Chapter 24

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

W e spend a couple of hours swimming around in the lake and jumping off the large rocks at the sides before we decide to head back. We’re both soaking wet as we soar up into the air and fly back over the Kingdom toward Kyle’s castle. I admire the view from up here, and I find myself feeling somewhat at home in his Kingdom. By the time we reach the castle, we’re both dry.

We land at the back on a large stone patio area overlooking the Kingdom. There’s an enormous infinity swimming pool at the front positioned on the edge of the hill, and there are beautiful beige stone tiles surrounding the area with sun loungers and umbrellas for shade.

“It’s something, isn’t it?” he asks as he watches me admire it all.

I nod. “It’s incredible. I love the detailing. How old is it?”

“It was created by the gods, so pretty old.”

I whip around to face him. “The gods? Wow, it must be old, then, like ancient.”

He laughs. “They built your Kingdom, too.”

Wow. I mean, it makes sense, but I barely know anything about them. I know they forged the three Kingdoms, but that’s about it.

We sit down at a stone table with bench seats, and the sun feels so good on my skin.

“What do you know about the gods?” I ask.

He whips off his shirt and leans back on his elbows, closing his eyes. “Well, I know they forged the Kingdoms Zarquon, Silanthia, and Galespo. I know individually they each occupied a Kingdom and built it from the ground up.”

My mouth gapes open at his words. “How did I not know this?”

He cracks an eye open and looks at me before closing it again. “It seems strange. Apollon, Atticus, Stavros, and Zalore are their names. Apollon created Zarquon. Stavros created your Kingdom, Silanthia. Zalore created Galespo, and Atticus… Well, they say he created the Kingdom of Gods. But no one knows anything about it, so it’s a bit of a myth.”

This is blowing my mind. It seems like important history that they should have taught us growing up, especially at the academy. I have never heard of Stavros, yet he’s the god who created our Kingdom. It bothers me that my father kept this from me.

And then an image of King Zalore from Galespo pops into my mind from the day they attacked in the clearing of the Dark Forest.

I stare at Kyle with wide eyes. “I met Zalore. He tried to take me back to Galespo when he and the other watchers attacked in the Dark Forest. Is he really a god?”

Kyle’s brows furrow, and he opens his mouth to answer when another voice speaks.

“Well, hello there.”

I jump to my feet to see two older angels walking toward us. The male is tall and muscular with broad shoulders, and he’s wearing a black shirt unbuttoned to reveal a toned and tanned chest with gold chains hanging around his neck, black trousers, and black polished shoes. His hands are buried in his pockets, and his expression is serious and somewhat frightening. He looks so much like Kyle.

I glance at the female, who is absolutely stunning, wearing a flowing white silk dress with a dipped neckline and a hem that grazes her ankles. Her long dark hair hangs to her waist, a slight wave showcasing the lighter tones. Her features are perfect, and she looks young, but I can tell by the way she holds herself that she isn’t.

Her lips curl into a wide smile, and her eyes hold a kindness that helps me relax a little.

“Mother, Father,” Kyle greets them, “this is Zarla Quinn.”

I swallow hard. “It’s lovely to meet you both,” I say as I shake hands with his mother, followed by his father, who still doesn’t smile.

“You can call me Zeta,” she says, “and this is my husband, Apollon.”

I try to hide my shock at his name. Surely it’s just a coincidence, and he’s not a god. I almost laugh at the thought. Of course he’s not.

I smile at them both. “Your Kingdom is beautiful. Kyle showed me around earlier.”

Apollon removes one hand from his trouser pocket and scratches his chin. “We rarely have outsiders to visit.”

I can tell my presence is difficult for him, and I don’t blame him. I’m sure my father would find it difficult to have an angel from Zarquon visit, too.

“Father, Zarla was injured. I had no choice but to bring her —”

He holds his hand up to silence him, and Kyle obeys. “I have already heard it, son. Although I do not condone it, I understand the circumstances, and I will allow it.”

His voice is deep and has an unfamiliar accent to it.

I give him a small smile. “Thank you.”

