too much to drink.”

“What?” I ask, my legs growing heavy.

What the fuck is wrong with me?

She starts slowly circling me, causing me to grow dizzier. “You know, it’s not difficult to spike someone’s drink these days. Those keepers are so fucking stupid.”

I gasp, stumbling a little. “You put something in my drink?”

And then I notice my ring is glowing red.

Em laughs then takes hold of my arm. "Do you honestly think you are worthy of Kyle? That I thinkyou'reworthy of him? You are nothing. You are less than nothing. And you are no longer welcome here.”

I can barely hold myself up. My body weakens, and I’m losing feeling in my limbs.

Em looks at something behind me. “Amaros, good to see you made it.”

Ice floods my veins as I whip around to see him walking across the beach toward us. My body sways, and I fall to the sand. My limbs won’t move at all, as though I’m paralyzed. Shit, what the hell has she given me?

Em laughs.

“What did you give her?” Amaros demands.

“Just something to make the whole process easier. It'll wear off soon enough. But in the meantime, you’ll be able to do whatever you want to her, and she won't be able to stop you.”

“I don’t have to force anything on Zarla. She is going to willingly accept me as her mate,” he bites out in annoyance.

I attempt to speak, to scream, anything, but I can’t. I fall to my back and look up at the stars. Tears spill from my eyes and flow down my cheeks as Amaros’s face comes into focus above me. He then crouches down and scoops me into his arms. I want to scream at him not to touch me, to fight back, but I can’t.

“It was a pleasure doing business with you, Amaros. Emphasis on the word pleasure. Don't hesitate to get in touch if this one doesn't cut it for you,” Em says in a cheerful tone as if nothing is wrong.

Amaros glares at her. “Zarla is more than all the females in the Kingdoms combined. She is more than enough.”

He then wanders across the beach where the portal he must have come through is still open.

The celebration lights on the top of the cliff bob up and down with each step he takes. My friends and family, and most importantly Kyle, are celebrating up there. By the gods, I want to scream, call out to Kyle, something. But I can't scream. I can't do anything. Maybe Kyle will sense I’m in trouble. Surely he'll know through our bond that something is wrong.

“Whatever Em gave you probably prevented Kyle from sensing your fear. I know that's what you're thinking because I know you so well. It’s better for his sake that he doesn't sense it. You’re mine now.” He then steps through the portal into Silanthia, allowing it to snap shut behind us.

No, no, no. My heart shrieks while the rest of me can’t do a thing to stop this.

Amaros lays me down amongst leaves and twigs, and I realise we’re in the clearing in the Dark Forest. He walks up to the gateway nearby, which glows subtly in the darkness. He then blasts a stream of power at the gateway and destroys it.

All I can do is watch in horror. Tears continue to roll down my cheeks as he scoops me back up.

The Zelons’ mournful howls sound in the distance, as if they are suffering just as much as the angels of Silanthia are under Amaros’s rule, and I pray Keva is nearby. That maybe our bond hasn’t also been numbed.

Keva, help me.

Amaros releases his wings and flies over the forest toward the castle. The Kingdom is eerily silent, and a sinister feeling chokes the air, as if everything’s wrong.

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