Page 26 of Wings of Strife
“Zeke lugged me here last night to add a few last-minute runes. Protection, healing, and one that somehow manages to keep that damp cave smell at bay.”
As Dina speaks, I walk around the cave, touching the spot on the wall where they painted the original mask rune until it falls away, along with the moldy scent of the cave. Near the ceiling, six areas begin to glow brightly, lighting up the area.
“Did you do that, too?” I ask, but she shakes her head.
“No, but maybe Zeke did? I left after we couldn’t get the silencing rune to work, but he wasn’t ready to give up yet. It’ll definitely come in handy, though.”
“You’re not wrong about that.”
Hayliel and Raph show up next, each carrying a large box.
“Fucking hell, that’s strong,” Raphael says, shuddering through the ward repulsion as he drops the box to the floor. He moves to help Hayliel with hers, but I beat him to it.
“It’s going to take some getting used to, that’s for sure,” Hayliel agrees. She pulls me in for a kiss that turns scalding hot, fast, but we don’t let ourselves get carried away. Not yet, at least.
“What’s in these?” I ask them, eying the boxes.
“Someonewent on a shopping spree, and even though I helped him lug everything over here—inconspicuously, I might add—he still refuses to tell me what’s inside.” She glares at him but can’t hold it for long before she’s smiling.
Raph wraps his arms around her waist, burying his face in her neck. “Be patient, little sun. You’ll find out soon enough.”
“Good thinking with the lights, Zeke,” Dina says to the scowling house leader. It’s too hard to tell if the expression is because of the discomfort caused by the words, or if it’s just his natural prickly demeanor.
His eyes land on me, then move to where Raph and Hayliel are cozied up beside me. Something that looks a lot like pain flits across his face, but he hides it quickly.
“Zeke! I’m glad you’re here,” Hayliel says, pulling out of Raphael’s embrace and walking toward him. “How did it go at the guild?”
That pained expression is back on his face, and I can tell he’s avoiding making eye contact with her. Shit. He keeps looking away, glancing at the door and then back to his bag on the floor. I can’t make heads or tails of what’s going on with him, but he seems pained and skittish. The first one I can understand, but the second gives me pause.
“Fine. I was able to grab enough for all of us.” He pulls six amulets out and passes them around.
“Who’s that one for?” Hayliel asks when he’s given each of us our new protection amulet.
Zeke runs a hand through his hair, glancing at the door again before he says, “Castiel, if he proves himself worthy.”
I share a glance with Raphael, caught off guard by Zeke’s thoughtfulness. Castiel is a Pure, and we can both attest to how fucking hard it’s been to get him to trust us. Our relationship with Hayliel has definitely made that harder, but his aversion and distrust of all Pures in general hasn’t helped. It’s nice to see him coming around.
“That’s really nice of you, Zeke.” Hayliel places her hand on his forearm and he just stares at it, that pained expression back on his face. Poor guy is clearly struggling.
He steps back, cutting off the physical contact which I know pains my girl. His next words cause the hair to rise on the back of my neck.
“I have to tell you guys something, and before you freak out, I need you to know that I did everything I could to avoid it.”
What the hell did he do now?Raphael says through our mental connection, and I can’t help but wonder the same thing.
We all just kind of stare at him, waiting for him to continue, but it’s like he’s waiting for something. A burst of rage? Disappointment? Permission to continue? It’s hard to tell.
Finally, no longer able to take the suspense, Dina breaks the silence. “Whatever it is, dude, we trust you. Just spit it out.”
“I got caught sneaking around at the guild.”
“How does that work? You still have the amulets,” Raphael says, looking confused.
I’m just as lost, but my mind goes down a different path. “Caught by who?”
“Just a girl. Daughter of a lieutenant. I’m fairly certain she isn’t a member of the guild, though she hangs out there enough, so it’s hard to tell.”
Raphael shrugs. “Okay, well, she let you leave with everything, so what’s the problem?”
