Page 17 of Wings of Betrayal

I head toward the door as his frustration and fury seep into me through our bond. With my hand on the doorknob, I glance over my shoulder at him.

“Yes, we can drop it,” he says, his jaw tense. “For now.”

CHAPTER FIVE

We fly over the Dark Forest and land in a large clearing Keva led me to a while back. This is the primary home of the Zelons, and I immediately spot Keva as he bounds toward me.

I raise my hands to stop him, but he’s too fast, knocking me down and licking my face with his long, rough tongue.

“Keva!” I laugh, shoving at his muscular chest before wiping the slobber from my face.

He backs off enough to allow me up, and I spot Finlay stifling a laugh, his arms crossed over his chest. His expression shifts in an instant when Keva advances on him. His face pales, and he takes a few steps back.

“Woah,” he says, and now I’m the one laughing.

“Keva,” I warn, and he ducks his head down in invitation to Finlay. “It’s okay. You can pat him.”

Finlay shoots me a look that says,Why the hell would I want to do that?

I roll my eyes. “He won’t hurt you.”

Finlay sighs, then carefully inches forward and runs his hand down Keva’s neck. Keva purrs in response and presses his headinto Finlay’s hand, which is enough to calm his nerves. He laughs and shifts his focus to me for a moment.

“This is crazy,” he says through a wide grin. “How did we not know the Zelons were like this?”

I shrug, moving around the other side of Keva, and glide my hand over his back. “I don’t know. Maybe no one gave them a chance. We have always viewed them as dangerous.”

Several other Zelons pad into the clearing, their young running around their paws, batting one another playfully. They hesitate when they spot Finlay, but Keva lets out a yelp, and they seem to relax. I’ve noticed the various ways in which they communicate, and I’m learning to better understand it.

I touch Keva’s scar, which seems to have improved since the last time I saw him. Maybe the other Zelons were able to help him. That, or the forest has. Either way, I’m relieved that he’s doing better.

“That was a close call, huh, boy?” I say, and he grunts in response. “I know you can understand me, and there’s something I have to ask you.”

He circles around the back of Finlay and plonks himself down on his butt, bumping into him in the process and knocking him to the side. Cheeky thing. He looks at me, and I get the sense he’s ready to hear me out.

I tuck my hair behind my ears. “The King needs the Zelons to guard the perimeter of the Kingdom. Do you remember the creature that chased us?”

A low growl rumbles in his chest, and his ears perk up.

“I take it you remember,” I say with a glance at Finlay, who is watching with piqued interest. “Well, we need to protect the Kingdom, and the King feels the Zelons can help do this. Can you help us?”

He grunts, swipes his tongue around his mouth, and springs to all fours.

“Do you think that’s a yes?” Finlay asks.

Keva pads toward me and rubs his face against mine, then bounds off to join the other Zelons. I know he understood me. Somehow, we share a connection that I didn’t know was possible. He trusts me, and I him.

“He understands. Let’s just hope the other Zelons do, too.”

Over the next week, further reports of attacks on Earth come in, and everyone in the Kingdom is on edge, especially me. I haven’t seen Demetros or Lacinda in a long time, and I fear them being down on Earth, vulnerable to these attacks.

Despite his concerns, Harlum agreed I can assemble a team of guardians and seconds to fly down to Earth and find out what’s happening. I can hardly wait to leave so I can find my friends and ensure they’re okay.

Harlum’s concern surprised me, but he agreed I was the suitable choice to lead this mission to Earth, given the fact I have had an encounter with one of the creatures. I know what we’re looking for. I chose to take Finlay and Nilo with me, along with three other guards who Nilo insisted on taking. We’re gathered in the armory within the castle, strapping weapons to ourselves and preparing to leave when Amaros bursts into the room.

Here we go.

He storms toward me, fury blazing in his gaze. “You were planning to go to Earth on some suicide mission without my protection?”

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