Chapter 14

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

“ W ho’s coming?” Salise asks, concern tugging at her brows.

I wipe the tears from my cheeks, still sobbing. “You won’t understand. Gods above, I’m not safe anywhere, not even here.”

She gently strokes my arm. “Of course you are safe here. What happened just now? What did you see?”

I snap my focus to the curly-haired female. How did she know I saw something? Maybe it was obvious in the way I reacted, but it makes me concerned about whether I can trust her.

I clamber to my feet and grip the window frame for support. “I need my father. I need to speak with him.”

She stands and gently rubs my arm. “Of course. I’ll find him and let him know.” She moves toward the door but pauses for a moment, glancing back at me. “Are you sure you’re all right?”

I force a smile. “I’ll be fine. Thank you, Salise.”

“If you require anything, anything at all, press this button.” She gestures to a round gold button near the door and leaves the room.

My heart thrums at a million miles an hour, and I press my hand against my chest in an attempt to calm myself.

Deep breaths, Zarla. Take some deep breaths .

He won’t come here. He wouldn’t dare. And he can’t bring his watchers with him, so he would be alone.

But he did go to Pyrrhus alone , my subconscious tells me, and I mentally tell it to shut the hell up.

Gods above, I’m going crazy. I hurry into the vast bathroom, barely noticing the luxurious gold fixtures and fittings as I turn the tap on. The cool water puddles in my hands, and I splash it across my face and take in several deep breaths.

I snatch up a beige hand towel from the edge of the vanity and look in the mirror, dabbing the water from my skin. Several small indents mark my bottom lip, and I lean in closer, gently tracing them with my fingers. It’s where Amaros nipped my bottom lip.

I leap back. How in the gods did he do that? The marks make it feel all the more real.

Okay, just relax. When Atticus comes, I can explain everything that happened, and he will make sure that Amaros can never get into Gallerria . My self-pep talk works, and I’m able to slow my heart rate down enough to relax.

I glance at the double shower in the corner of the room, big enough for several to shower together, and my mind shifts to thoughts of Kyle.

It hurts my heart that I don’t know where he is or if he’s all right. But he has to be. Once I have rested a little more, I will search for him, and I won’t stop until I find him. If only there was a way to break this bond with Amaros, maybe then I could sense Kyle again and figure out where he is.

Not wanting to work myself up into a panic again, I try to focus on something else. Anything else.

The bath in the corner of the room catches my eye, and I decide I’ll have to try it later. I have no idea what the time is, and when I step out onto the balcony, the sun sits low in the sky. It must be nearing dusk.

A yawn escapes my lips, and I stretch my arms out wide. Gods above, it’s warm here.

And then I spot them, amazed how I didn’t earlier. Five enormous statues tower over the city in the distance. Gods, carved into marble. Something tells me they’re the first gods. The statues stand at least eight hundred feet tall. They’re incredible.

I don’t recognise the gods, and I’m curious about their names. They stand spaced out around the perimeter of the city, looking down upon it. Like ancient protectors. It’s magnificent.

The door clicks open, and Atticus enters the room.

“Zarla?” he calls out, and then he spots me on the balcony.

I head back in and hover in the doorway.

“Tell me what happened. Salise was very concerned. I came as fast as I could.” He gestures to a couch near the open fireplace, and we sit.

I tuck my hair behind my ears. “I don’t really know. It was like a dream, but it was real. Amaros was in my head. He transported me somewhere inside my own mind.”

He nods, leaning forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “Mind manipulation. He’s always been able to do it. What did he say?”

I visualise it, being in that awful, cold, and dark room. Amaros in my face, breathing against my skin.

I trace my fingers across my lips, recalling the details. “He knows where I am, and he’s coming for me.”

“He said that? Those were his words?”

“Yes.”

He presses his face into his hands, taking a moment to himself before he looks up at me. “I don’t doubt him. But now that we know what he’s planning, we can prevent it.”

He gets to his feet, and I join him.

“How?”

Pacing the room, he runs his fingers along his jawline. “Strengthening the wards, for one. Increasing guard patrols.” He strokes my cheek. “You let me worry about the details. You are safe here. You have my word.”

I fold my arms and cross the room. “Is this where you’ve been? My whole life?”

“For the most part, yes. I have spent time in Galespo, only to keep an eye on Zalore. He was an unpredictable male. Otherwise, I was here.” His gaze narrows slightly. “I wish I could have come to you sooner. Had I known you existed, I would have. Amaros was crafty. But even so, you weren’t ready for the truth back then.”

I chew my bottom lip. I understand what he is saying, and I accept it. How could he have been in my life when he didn’t even know about me? Even when my mother was murdered and he took her away, he didn’t know I was his. Sure, we have the same eyes, but he wouldn’t have noticed. He was preoccupied with the death of his fated mate.

“How old are you?” I ask.

He scratches his head and crosses the room to fix himself a drink from the tray in the corner. He pours two without asking whether I want one and hands one to me. I don’t question it, taking the glass and drinking it down in one go, hoping it’ll ease the intensity of this conversation, as well as the dark memories drifting back to me.

“Honestly, I don’t know,” he says, taking a sip of his drink. “I do not age, not physically, at least. And although it is difficult for me to die, I can.”

I set my glass down on the side table next to the couch. “Thank you for being honest with me.”

