Page 53 of Wings of Betrayal

Not now,I respond.

“You can’t do this. She’s not your property to just give away!” I insist.

Zalore takes a step toward me. “Wouldyoulike to take her place?”

Amaros growls, and I roll my eyes. Bloody possessive males.

“What the hell do you care?” Astelle says.

“You’re still my sister, Astelle,” I tell her. “I know you don’t want this.”

Zarla, I’m not feeling good about this. I’m coming back.

No! I’m okay. I’ll fill you in after, I promise. Do not come here.

His sigh fills my mind.Fine. But if I sense danger again, you cannot stop me from coming to find you.

Okay, fine.

Zalore leans down and sniffs Astelle’s hair, and she glares at him.

“You’re right, I don’t,” Astelle says. “But I’d go anywhere to get away from you. You killed my mother, and you stole Amaros. Anywhere is better than being here, in your shadow, for another minute.”

Amaros reaches out and touches my back.

“Don’t touch me,” I warn, moving away from him before refocusing on Astelle. “That’s not true. Hethenos made her own choices, and Amaros has used us both.”

“That’s not true,” Amaros snaps. “I care for Astelle. I just don’t love her like I do you.”

Astelle’s nostrils flare as her jaw tenses. “You lying asshole! You told me you lovedme!”

Zalore rolls his eyes. “Enough of this.”

He grabs Astelle by her wrist and drags her through the gateway before I can stop him.

The two watchers step in front of the gateway, blocking my path, and Amaros wraps his arms around me from behind and hauls me away. The watchers then pass through the gateway, and it stops glowing, disappearing into the night sky once more.

“Let go of me!” I demand.

Zarla!

Amaros finally releases me, and I turn and punch him in the jaw.

Finlay, I’m fine! I will check in with you soon. Trust me.

Amaros rubs his face. “Maybe I deserve that. But you don’t know why I made this exchange.”

Fine,Finlay responds, his frustration clear.

I press my lips together and narrow my eyes at Amaros. “Do tell, then.”

He simply stares at me. His gaze drops to my lips for a moment, and I cannot believe he’s even thinking about kissing me right now, after everything.

“Who the hell are you?” I ask. “You’ve been here in my Kingdom my entire life, pretending to be someone you’re not. You’re a god. What do you want?”

He runs a hand through his thick, dark hair and moves toward me. I rear back again. There is no way in hell I am allowing him to touch me right now. He raises his hands as if to say,all right, I’ll leave you be.

“You need to stop fighting me,” he says. “You are slowly losing everyone you care about, but if you would just open your eyes, you would see thatI’mstill here. I’m not going anywhere.”

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