Page 71 of Wings of Valor
“But,” Theo continues where Raphael left off, “We discovered its purpose. Whatever the ingredients are, when combined, cause temporary respiratory and neurological issues in demons. Unfortunately, they have a similar, though far less serious, effect on angels, which is why the use of them is cautioned.”
Respiratory and neurological issues? That’s a little vague. Even so, I can just imagine how much something like that could turn the tides in an emergency. “Probably not something we’ll use then, though it may not be a bad idea to ration what we have out, just in case.”
The food arrives—a tray full of ingredients to make our own tacos. I don’t know that I’ve ever seen Zeke so excited about food. He manages to demolish two tacos—and already making a third—before I’ve even finished one.
“Fucking hell, this is good,” he says, licking some juice off his fingers.
Damn, he’s fine.
We’re all silently digging into our meals when the door to Mira’s room opens, and she comes out. “Sorry I’m late—”
Zeke stiffens beside me. “What the fuck is she doing here?”
Mira looks almost panicked as Raphael asks, “Ooooh, shit. What did you do to this one?”
“Zeke?” I say, confused. As far as I know, they haven’t even seen each other since before the kidnapping, so why is he acting like she destroyed his favorite belonging?
“Fucking hell. They don’t know, do they?” Zeke asks Mira, ignoring the rest of us.
“Don’t know what?” I ask.
Zeke’s laugh is bitter. “Do you want to tell them, or should I?”
Mira’s silence is palpable, but eventually she says, “I’ll do it.”
Her response only confounds me more. What the hell is going on?
She turns to me, and I immediately put my newly built taco down. Mira looks almost scared, something I’ve never seen on her face before. I brace myself for my world to turn upside down yet again.
“First, I want to preface by saying I’m sorry I didn’t tell you before now, and despite how it may look, I’ve always been on your side.” She looks around the room, meeting each of our gazes. “My father … he’s the mole. Lieutenant Atlas.”
My head swims as I try to make sense of her words.
“You’re leaving out the best part, Mira. The one where you’re working with him and reporting back on our movements like afucking traitor.” Zeke hisses the last words. I suspect he’s using every ounce of his restraint to stay seated.
“That’s bullshit! I found out at the same fucking time as all of you. I had no idea he—”
Zeke scoffs. “Like I’ll believe the lies spewing from your mouth. Fool me once, and all that.”
“Fucking hell. Can we just calm down for a second?” Theo says, rubbing his temple.
Raphael looks just as enraged as Zeke, but to my surprise he doesn’t add to the outburst.
“Mira?” I ask, turning a cautioned gaze on my friend.
“I swear, I didn’t know what he was up to. All I knew was that something about him had changed over the last few years. He kept pushing me away, and I couldn’t figure out why. It’s the reason I kept going to the guild. But the truth is I … I guess I don’t know my father at all.”
I see the hurt in her eyes, the pain of feeling like the person you looked up to your entire life isn’t what you thought they were. That’s hard to fake.
“You’re a good liar, Mira. Almost as good as dear old dad.”
“Zeke. Please,” I say, sparing him a glance. “I don’t think this is as black and white as you’re making it out to be.”
His next words are quiet, composed, and somehow that makes them more powerful. “Did you know it was your father who kidnapped me? He had the help of demons, as all Auriel’s minions do, but he’s the one who brought me to the Archangel.”
“Of course I didn’t!”
He stands so abruptly that I flinch. “You got close to Hayliel to help him, didn’t you?”