Zeta clasps her hands together. “Well then, Zarla, you are very welcome here, for as long as you need. Kyle’s told us a lot about you, and I must say, I am impressed. I also want to thank you for saving our son.”

I wave my hand. “Oh, no need to thank me. I was just doing my job protecting him.”

Well, that is true, but it’s much, much more than just a job to me. Kyle is everything to me. And I’m starting to believe he may be my fated mate. The one I am destined to be with.

She looks at me, and there’s a glint in her eye that tells me she knows it’s much more than just a job to me. “Well, regardless of the reasons, we have our son back. And I have you to thank for it.”

Kyle threads his fingers through mine and kisses me on the cheek. I feel myself blush and glance down.

“Gosh, you look just like your mother,” Zeta says.

My eyes snap up to meet hers. “You knew my mother?”

She steps closer and cups my cheek, and her gold bangles clang together. “I did. We were close friends. I am very happy to see you are okay, and I am thrilled to have you in our Kingdom.”

Apollon walks to Kyle’s side and gives him a half hug and a slap on the back. “I’ve got some business to attend to. I will see you tonight?”

“Yeah, we’ll see you then,” Kyle says.

Apollon nods at me. “Nice to meet you, Zarla,” he says before walking back into the castle.

Zeta takes my hand. “If Kyle hasn’t already, have him show you around the castle. It truly is magnificent. We shall meet for a feast at dusk.”

She gives my hand a small squeeze and then heads back into the castle.

I let out a long breath. “Wow. That was okay, actually. Although I don’t think your father likes me.”

Kyle chuckles and pulls me toward the castle. “Oh, he’s like that with everyone. Don’t take it personally. He’s got a hard shell, but it can be cracked.”

Over the next two hours, Kyle shows me around his castle. We visit their enormous library, which I’m amazed to find is bigger than ours. There’s a large indoor underground swimming pool carved into the sandstone with swim-through caves, and a maze of rooms that spans over four stories.

There’s a mysterious element to the castle, as if it has a mind of its own. Kyle explains how sometimes it speaks to you in your mind, and the thought sends chills down my spine.

We eventually find our way back to Kyle’s room to get ready for tonight’s feast, and I’m thankful to have him with me or I’d probably get lost. The feast is in an hour’s time, and I have no idea what I’m supposed to wear, but somehow know there will be a dress waiting for me.

Sure enough, there is. Laid out across the bed is a deep-green sleeveless gown with a plunging neckline.

“Okay, who keeps leaving me clothes?” I ask.

Kyle laughs. “Probably one of our keepers. It’ll be my mother’s doing, no doubt.”

Kyle threads his fingers through mine and presses a soft kiss to my lips. “Thanks for today. I had fun showing you around my Kingdom.”

My heart warms hearing those words from him. “I did as well. Thanks for showing me.”

We stare into one another’s eyes, and I can sense his deep desire for me, as it mirrors my own for him. His hand snakes around the back of my neck as our lips crash in a passionate frenzy, and I get lost in his touch. I frantically undo the buttons of his shirt, and he eventually breaks the kiss to yank it off and toss it aside.

He watches me through lust-filled eyes as I slowly slip the straps of my dress over my shoulders and let it puddle at my feet. I don’t feel nervous being this exposed around him. It feels natural. I run my hands over the rippled muscles of his chest as he unbuttons his shorts and they drop to his feet. My focus falls to his waist, and heat rises inside me, flowing between my legs. I wet my lips as he traces his eyes over my body.

He takes my face between his hands, stealing my focus. “You’re so beautiful, Zarla,” he whispers. “I can’t wait to make you mine.”

Butterflies swirl in my stomach, and his lips find mine as he slips his large hands around my ass and lifts me. I curl my legs around his waist, and without breaking the kiss, he carries me into the bathroom. He sets me down outside the shower and flicks it on, and then he tugs me under the warm spray. His hands move over my body, kissing and nipping at my skin. I let out a soft moan as he pulls my nipple into his mouth and presses me against the tiled wall.

