Page 95 of Angel Lost

Farrell squeezes my fingers, then pulls away, clapping loudly. The candles around the table spring to life. Like it’s a signal, his generals join us.

“Back again, princess?” his Hand sneers, his mustache bristling on his top lip. “We thought perhaps you were above mixing with us. Or perhaps you bring more bad news?”

Farrell clears his throat. “That’s enough. Lorelei has been away, learning to control her aether. And now, it’s about to pay off.”

Mustache bristles again. “Yes, learning directly from the Angel King’s sister, I heard. And every time she comes here something bad happens…”

A young female general stands so quickly she knocks her chair over. “Traitor!”

The rest shout agreements.

Farrell snarls, and two small smoke rings rise from his nostrils. The room quiets instantly. “Do not dare disrespect her.”

I pat the back of his hand. “Farrell, it’s a fair concern.”

He glares intensely at the young general. Slowly, she gathers her chair and pulls it back to the table.

“I’m a private person,” I say. “I don’t advertise my life. But clearly I need to be more open. Maybe we do.”

Farrell slings his arm around my shoulders, his eyes golden slits. “Soldiers shouldn’t question. Not like this. We have a system, generals!”

The generals all bow their heads.

“S-sorry. You’re right, Dragon Lord,” the young woman stutters.

I can’t help it. I roll my eyes, hard.

Must not show him up in front of his men. Must not make fun of him.

With a deep breath, I compose myself. “It’s important you can raise your concerns. I like that Farrell has a system. For now, I’ll do my best to convince you I’m worthy of your trust. I can hide the rebellion in the ley lines.”

“Pockets.” Chano interrupts, his gruff voice breaking the tension. “Do it in several pockets. Not one. Choose spots the Virrey knew nothing of. Then, if he breaks…”

The generals murmur their agreement, slowly becoming more enthusiastic about the idea the longer we talk. I sit back, watching. Who’d have thought? A Cuelebre and a Maverik working together. A Cuelebre, a Maverik, and an orphan from the streets. Kai reaches over, slips Farrell’s knife from its sheath, and uses the point to pick his teeth.

And then there’s the fae.

My arms shake with exhaustion as I twist the final strands into place, sealing the hidden pocket with a spell. The last one. My legs wobble, and only Farrell’s arm around my waist keeps me upright. Dammit, I’m not weak. I plant my feet wider apart. The rebels do not need to see me as weak.

As we walk slowly back to the mansion, the young female general falls into step beside me. I feel her gaze, sense there’s a question.

“Speak freely,” I say.

“Maybe if you spent more time with your people, you’d know how bad it was.”

I nod and keep walking, leaving the floor clear for her.

“Sure, your aether allowed you to make hidden pockets. But we still don’t know we can trust you.”

They don’t. Of course they don’t. But what sticks in my head is her first sentence.

Withmypeople.

Chapter Thirty-four: Zephyr

I’ve resisted up until now, but by the Fates I need an escape. Clutching the tiny vial in my pocket, I storm toward the observatory. The artificial one. Despite Lorelei’s promise, she’s never taken me back to the ancient, powerful one. The one just under our feet. I stomp hard on the ground with my next step. Too caught up with her aether, like she’s the only important one. The others too. If I just got a chance to practice somewhere like that, then I wouldn’t need the Angel’s Delight in my pocket. The power down there would be enough.

My key slides into the lock, and with a shower of sparks the observatory opens for me. A feeling of coming home settles over my bones. I let one wing pop out, then the other, stretching them, ruffling the feathers. I crack my neck and pull out the tiny vial, holding it up in the half-light. Blue liquid swirls inside the glass. Innocuous enough. The professors take it; it has to be safe. By the eternal stars, Lumis even encouraged me to try it, to get past my block.

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