Page 7 of Wings of Betrayal

I swallow hard before continuing. “It was Hethenos. And she has paid for what she has done. But there’s something else. Harlum isn’t my real father.”

I await her reaction, and any sign that she knew, but she appears just as shocked as I hoped her to be.

I clear my throat. “After she was murdered and Hethenos, Harlum, and Amaros left her room, a male appeared. He had these huge gold wings, blond hair, and green eyes. I swear he recognized me. He looked so familiar. He then picked her up and took her away.”

She covers her mouth as tears well up in her eyes. “I am so sorry you witnessed such a thing. That can’t be an easy memory to hold. This male you describe… He sounds like a male we know. His name is Atticus, and he was Serona’s true mate. They were deeply in love before she disappeared, and we then found out she was living in Silanthia with Harlum. It was strange, and we never understood how that came to be.

“But we haven’t seen him in many years, and we feared he may have been killed. But now that you mention Amaros was involved, it makes sense. He is a powerful god, Zarla. He can manipulate the mind, take and give memories. Apollon knew him long ago. He’s dangerous. He betrayed them, and he cannot be trusted.”

Nothing she says truly surprises me. I know Amaros is powerful and dangerous. I say the name Atticus in my mind, sitting with it for a moment to see if it feels familiar, but it doesn’t. And there was no mention of it in my mother’s journals. Could this male really be my father?

“The male I saw… I think he’s my father.”

She leans back in her seat as she studies me. “I can certainly see a resemblance to Atticus. But I don’t want to get your hopes up of seeing him again. We don’t know where he is or if he’s still alive.”

I nod, my stomach sinking. Of course, I can’t hold any expectations. I have never known my real father, but if he is alive, I have to find him. He holds the answers I need, the missing pieces to my puzzle.

“You okay?” Kyle asks as we walk through the gardens outside.

The gardens are beautiful, filled with flowers in every shade imaginable. Large trees dot the castle grounds overlooking the ocean, their vast branches providing much-needed shade as the sun beats down on us.

Kyle sits down on the luscious grass, and I join him, enjoying the cooling sensation.

“Yeah, it’s just been a big few months,” I say. “A lot has happened. I think I’m still trying to adjust.”

It had been a good chat with his mother last night. It helped clear some concerns I had about Em, as well as how they felt about Kyle and me being together. Knowing she feels we are destined for one another, the same way I feel we are, reassures me. Despite how it seems like everything is working against us to pull us apart, I feel strong being here with him, knowing that we will always find each other. Nothing can tear us apart.

Kyle leans in close and tucks a lock of hair behind my ear, his fingers lingering as they trace across my cheek. Our eyes lock.

“So beautiful,” he whispers, causing my cheeks to flush.

I shift my focus to his full lips, and I wet mine before he moves in, curling his hand around the back of my neck. Our lips meet, and this time it’s a softer, gentler kiss. And gods above, Kyle can kiss. I feel myself melting into him, and he pulls me into his lap. I straddle his hips as he deepens the kiss that I never want to end.

After a while, we both part, panting hard as we catch our breaths. His blue eyes bore into mine, and each time we kiss, each time we look at one another, I can feel our connection growing deeper still. He takes my hand as something cool slips over my finger, and I glance down to see a ring there. It’s a gold band with intricate gold detailing that reminds me of waves encrusted with tiny deep-blue stones.

He then slips a ring onto his own finger, and the moment he does, our connection intensifies, and I can feel him on an evendeeper level, as if our souls are joined. I take in a sharp breath as I try to understand the feelings and sensations coursing through me. I can feel him in a similar way that I can Finlay, but it’s a deeper connection somehow.

“Woah…” I breathe as our eyes lock once more.

He chuckles. “The gods handcrafted these rings. Long ago, my father had them made for him and his future wife. When he met my mother, their relationship was hard from the start, with him being a god. Her family didn’t approve, and they were worried about her. These rings gave them a connection, much like the mating bond gives. It allowed them to know if the other was in trouble until they were ready to seal their mating bond. He gave them to me, for us to wear.”

My vision blurs as tears sting my eyes. Apollon gave them to us? This is so incredibly special. I know we will seal our mating bond eventually, but until we’re ready to do that, this is perfect. Tears flow over, and Kyle wipes them away with his fingers.

“This is amazing,” I say, almost lost for words.

His gaze runs over my face as he takes in my reaction. “Now I will know if you are okay, no matter where you are. I will be able to find you and be able to sense you as if we were bonded mates. I love you, Zarla Quinn.”

“And I love you, Kyle Laskaris.”

Before I can say another word, his lips are on mine, and I find myself lost in his embrace. No one has ever been so thoughtful, so caring toward me to go to these lengths. It means everything to me, knowing Kyle feels so strongly for me. He is my fated mate. I can feel it with every cell in my body, and I can’t wait to make it official.

“I can’t wait either,” he says with a cheeky grin, catching his breath before his lips find mine once more.

I don’t mention that the bond I share with Finlay reignited the moment he returned to Silanthia. I’m worried about how it’llmake Kyle feel. It’s not something we can control, as the gods bestowed the bond upon us. I really need to talk to Finlay too.

I break the kiss, despite how hard it is.

“I’ve got to head back to Silanthia,” I tell him as I rest my forehead against his.

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