Chapter 18

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

I land in the yard outside Kyle’s house as nerves wrack my body. The fact I’m here to tell Kyle I did it, that I found a way to restore his wings, is overwhelming. I hurry up the porch steps where Kyle opens the door to meet me. He rushes forward and takes me in his arms, and I breathe in his delicious scent of cinnamon, which instantly calms me.

“Are you okay?” he asks.

I nod, squeezing him tighter. He eventually pulls back and takes my hands, pressing kisses to them.

“I was so worried about you,” he says. “I shouldn’t have made you go. It was stupid?—”

“Kyle, I did it,” I interrupt.

His brows knit together. “What?”

My lips curl up into a wide smile as my vision blurs, and I try to blink back the tears. “I found a way to restore your wings.”

His mouth gapes open, and he drops my hands. “How?”

I hesitate for a moment, unsure if I should explain the exact details, then decide against it. “It doesn’t matter, but I can do it.”

He reaches up and brushes his thumb across my cheek, wiping some of my spilt tears away. “Are you sure?”

I nod. “Come on,” I say, tugging him down the porch steps and into the yard.

He stands before me, seeming unsure what to do, and my heart melts at how nervous and excited he is.

I lean up and brush my lips against his. “Are you ready?”

He swallows hard. “I think so, but I still don’t get what’s happening.”

“Trust me.” I take Kyle’s face between my hands and close my eyes.

I visualise Kyle’s wings emerging from his back as heat seeps from my fingertips. Kyle’s breathing intensifies, and my eyes snap open. He’s trying to hold it together, but I can see the agony twisted in his features.

And then I notice something else. Thick, black, smoke-like magic is swirling from my fingertips and into Kyle. He screams as it transfers into his head. I remove my hands slightly, but he grabs them, pressing them back against his face. He takes ragged breaths as his eyes meet mine.

“Please don’t stop,” he says, his voice strained, “no matter what.”

I bite my lip and nod. As hard as it is to see him in pain, I have to keep going. I close my eyes once more and continue to visualise his wings.

Kyle screams and drops to his knees, pulling me down with him. He maintains his hold on my hands so I don’t lose my grip. A sob ripples through my chest as I try to hold it together for Kyle.

His body shakes, and he roars in pain. Tears streak my cheeks as I helplessly watch him. He curls his back and hunches over, and I follow his movements to ensure I don’t break contact.

After a few minutes, something tells me it’s done, and I release my grip, slowly removing my hands from his face. My body’s weak, as though I’ve seriously depleted myself.

“Kyle,” I breathe, my voice nothing more than a whisper.

He slowly sits up, and his eyes meet mine. I pull him into me, holding him close as his breathing returns to its normal pattern.

Black wings emerge from his back, and they’re enormous. I take in a sharp breath and shuffle back. We stare at one another for a moment, and then he gets to his feet and glances over his shoulder. He runs up the porch steps and stares at his reflection in the glass as his wings spread out wide at his sides.

I slowly stand, and he turns to me and shakes his head, his face showing the utter joy he’s feeling. He swoops down to me, a little wobbly, but not bad for a first try, and lands at my feet. He grabs my face and kisses me.

“Thank you,” he whispers against my lips.

My legs almost give out, and he grabs me around my waist to steady me. The dark magic has taken a toll, and I’m starting to feel the effects. My energy is dangerously low, like I’ve used it all up, and I feel like I could sleep for a week.

“Your wings are beautiful,” I say, my voice a bit strained.

“Are you okay?” he asks.

I stare into his eyes, his features laced with concern, and I can see just how much he cares for me.

I give him a weak smile. “Just a bit tired.”

“How did you do that?” he asks.

I hesitate for a moment, biting the inside of my lip. “It was dark magic.”

His forehead creases into a frown. “That doesn’t sound good.”

I blink a few times as my eyes grow heavy, and he scoops me up and carries me back up the porch steps. His wings disappear into his back before he steps inside the house. He sets me down on the couch next to the fire, and the warmth feels magical against my skin when I close my eyes for a moment. He drapes a blanket over me while I struggle to keep my eyes open, and then I drift into darkness.

I blink my eyes open as the morning sun beams through the windows. I glance around, but Kyle’s nowhere to be seen. My body feels heavy when I sit up and stretch just as he enters the room.

“Morning,” he says as he walks over and gives me a kiss on the cheek. “How are you feeling?”

“Morning.” Warmth fills my heart at being able to say that, and being here with him in his home feels so right. “I’m feeling much better.” I shuffle off the couch and follow him into the kitchen.

“Coffee?” he asks as he presses buttons on a machine.

