Page 26 of Wings of Valor
But my world is standing with Raphael and Theo.
My world is trying to save the city on her own.
And my world is watching me fail her. Again.
That’s all I seem to fucking do. So I push and push and push, willing myself to keep my eyes open, even just for a second. Willing myself to ignore the sweet whispers of slumber and lay my eyes on her one last time.
If they take me, that’s fine. I only need to know that she’s safe.
“Hayliel.” Her name escapes my lips on a silent breath. I wanted her to hear me. Sheneedsto hear me. To get out of here and be safe.
They can have me, but not her. Never her.
And then, just as the last vestiges of my strength leave me, the area seems to blink out of existence. Or maybe it’s me that does.
I slump against Atlas and smile.
My girl is safe—at least for now.
And that’s all that matters.
11
Ishould be paying attention to Castiel, or the Archangel he brought, but I can’t tear my eyes away from Hayliel. She looks broken. Shattered. Something I never wanted to see her become.
She blames us right now. Mira, too. But I can’t let that get to me. Out of any of us, Zeke is the most likely to survive. He’s tough. Tougher than I ever gave him credit for. And I meant it when I said we’d get him back. For all his faults, he’s still important to her. To me, too, even if I don’t want to admit it.
Theo and I share a glance. Before Zeke was taken, he’d passed a message to us. Only to us. We know who the lieutenant is—the guild mole. And although knowing helps piece it all together, it doesn’t solve our problems.
Lieutenant Atlas. The angel who saved our asses during the demon attack is working with the enemy. I replay everyinteraction in my mind as I struggle to pay attention to Castiel. The way Atlas told us to take the blade out when Hayliel had been stabbed—and how he promised to track down the demons who attacked us.
That motherfucker.
We have to tell the others.I press the thought to Theo, who looks to be paying attention to Castiel as much as I am.
He nods.And find a way to contact Azrael. He needs to know who it is, and maybe he can help us get everyone back.
Everything is a fucking mess.
Hayliel looks like she doesn’t want to be in the Archangel’s presence at all. She still sits on the sand, staring lifelessly at the tiny grains of it slipping between her fingers.
An empty shell.
Broken.
And even though I’m pissed that Zeke was taken, I’m still glad it wasn’t her. I’m still happy it was one of us and not the angel we all love. The angel who has been through so much already. I just wish I could get rid of her pain. Wish she would trust us.
After what Mira said, though, I can understand why maybe she doesn’t. We never wanted to control her. We only wanted to keep her safe.
“Are any of you listening?” Castiel asks, sounding annoyed with us for what might be the first time.
“Sorry,” Theo says sheepishly.
“We’re all a little on edge, what with our friend being kidnapped by a psychopathic Archangel and not being any closer to getting Hayliel’s parents back.” There’s more bite in my tone than I intended, but given the current situation, I’m sure he’ll manage to forgive me. Or not. At this moment, I don’t really care.
Castiel sighs but reads us well enough not to say anything. Instead, he crouches next to Hayliel. The Archangel he broughtwith him doesn’t say a word. He doesn’t step forward with Castiel. All he does is watch our professor talk to Hayliel in soft, reassuring tones, most of which I can’t hear, but as the minutes pass, her shoulders relax a little, and she finally stands.
Good. This is good.