I dig my nails into his back and he sucks and nips my nipple. A soft moan escapes my lips, and I arch my back. He moves down my body, pressing kisses along my stomach and then across my inner thigh. His eyes lock with mine, and he settles between my legs, lifting one to rest on his shoulder, and I take in rapid breaths in anticipation. I’ve never been intimate like this with a male before, and although I don’t know what to expect, I trust Kyle.

Warm water cascades down my body as his tongue finds my core. I cry out, threading my hand through his hair. Pleasure unlike anything I’ve felt before wracks my body as he licks and sucks my delicate skin, flicking his tongue over my clit. There’s an ache building in my core, and I find myself needing more.

“Oh gods… Please, Kyle,” I plead through rapid breaths.

Knowing exactly what I need, he slips a finger inside, and I moan as he moves it within me. He reaches his other hand around and grabs my ass as his tongue licks at my clit.

“Ohh…” I moan, gripping his hair between my fingers.

I want him. I need him, more than I have ever needed anything before.

Something is building within me, the same feeling as the last time Kyle had his finger inside me. I bite my bottom lip at the memory as he slips another finger in, stretching me farther, and moving them faster and faster. The pleasure is so intense my legs grow weak as my hips buck against him. And then I erupt as waves of pleasure crash over me, and I cry out in ecstasy.

He lowers my leg down and stands, pressing his body against mine as he licks his lips before letting the warm water wash over his face. I watch him as my breathing calms, and a strong sense of desire makes me pull him closer. I kiss him deeply, tasting myself on his tongue.

“I love watching you come undone,” he whispers in my ear, “and I can’t wait to take you as my mate. But with the way you’re looking at me, I won’t be able to stop myself from taking you right here in the shower. I don’t want to rush this, and we’ve got a feast to get to.”

He hands me a towel, and I bite my bottom lip as he wraps another towel around his waist. I reluctantly do the same, all the while envisioning what it will feel like to have him inside me. To become one. To become bonded mates.

His gaze catches mine, and he gives me a knowing look. “We’ll find the right time. I’ll make sure of it,” he whispers and then presses a kiss to my cheek before leaving the bathroom.

The right time could have been now, but I agree. It will be my first time, and I don’t want to rush it. It sends warmth through my heart, knowing Kyle cares about that just as much as I do.

The right time will come, and hopefully soon , I tell myself.

After slipping into the gown, I towel my hair off and apply some makeup, which just so happens to be available on a dresser in Kyle’s room. No surprises there. I watch him in the mirror as he dresses in a black tux, and my breath catches at just how handsome he is. Growing up, I was taught about finding your mate, about what to expect, what it will feel like. But nothing can prepare you for the reality of it. The immense emotions it will trigger and how settling it will be to find them.

That sudden jolt of electricity that courses through your body when your eyes meet. That magnetic pull you will feel toward one another, the longing to touch them, to be close, always, is all-consuming.

I feel that way for Kyle. My heart knows as well as my mind does that he is my fated mate. For us to become mates and seal the mating bond will involve further intimacy with Kyle, something I am looking forward to exploring.

As if sensing my thoughts, his eyes find mine, and he shoots me a cheeky grin. I swallow hard, closing my eyes as I shake myself and refocus on my makeup. Being officially bonded to one another as mates will allow us a deeper connection, one we will feel even when we are apart. He will be able to feel me, and I him, on a spiritual level. It is the most sacred of bonds, and I can’t imagine being mated to any other male.

I stand up to view myself in the mirror. The green of my dress matches my eyes and looks good with my blonde waves, which are almost dry, thankfully. Kyle steps in behind me and snakes his arms around my waist.

“You look stunning,” he says and plants a kiss on my cheek.

I spin around in his arms and kiss him gently. “Shall we go?”

He links his fingers through mine, his gaze scanning my body. “If we have to.”

I playfully swat his arm and laugh as we walk to the door. Kyle leads me through the castle, and I once again stare in awe at the gorgeous topaz walls and seashell detailing that flows along the corridors. It takes about five minutes before we reach a set of high double doors. Two guards stand outside the doors wearing gold and deep-blue leathers. They open the doors for us, and my lips part as I look around the feast room in amazement.

