Page 15 of Angel Lost

Kai shrugs so casually the last of Chano’s control snaps. He emerges into his full demon form, towering over us, horns ripping out of his skull and wings fanning aggressively behind him. My gut clenches, but Kai simply bares his teeth.

“Better you ask pretty boy over there, than ask me.” He gestures at Zephyr. “I have nothing to do with the Angel King. Orangels.”

Instantly Zephyr emanates a raw, jagged energy. I feel it through my hands and down our allegiance bond. I’ve never felt him so angry. He turns infinitesimally slowly on Kai. His eyes are wild, his aura uncontrolled as it batters into everyone. One feather at a time, his wings prick into being. A brilliant, eye-searing white.

Before I can think, I step between them. I swallow my panic down, pushing my flames back. I have to stop this becoming all-out war. Zephyr doesn’t fight. I’ve never seen him like this. I place a hand on each of their chests, holding my ground between them.

“That’s enough,” I say, my voice low. They hesitate, but gradually, the aggressive energy dips. Zephyr’s aura shrinks back until it’s merely a slight halo surrounding him. I can’t help a small smile.

Naeve would be proud.

“Lorelei Bal,” says a man with a silk-smooth voice.

I spin around. Five men and one woman, all dressed in the pale gray robes of the academy, bar the common room doorway. Professors. Angels.

Kai shoves me behind him, and I stumble, surprised.

“We are here to take you for registration. The dean alerted us to your status.”

Bastard.

Zephyr casts a wary glance at Kai before stepping to his side. Farrell and Chano quickly join them, putting themselves between me and the professors. The angels start chanting, high-pitched and utterly freaky. The noise disintegrates into a constant hum, and they begin to glow. Actually glow, like fireflies. Within seconds, their wings are out and the light from the other side of the room is so bright it hurts.

“Now, boys, you don’t want to break the law. Aethers must be registered.”

“I had until the new year!” I shout, ducking back behind Chano’s big frame when six pairs of eyes come to bear on me.

“Rules change.” The silky voice has a hard, cold edge. “Come now or we shall take you from them, little aether.”

The temperature drops a couple of degrees, and I sense more than see the angels fanning out across the far end of the room. These are ascended supes. We don’t stand a chance.

A plan. We need a plan.

Zephyr casts, throwing up a shield. We lean in, adding our power to it, building layer by layer of shimmering protection. Kai reaches out, tentatively adding his power to ours, and a tingle rushes up my arm. Thank the goddesses, our magic is compatible. We might hold them. The angels’ power pushes against the shield, cautiously at first, then with increasing force. A ramrod powering into us. Again and Again. The barrier trembles.

A searing arc streams from each of the professors. The shield splinters, cracking like glass.

“Help us, Angel Zephyr. Help us.”

Zephyr casts a desperate glance in my direction before turning and stepping away from us, palms facing me. His lips move. I can’t pick out the words.

“Arrest her, Angel Zephyr,” one of the angels calls. “Heed your king.”

He glances sideways at them. A moment later, our shield springs back up. Zephyr gives a satisfied nod. His hands still, touching the shimmer of the barrier, feeding it from the outside. I shouldn’t have doubted him, not for a second. The others quickly add their magic again, replenishing the barrier.

“What are you doing, idiot?” Farrell hisses.

Zephyr clenches his jaw. “Barrier is stronger this way. And they won’t attack me…not a fellow angel. I think.”

The shield flexes under the professors’ bombardment and Zephyr’s shoulders shake with the effort. A trickle of sweat runs down the side of his face.

They’re ascended.

The female angel turns toward Zephyr, hands raised.

No. I won’t risk my allegiance. Not for this.

I take a tentative step forward, forcing my way through Zephyr’s shield a step at a time. It pulls at me, pricking my skin, urging me back.

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