Page 75 of Wings of Valor
“And?”
The Archangels exchange a look, but it’s Remiel who replies. “And we have no reason to believe that will happen.”
“With all due respect, I disagree.” Mira glances at Hayliel, who gives a slight nod. “The mole is my father, and while it’s clear that I no longer know who he is, I still understand how he operates. He knows the ins and outs of the guild. Their defenses, their strategies. He won’t just pretend they don’t exist. For one, he’ll have assisted Auriel with a plan for each of the guilds’ threat responses, but I believe he’ll do his best to sabotage them, too.”
The room falls silent. I expect outrage from the Archangels at learning Mira’s secret, the one she kept from all of us until recently, but they don’t seem bothered in the slightest.They glance at one another, probably having a private mental conversation about how best to proceed, but finally, Mikhael nods. “Perfect. Just as we hoped.”
All the color drains from Mira’s face. “Excuse me?”
While I hate to agree with the traitor’s daughter, in this instance I have to. What the fuck?
Remiel gives her the oddest look under the circumstances. A smile. “We’ve known who you are from the moment the mole’s identity was revealed. I suspected you weren’t a willing participant in your father’s treason, and this just proves us right.”
My mind is about to explode with this news, and I sense the others feel the same way.
“You’ve known?” Mira asks, disbelieving.
“Yes. But everything I saw in my visions showed me which side you were on—all except for this one today. If you didn’t speak up about your father here, I’m afraid you’d have gone down a path there’s no coming back from.”
Dina, who’s sitting beside Mira, places a hand on her forearm and squeezes. Well, shit. If the damn Archangels are offering her a clean slate, what gives me the right to hold a grudge?
Except emotions and trust aren’t that easy to win back. Her betrayal feels far too personal for me.
“Now that that’s settled,” Mikhael says with a grin, “how should we handle the situation at the guild?”
Kirach clears his throat. “I suggest we speak to the leading general about this. He knows about Atlas, but if we have any hope of winning the battle tomorrow, we need his—and the guild’s—full cooperation.”
Mikhael raises his mug in salute. “On that, we can agree. In fact, I already sent off a request to meet—off the record. He’ll be joining us soon. How do you propose we split our forces?”
We go through scenario after scenario, with the Archangels listening to each idea and giving it their full consideration. It’s nothing like how I expected things to go. These are the rulers of our city and the famed god killers. Yet they’re listening to us.
Before we break for lunch, I finally speak up with an idea that’s been bouncing around in my head since discussing it with the others. “Like Castiel, there are other professors on campus who might help. Angels we trust. I think it’s a good idea for us to reach out and invite them to join us. As much as we don’t want to spread fear, with all due respect, we’re going up against a rogue Archangel, his demon army, and the angels he’s persuaded to his cause. Given how small our trusted group is, I believe having multiple plans in motion—each known to only a few—gives us an advantage against any hidden traitors.”
“These angels Zeke speaks of are strong in combat and abilities,” Castiel adds, offering me a smile. “I believe they’ll aid us a great deal.”
The Archangels do that thing again where they’re clearly having a private internal conversation, and when they’re done, Shubael says, “Give us their names before you exit for lunch, and we’ll vet them. Don’t stray far. We need everyone back here in thirty minutes.”
Three and a half hours later, we have a pretty decent plan. Castiel just left to meet with Malik and Isadora, and if they agree, they’ll help us with a secret mission at the guild that only a select few will know the details of. Dad’s fighting with the main army, as are Briathos and Mira.
Hayliel, Remiel, Theo, Raph, and a few other guards have their own mission—one to draw out Auriel and take him down. Dina is staying at the Sanctuary, despite wanting to fight withthe others. But she’ll be here with Mari and Cam, working on a structure for our city’s future.
Everyone seems to know their place but me.
The Archangels have more food brought in, but I’m no longer very hungry. Not when we’re talking about an all-out war on the horizon. One I know the angels I love won’t stay out of. It’s terrifying. “Where are you putting me?” I finally ask. I’m tired of waiting around.
It must be the wrong question, because suddenly, there’s a shift in the air, and I know I’m not going to like what comes next.
“Well,” Shubael says, looking more uncomfortable than I’ve seen him today. “We’d like you to stay here and defend the sanctuary, should the worst happen.”
“Absolutely the fuck not.” They can’t be fucking serious.
“We don’t feel comfortable putting you on the battlefield given the injury you sustained,” Mikhael continues, only pissing me off more.
“I’m fine,” I growl, sitting taller in my chair like that might prove my claim. “I don’t need a wing to kick demon ass, so with respect, the answer isfuckno.”
“He’s right,” Dad says, and for a second, I’m not sure which of us he’s referring to. “Ezekiel is a fine fighter with great instincts. It would do our chance at victory a disservice to keep him out of it.”
Briathos lifts his glass of water, the ice cubes clinking. “I agree with the lieutenant. From what I’ve seen of Zeke’s ability to fight, the wing he lost—and regained, I might add—won’t hinder his ability to turn our enemies to dust.”
