Page 81 of Wings of Valor
With a deep breath, I jump in. “So, I was thinking.” I sit up, wanting to see each of my men for this. “I know this thing between the four of us is pretty new—”
“Not new,” Raph interrupts. “We were inevitable, all of us. Even Zeke knew it, though he didn’t want to admit it.”
Theo laughs, but it’s Zeke who says, “Well, I hate to admitthis,but he’s right. Sort of, anyway.”
“Right, well, do you remember when we read Isaac’s journal scrap about Octavius and Ingrid? It mentioned a ceremony that irrevocably bonded them.” Silence is all that greets me, though I feel three sets of eyes on me, so I continue. “I just thought that maybe, if we survive tomorrow—”
“Whenwe survive tomorrow,” Theo corrects.
I smile and squeeze his knee. “When we kill Auriel and survive tomorrow, perhaps we can investigate the ceremony and see if it’s viable for us.” Fuck. Doubt settles over me like a cloud. “If you’d want to, of course. No pressure.”
“Yes. Absolutely, yes,” Raphael says.
“Without a single doubt,” Theo adds.
I turn to Zeke, holding my breath. If he says no, what will this mean for us?
“I would love nothing more than to be linked with you.”
“You sure, man?” Theo asks him. “You’d be linked to us, too.”
“Forever,” Raphael adds.
“I’m sure. Even if it means being linked to youPures.” He says the last word like he’s disgusted, but I see past it to the smile beneath. And then I curl back up with my men in absolute bliss.
31
Islip the rune-stitched shirt over my head and pull it down, reveling in the soft fabric. It still baffles me that this clothing, as beautiful as it is, has added protection to it. Whoever the rune weaver is, she’s an artist.
Assessing the weapons laid out on the dresser, I put each one into its proper sheath, including the secret pockets I discovered when I put this on the last time we went into battle. If only we’d been able to wear them then.
This time, the Archangels didn’t even try to get us to wear their special clothes. Probably Remiel having seen the fight we’d have put up for it if they tried. But after the explosives incident from last time, I don’t think anyone can blame us for being reluctant.
We can trust these clothes. At least, as much as we can trust the rune weaver. Okay, so maybe that’s not very much either,but I trust Raduriel’s judgment. He wouldn’t have given her information to us if it would put his brother in danger.
As soon as I’m dressed, I head out to the main room in our private quarters and find my parents waiting for me. Mom sobs when she sees me, and Dad looks just as worried for me while trying to console her.
“I’ll be fine,” I assure them, pulling on the optimism they instilled in me. “Basically invincible, remember?”
This has Dad rolling his eyes and Mom’s crying turning into laughter. “Well, I guess there’s that, huh?” she says, wiping the tears from her face.
“We’ll be throwing ourselves into planning for the future. It’s about damn time we mend the relationship between Pure and Fallen,” Dad says, looking somber.
“I’ve already got a ton of ideas,” Dina says, coming out of her room with a notebook tucked under her arm. “Destroy those fuckers and be safe, alright? I need my bestie at my side in this new future.” She looks from Zeke to Theo to Raphael, and then back to me before adding, “Ugh. Sometimes I hate that you’re the chosen one,” she teases.
She’s not wrong. They do look damn fine in their armor.
I hug them each as tightly as I can, but refuse to say goodbye. None of us are dying today.
Another tear tracks down Mom’s cheek as she stands in the doorway. “I’ll have something tasty waiting for you when this is over, so come back in one piece, okay?”
“You heard the woman,” Raphael says. “End this as quickly as possible so we can eat Mari’s famous food.”
When they’re gone, I turn and survey what’s left of our group. The guys look incredible in their rune-stitched clothing. It’s criminal, really. I hope that whatever happens today, those clothes don’t get ruined, because I can think of quite a few scenarios I’d like to use them in.
Roleplay, anyone?
Castiel isn’t here. He came back from his secret rendezvous with the trusted professors but only stayed long enough to grab his things before heading out. They’re keeping the plan pretty close to their chest, but it sounds like everyone we expected to say yes did, and even Phiel agreed to help. If Atlas tries to take over the guild as Mira suspects, he won’t get far.