I frown, taking a seat on one of the barstools. “What’s that?”

He laughs, taking two glasses from the cupboard, and then makes the coffee. “You’ll see.”

After a few minutes, he places a small glass in front of me filled with dark liquid and a white froth on top. A nutty scent fills my nose, and it smells wonderful. I pick it up as he blows on his glass then takes a small sip.

“Careful, it’s hot,” he warns.

I follow his lead and blow on it, then take a sip. A deliciously sweet but bitter taste hits my tongue, and I’m sold.

Kyle’s expression turns serious as he walks around to me and takes a seat on the barstool next to mine.

“You had me worried yesterday,” he says as his eyes search mine.

“I’m fine. I can handle it,” I tell him.

Having someone care about me the way Kyle does makes me feel giddy inside. He opens his mouth to say something else when I sense Finlay is near.

My attention snaps to the yard to see him land on the grass, flanked by several watchers as they touch down, one by one. There must be at least ten of them, maybe more.

We both leap to our feet.

“What the hell?” Kyle says.

Come on out, Zarla. You didn’t think I forgot about you now, did you?

Finlay’s voice fills my mind, and the sinister sound lacing his words makes my skin crawl. He’s back to being an asshole, that much I can tell. Maybe he always was.

I turn to Kyle. His jaw is tense as he glares at Finlay through the window.

“Stay in here, please. You haven’t had the training,” I beg him.

His gaze meets mine. “There is no way I am sending you out there to fight all those massive males on your own.”

I’m waiting. Don’t be rude, Zarla.

I close my eyes and grit my teeth as I storm across the room and out onto the porch with Kyle close behind me.

“What are you doing, Finlay?” I demand, although I think I already know.

Was it him all along, sending the watchers to attack? I think back to our first surprise encounter with them and decide that he can’t have been behind it. He was just as surprised as I was.

Clearly, whoever is behind all of this has recruited him.

“Zarla, I’m giving you a chance here. Come with me, and no one has to get hurt,” he says and shifts his focus to Kyle. “Well, no one who matters, anyway.”

I immediately sense the lies wrapped around his words. Judging by the amount of watchers he has brought with him, he is here for one reason and one reason only.

To kill.

“He’s a danger to you, Zarla. He cannot be trusted.”

Kyle tenses next to me, and he moves to the edge of the porch. His black wings spring free, and Finlay gasps, taking a step back. I move to Kyle’s side, taking his hand in mine before meeting Finlay’s angry glare. His focus homes in on our hands, and he clenches his fists.

“Finlay, please, don’t do this,” I plead with him, but I know his mind has been well and truly made up.

He laughs and slowly crosses the yard toward us, and then he stops a few feet back from the porch steps. “Do you really think the two of you can win this?” He waves his arms around at the watchers. “He’s no match for any of us. Don’t be stupid, Zarla.”

I narrow my eyes at him, lifting my hand slightly in case I have to use my powers.

“You are aiding an enemy angel, Zarla. We cannot allow it.”

Finlay raises his hands, but Kyle is faster, blasting him with a powerful surge of his dark powers. Finlay shoots backward into the group of watchers and knocks several of them to the ground.

I release my wings and swoop down into the yard. Kyle follows, landing with a soft thud next to me.

“Be careful,” I whisper to him.

“You too,” he says.

Several watchers approach us, and I raise my hands and draw my powers. But it won’t work. It’s as if I’m still depleted.

I grab my daggers while the first two watchers rush me. Two more watchers attack Kyle, catching him off guard, and he isn’t able to use his powers in time.

I force my attention to my own battle as a tall watcher with thick arms hits me across the face.

“Not her face!” Finlay growls from somewhere behind them. “She is to be taken unharmed.”

I wipe my lip on the back of my hand and a familiar metallic taste forms in my mouth. Charging forward, I leap into the air and plant a firm kick to his chest, sending him flying back into the ground. The other watcher advances on me, cracking his knuckles as he glares at me, his eyes filled with pure hatred. He removes his hood, revealing a strikingly handsome face.

What is it with all these good-looking watchers?

I duck out of the way when he swings at me. So much for taking me unharmed.

I slice my dagger across his waist, and he grabs my wrist, yanking me toward him. He pulls the dagger from my hand and tosses it onto the grass, and I use my other one to stab him in the chest. He releases me, and I pull my dagger free as he drops to the ground.

My focus shifts to Kyle and find he’s handling himself well, having already taken down three watchers himself and is now fighting three more.

Two more watchers advance on me, circling as they look for an in. One is notably larger than the other.