The room is vast with pale-blue walls and a gorgeous carved wooden table in the centre that appears to seat about twenty angels. There’s a large spread fit for a king, with more food than I think I’ve ever seen before. A low growl rumbles in my stomach as I survey the food.

Kyle leads me into the room where several angels gather in groups chatting near the side of the room. I spot two keepers walking around with golden trays carrying bubbly, and Kyle snags us a glass each as they pass by.

“Cheers,” he says, clinking his glass with mine.

“Cheers.”

The glass is gorgeous with the shape of a seashell near the base, matching the beachy theme throughout the castle.

Kyle’s mother, Zeta, approaches us. She’s wearing a deep-blue gown with a sheer gold layer of fabric draped over the top. Her hair is braided and clipped into a bun with several loose dark curls framing her face.

“Hello again,” she says and gives me a kiss on the cheek.

“Hi. This room is beautiful, and this feast,” I say in awe.

She glances at the table. “Ah, yes, we have quite the team of keepers here in the castle. They are known for their feasts. I do trust you will enjoy it.”

Zeta embraces Kyle, and I can see the affection she holds for him. It warms my heart knowing she has her son back, and it makes me curious whether he has any siblings. We haven’t actually touched on that subject yet.

I glance at the door to see more angels have arrived, and there are now about thirty of us here. I guess the table fits more than I thought.

I spot Em in the corner wearing a stunning strapless silver dress that hugs her curves and flows down to the floor, with her burgundy hair up in a messy bun. She’s chatting away to a handsome male angel, and her piercing blue eyes land on mine. She whispers to the male, and he looks my way too.

And then I notice other angels are also looking at me. Heat rises in my cheeks as I move closer to Kyle. He glances around, then leans in toward me.

“Don’t worry about them,” he whispers. “My parents will give a small toast and explain the situation.”

“Do you know all these angels?” I ask.

He looks around the room before settling his eyes back on me. “Some are family. Some are friends,” he explains. “I will point out who is who.”

Kyle does his best explaining who everyone is, and I’m interested to find he appears to be an only child. He has two uncles and an aunty here, as well as two cousins. They all bear a striking resemblance to one another, and it’s obvious they’re family. If Kyle hadn’t told me, I would have likely guessed. The rest of the angels are close friends of his parents, and it makes me wonder if he has any childhood friends he has reconnected with. Other than Em, of course.

Em crosses the room, heading our way, and I take a long sip from my glass. She embraces Kyle in a hug, taking her time as she squeezes him against her body. Her touch sends a pang of jealousy coursing through me, and I clear my throat while she moves back, shooting me an annoyed glare.

“Zarla, hi again,” she says in a cheerful but fake voice before giving me an awkward hug.

Kyle threads his fingers through mine, no doubt sensing my jealousy, and kisses me on the cheek.

Zeta spots Em and hurries back over, and then she pulls her into a hug. “Em, sweetheart, I’m so glad you could make it.”

His mother is over the moon to see Em, and it makes me anxious at how much she likes her. I need to pull myself together. She’s probably known Em her entire life. Of course she would react that way. She’s likely close friends with Em’s mother, Klara.

“It’s lovely to be here,” Em says with a beaming smile.

There’s a dinging sound, and I look over to Kyle’s father, Apollon, holding a knife in one hand and a glass of bubbly in the other.

“Let the feast begin!” he announces, and all the angels walk to the table to be seated.

My stomach drops when I see them looking around the table to find their seats, and I notice little name tags at each place setting. There’s a seating plan? Oh no. Please have me next to Kyle. Please .

“Here we are,” Kyle says, and I breathe a sigh of relief.

It’s short-lived though when I notice Em sit down on the other side of him. Who chooses the seating around here? Did Em request to be seated next to Kyle? I try to shake the paranoia from my mind, but I can’t help it. I am an outsider here, and by the looks of it, Em was supposed to be with him. Or at least, that’s what she wants, and possibly his mother, Zeta, as well.

