Page 16 of Wings of Betrayal

“Zarquon knows about the attacks,” I say. “Kyle’s parents told me, and they want to meet with Harlum and Zalore to discuss it.”

His brows shoot up, then he sits forward in his seat. “Do you think he’ll go for that?”

I throw my hands up. “They don’t have a choice. Angels are being slaughtered. They have to dosomething.”

I question whether to tell him about the creature who chased me back from outside Galespo, but as I sink into our bond, I know I can trust him. “I was chased by one.”

He stares at me, and his mouth drops open as his forehead wrinkles. “What? When?”

“On my way back from Zarquon. I was riding my Zelon?—”

He raises a hand in the air to stop me. “Hold on. You were riding a Zelon?”

I laugh. It had become second nature to me, riding Keva. I completely forgot that it isn’t as easy to comprehend for others. And of course Finlay has no idea because we haven’t seen one another in months since he was sentenced as a fallen angel.

“Yeah. A lot’s changed around here. That’s for sure. I connected with a Zelon, and his name’s Keva. He lets me ride him. Turns out they’re quite trainable, and they’re pretty affectionate creatures.”

He shakes his head a little as he takes this new information on board, and then his eyes light up as they meet mine. “Can I ride one?”

“Anything’s possible.” A laugh rumbles out of my chest, and for the first time in a long while, a sense of calm washes over me, and I know the wounds deep inside are starting to heal.

Wounds I thought I would have to live with forever, thanks to Hethenos.

“As I was saying, one of these creatures chased me when I was riding back from Zarquon. I saw it outside Galespo, and it saw me, even through my veil. Harlum wants me to have the Zelons guard the borders of the Kingdom.”

He rubs the back of his neck. “It’s not a bad idea. Do you reckon they’ll listen to you?”

I purse my lips and scrunch my nose. “It’s worth a try, I guess.”

He gets to his feet, shoves his hands into his pockets, and starts slowly pacing the floor before me. There’s something he’s not saying. Something he wants to ask me that I can’t quite pick up on.

I narrow my eyes at him. “What is it?”

He pauses in front of me, scratching the bridge of his nose. “I don’t know how you’re going to feel about this, so I’m just going to say it. I want to be your guard.”

I incline my head and open my mouth to speak when he stops me.

“Let me finish. Please.”

I give him a nod and pretend to zip my mouth closed.

“I didn’t realise we would still share this guardian-and-second bond that we have. I thought my time on Earth would have severed it, but here we are. What better guard could you ask for than one who can connect with you the way I can? I will know if you’re ever in trouble, I’ll be able to find you, and we have oursecret way of communicating, too, that I know you love.” He says the last part with sarcasm. “But I get it if you can’t trust me.”

Shadows dance behind his features, his uncertainty showing.

Pushing up out of my chair, I stand before him and can practically feel the apprehension coming off him in waves. I’m unsure, too. Kyle won’t like it. I know that much. But Finlay is a friend, and I would much prefer him guarding me than Amaros. And I know Kyle would agree with that part, too.

Finlay needs this, and in a way, I do, too. We’ve been through so much together, and this may be what it takes to mend our friendship.

“I don’t trust Amaros, and I’d much prefer you watching my back than him.”

A haunted look settles in his gaze as his concern pours into me. “What did he do?”

I part my lips to explain, but something stops me. I’m not ready to talk about it with him, and I don’t need him to confront Amaros about it, either, which he probably would.

His brows pull together. “Zarla, what did he do?”

Swallowing hard, I compose myself. “Can we just drop it? Please?”

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