I try to summon my powers, but it’s no use. I’m all out of juice. I grip my dagger tighter and charge forward, and then I kick my way up the chest of the larger one and flip in the air before landing on the smaller watcher’s back.

He reaches up to grab me, but I plunge my dagger into his neck. Using his enormous hand, he attempts to stop the bleeding, but it’s no use. He falls to his knees, which throws me off, and he face-plants into the ground. I release my wings to catch my fall and realise my mistake when I find the other watcher waiting for me.

He takes hold of my wing and yanks me to the ground. I scream. Pain cuts through my wing as I lay on the cool grass shaking.

Time seems to slow when another watcher knocks Kyle to the ground while the other kicks him. I scream for them to stop, but they don’t.

Finlay approaches me, and I back up. I don’t even know if I’ll be able to fly at this point.

I don’t have my daggers, and my powers are useless.

“You are strong, Zarla,” he states before crouching down to my level. “Kyle isn’t good enough for you. He is nothing. They will deal with him.”

The blood drains from my face when his words sink in. My heart hammers at the thought of losing him.

He reaches down and tucks my hair behind my ear, his fingers lingering on the edge of my jaw. “You’re so beautiful.”

I shrug his hand off my face, and he smirks. My focus drops to his waist when he pulls a sword from his holster. I crease my brows as I stare at the ancient-looking blade. It’s long, made from some sort of steel I’ve never seen before. Intricate angels detail the handle all the way from the base to the top, with vibrant blue gemstones embedded amongst the angels. I can sense this blade is powerful.

He holds the sword near my head, and I tense as he starts speaking in another language. He’s summoning some sort of magic.

I back up a little farther, scanning the yard for Kyle and find him lying motionless across the yard. There are only three watchers left now, and they’re standing over Kyle with their swords drawn.

My eyes dart between Kyle and Finlay, trying desperately to think of a way out of this.

“Shit!” Finlay says, and I can see that whatever he’s trying to do with the sword isn’t working.

And then something strange happens.

Something is building inside me, and I realise it’s my powers regenerating. I glance at the sword, somehow knowing that it’s responsible, and my wing no longer hurts. I’ve healed myself. Seeing an opening, I leap to my feet, drawing my power into my palms before I blast Finlay. He drops the sword as he flies across the yard and lands hard on his back.

“ Zarla… ” The sword is calling to me.

I frown. How is that possible?

I snap out of my haze when a watcher grabs me around my waist.

Out of nowhere, Amaros swoops down and smacks the watcher across the jaw, knocking him to the ground. The watcher releases me, stumbling back, before Amaros picks up the sword and plunges it into the watcher’s stomach without hesitation.

The other two watchers attack Amaros as I rush to Kyle’s side. I frantically search for a pulse and breathe a sigh of relief when I find he’s still alive, but his breathing is shallow.

“Kyle,” I cry out, shaking him as my eyes blur.

A sob breaks out through my lips as I blink back tears. Gods above, he’s not moving.

“With any luck, he’s dead.” Finlay’s harsh voice fills the still air.

I grit my teeth as anger courses through my body. “You did this,” I say.

“Enough!” Amaros’s voice booms, and I find he’s fought the two watchers off already. “You will be put before The Throne for treason,” he says, pointing at Finlay.

Finlay laughs, stumbling a little on unsteady feet while blood sleeps from a cut in his leg and drips down his leathers.

“Yes, because my father would allow that to happen,” he says, his voice laced with sarcasm.

Amaros storms toward him and punches him in the face, then pulls a familiar wire from his leather holster and ties it around Finlay’s wrists.

I furrow my brows at the familiarity of the situation.

Amaros snaps his fingers, and two angels appear. They take Finlay and disappear up into the sky. Amaros then moves toward me.

“Leave me alone, Amaros,” I warn.

But he doesn’t.

I blast my powers toward him, but he holds the sword up. It somehow shields him from my power, producing some kind of invisible protection around him that wards it off. I stare wide-eyed when he shoves me to the ground and pins my wrists above my head.

“Let go of me!” I scream and struggle against his grip.

He pulls the same wire out and twists it around my wrists while ignoring my demands.

“Amaros, please! Kyle needs help,” I beg, tears streaming down my cheeks.

“You are to return to the Kingdom with me at once. That is not a request. Angels of Zarquon are not our concern.” His features are cold as he pins me with a hard stare.

I shake my head. “You bastard!”

He ignores me, picking me up and shooting us up into the air with his large wings. Kyle’s figure disappears below me as we move higher into the sky. Pain rips through my heart at the thought of leaving him there, alone.

“Amaros, please don’t do this,” I beg, knowing it’s no use.

He looks down at me, his eyes softening a little. “I’m sorry,” is all he says.