Zeta and Apollon are seated at the end of the large table where there is enough room for two, and once everyone is seated, they both stand.

“Thank you to our dear friends and family for attending our feast this evening,” Zeta says.

“It is with great honour we celebrate the return of our son, Kyle.” Apollon gestures to him with a wave of his hand, and everyone claps. “I want to thank the young female next to him, Zarla Quinn, for finding him down on Earth, and for helping him remember who he is. And to Em, our dear family friend, for bringing him back from Earth when he was left injured and alone.”

Apollon’s gaze falls on me as gasps sound around the table, and I can’t help but look down. In the same sentence, he managed to thank me, but also blame me. I guess it is my fault. It was my second who brought those watchers to Kyle’s house to attack us both. It was angels from my Kingdom who took me back, leaving Kyle for dead.

My eyes moisten, and I swallow back the tears, refusing to let them fall here, surrounded by angels I do not know.

Kyle finds my hand and gives it a squeeze.

“Zarla, you will always be welcome in our Kingdom, and in our home,” Zeta adds.

“We love you, son. Welcome home,” his father finishes.

All the angels around the table clap, and I join in too, without meeting the eyes of any of them.

“Sorry about my father. Are you all right?” Kyle asks once everyone is chatting away and distracted by the keepers.

They move around the table placing small plates in front of each guest.

He slips a hand over my thigh, and I blink a few times before meeting his eyes once I’m sure the tears are gone.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” I say with a tight smile, feeling more out of place than I have since arriving in his Kingdom.

I don’t think he buys it, but he seems to let it go. A keeper places a small plate with a delicious-looking salad in front of me, and I wait until other angels start to eat before I do. I can feel the stares of other angels on me, and I lean into Kyle.

“Are you sure they’re all okay with me being here?”

He strokes my cheek with the back of his fingers. “Of course they are. And regardless of it, both my parents, and especially I, are more than okay with it. And that’s all that matters.”

He kisses my cheek and continues eating his salad.

I pick up a small fork and pick at my salad when I notice Em place her hand on Kyle’s thigh. Anger bubbles in my chest, and I have to mentally force myself to ignore it. Kyle knows how that will make me feel. He knows I am right here next to him and can probably see it. Relief flows through me when he grabs her hand and removes it from his thigh.

You trust him, I remind myself. It’s not like he’s been kissing other angels like you have.

I mentally tell the voice in my head to go away, despite knowing it’s right. I did kiss another male. Twice now. Oh gods, what will Kyle think if he finds out? The last thing I want to do is upset him, but guilt tugs at my chest as I realise I probably have to. Whatever it is between Amaros and me is nothing. I know in my heart Kyle is my mate.

My focus shifts to Em as she leans into Kyle and whispers something in his ear, and he laughs. What the heck was that? What did she say that was so funny? I close my eyes for a moment and take in a few deep breaths, trying not to give her the reaction she is no doubt looking for.

And then it occurs to me: Kyle’s memories of Em have most likely come back. What does he remember of their relationship? And what’s the extent of it?

My mind is abuzz with so many questions it’s making me dizzy. Pull yourself together, Zarla , I tell myself. I grit my teeth throughout the feast and try to remain calm as Em steals Kyle’s attention the entire evening. He shoots me an apologetic look before telling me he’s going to the bathroom. He gives me a kiss on the cheek and leaves.

Shortly after, Em leaves the table as well. An unsettling feeling grows in the pit of my stomach, and I sense something is seriously off. After about five minutes, I leave the table to find Kyle and make sure everything’s all right. I exit the feast room and head down the corridor toward the bathrooms.

I hear giggling and spot Em and Kyle. Em has her hand on his chest and is laughing at something. Time practically slows as I watch her wrap her hands around his neck and kiss him.

My heart drops, and I immediately run back down the corridor and out of the castle while tears sting my eyes. Kyle calls my name from somewhere behind, but before he catches up, a messenger angel from my Kingdom lands before me flanked by two Zarquon guards, and I scuttle to a halt.

From the look on his face, something is seriously wrong.