I spend the following week curled up in my bed, crying most days. When I feel as though I have no tears left, my body somehow produces more. They locked Finlay up in the cells, despite his father’s protests. Even Kastal cannot use his influence on The Throne to prevent his son from being punished. Finlay attacked the King’s daughter, and that is inexcusable.

My father has forbidden me to leave our Kingdom. Even if I wanted to, the magic he used will prevent me. I am stuck here in absolute agony, unsure of Kyle’s fate. I can no longer sense him. It’s as if our bond has been broken, and I along with it. My father has tasked Amaros to be my personal guard for now, despite my protests.

There’s a knock at my door, and I wipe my cheeks as Amaros appears.

“Zarla, may I come in?”

I glare at him. “Would my answer really matter?”

He steps into my quarters, closing the door behind him. Being alone in his presence this time feels very different to the last. I can’t help but remember our kiss, and although I may have enjoyed it then, the thought sickens me now.

He is the one responsible for this.

He crosses the room and sits on the edge of my bed. I tug the covers up, covering myself as much as I can. His eyes scan over my face, as if searching for an answer to some internal question.

“Was there a reason for your unwanted visit?” I ask, my voice sounding harsh, even to my ears.

He swallows hard. “Zarla, I’m sorry. For everything. I never meant to hurt you?—”

“But you did.”

He nods, glancing down. “I know. But if I didn’t, you could’ve been killed.”

I narrow my eyes at him. “How could I have been killed? The watchers were dead. Kyle needed me and…” A sob escapes my lips, and I’m unable to finish the sentence.

He takes in a deep breath, repositioning himself. “If I had left you there, and more watchers had shown up. I hate to think of what the outcome could have been.”

I raise my brows and look away.

He shuffles closer, taking my hand in his, and I snatch it back, glaring at him.

“Sorry. I just…” He pauses for a moment. “All I care about is your safety.”

Despite how mad I am with him right now, I can sense he is telling the truth. He does seem to care about me, a lot. But it doesn’t give him the right to force me to do anything.

“I get the feeling there’s something you’re not telling me.” His eyes soften as they lock with mine.

Despite my anger toward him right now, I do feel I can trust him. “Kyle witnessed something. Something bad. It’s a long story.”

He gives me a small smile. “I have plenty of time.”

I nod. “When I was younger, Kyle used to visit me in the Kingdom.”

His eyes widen, filled with a flicker of anger, but I continue.

“We became friends. But he witnessed a conversation between a male and a female. She was talking to the male about how she killed my mother and how I cannot reach my potential.”

He shakes his head, a genuine apologetic look mixed with shock crossing his features. “Is he sure?”

“He is. And from his description, it sounds like Hethenos. But we’re not sure about the male.”

Amaros stands and slowly paces around as he grates his hands down his face.

“I don’t think Kyle’s dangerous. Or the other angels from his Kingdom. It was all a lie. An enemy angel didn’t kill my mother.”

Amaros stops pacing and faces me. “What did they do to Kyle?”

“He had his wings removed and was thrown down to Earth. He grew up down there, as a human. The gods bonded us together for a reason.”

His forehead creases, and he takes a step closer. “How did he get his wings back?”

I swallow hard and bite my bottom lip. “I used the dark magic.”

Amaros runs a hand through his hair and lets out a frustrated sigh. “Zarla, that’s incredibly dangerous,” he says. “You entered the Dark Forest?”

I nod. “I had no choice. Kyle deserved to have his wings back. He’s an angel. Can you imagine finding out you’re an angel with no wings?”

He clenches his fists and moves toward me. “You don’t know how reckless that was. The God of Death does not dispose kindness to those who summon him. He could have taken your life.”

I slip out of the covers without a care at what I’m wearing and stand before him. “I am a grown angel. I can not only look after myself, but I can make my own decisions. And as you can see, he didn’t kill me. In fact, he was kind.”

His eyes scan over my white, skin-tight nightdress. He steps closer to me, and my breath catches. “Kyle is dangerous, Zarla. You may not see that now, but he is lying to you. He is not good enough for you.”

My body shakes as my jaw tenses. “That’s not true.”

His gaze drops to my lips while he reaches up and strokes his thumb across them. I swallow hard as I close my eyes, enjoying his touch more than I should. His arm snakes around my waist as he tugs me against his body, but something snaps me out of it. I shove him back. There’s a longing in his eyes before his features shift back into their usual serious form.

“You are forbidden to be with an angel from our enemy Kingdom.”

I open my mouth to respond when he turns and storms out of my quarters, leaving me even more confused than the last time he visited me here.