He sighs and then finishes his drink. “You are the spitting image of your mother. Such beauty.” He sets his glass down next to mine. “Get some rest. I will attend to the wards and speak with my guards. Tomorrow, I will show you around the Kingdom. Perhaps you could meet some of your relatives, if you’re feeling up to it.”

I walk him to the door. “I’d like that.”

He kisses the top of my head and leaves me to it. Exhaustion has crept up on me now, and sleep is the only thing I can focus on.

I strip off the cloak and my torn leathers, allowing them to fall to the floor, and climb under the covers of the bed. The bedding is soft, and sleep claims me instantly, pulling me into a deep lull where red-eyed beasts and dangerous males hijack my dreams.

I awake with a jolt, and it’s still dark out. Yawning, I stretch under the sheets and am surprised to notice the pain in my thigh is completely gone. I reach down and brush my fingers over the skin, and I find that the wound has completely healed. It’s a relief knowing it has, but it still concerns me how long it took.

Are my powers diminishing?

I can’t help but wonder if Amaros has something to do with it. But as quickly as the thought enters my mind, I brush it aside. I don’t need negativity right now. Strength must be my focus.

Although it could be the middle of the night for all I know, I slip out of bed and head for the shower.

There are several different shower heads in here, and when I turn the water on, it falls and sprays from every direction. It’s overwhelming and amazing all at the same time, so I embrace it and relax into the warm spray.

A door clicking open grabs my attention, and I quickly turn the shower off and reach for a towel. I wrap it around me and use another to wrap around my wet hair, then I carefully pad into my room. I gasp at the three keepers standing near my door inside my room.

“Apologies, miss. We didn’t mean to startle you,” the one in the middle says.

They all wear the same long white dresses that Salise and the other healers were wearing yesterday, and they each have their hair pulled back into a ponytail.

I pull my towel up my chest, my brows pinched. “Can I help you with something?”

The middle one steps forward. “Oh no, dear, we’re here to prepare you for the day.” Her focus shifts to my towel. “I can see you have already bathed. We could have done that for you. Now come. Let us sort the rest. I’m Maple, by the way.”

Maple guides me over to a stool in front of a dresser with a mirror, and she has me sit while one of them fetches out a dress from the walk-in wardrobe and the other opens a bag filled with makeup and other toiletries. The females work on my hair and help dry me.

“I really don’t need any help with this,” I tell them.

Maple chuckles. “Oh, it’s not a worry, dear.”

They dry my hair and style it into a thick braid that drapes over my shoulder, and then they apply a subtle amount of makeup, giving me a natural look. They help me into the long blue and gold dress they have chosen for me and find me a pair of gold sandals.

By the time they finish, sunlight beams through the windows, catching on all the gold fixtures and fittings around the room, and they shimmer in the most gorgeous way.

They stand back, admiring their work.

“You look beautiful,” Maple says.

“Thank you.”

The two keepers pack up their things as Maple leads me to the door.

“Your father is waiting for you down in the dining room for breakfast. I will take you.”

“Okay, thanks.”

Maple leads me through the castle and to the dining room where Atticus is indeed waiting for me, seated at the end of an enormous marble table covered in an array of food. My stomach grumbles at the mere sight of it all. I glance up at the high ceilings, detailed with amazing artwork depicting angel history.

“Wow,” I breathe and take a seat next to him.

He smiles and starts loading up his plate. “Sleep well?”

“I did. Are you expecting a small army?” I ask, looking at all the food laid out before me. It smells delicious.

He cuts a piece of waffle, dips it into syrup, and eats it. “Not exactly.”

A male enters the room and halts when he sees me, his eyes growing wide. “You weren’t kidding when you said she’s the spitting image of my sister…”

I look between the two males. Sister? As in my mother?

“I told you,” Atticus says, taking another bite of his food.

The male sinks down into the chair next to mine, his gaze tracing over me. “Unbelievable.”

I clear my throat, and he laughs.

“Sorry. Where are my manners? I’m Jehoel, your uncle.” He holds his hand out to me.

My mouth gapes open, and I throw my arms around his broad, muscular frame.

He chuckles and hugs me back. “Friendly, just as your mama was.”

I pull back and stare at the male. I can see the resemblance to my mother. He has her blonde hair and blue eyes. He’s a large male, as they all seem to be from this Kingdom.

“I’m Zarla. Gods above, this is crazy. I never knew I had an uncle.”

He cups my cheek. “And I never knew I had a niece. Now, let us eat. We have plenty of time to catch up over breakfast.”

I beam at my father, and he grins back at me.

Two females and two males enter the room, chatting away as they take their seats around the table. I stare in awe, wondering if these are also my relatives. Once they notice me, they quiet down.

“This her?” one of the males says, inclining his fork in my direction before he piles food on his plate.

He’s big and looks just like his father, Jehoel, with short blond hair and pale-blue eyes.

The older female smiles at me. “Hi, Zarla, I’m Sariel, your aunty. And these are your cousins. Patron,”—she points to the male with the blond hair, then gestures to the others—“Zaphkiel, and Ariel.”

“Actually, just Zaph,” the male says.

This one is different than his brother and father, and he seems to take after his mother, Sariel, with his shoulder-length dark hair that has a bit of a wave to it, and his brown eyes that match hers.

“You do look just like your mother,” Ariel says.

She also looks like her own mother, with long, brown, straight hair, pale skin, and brown eyes.

I smile at them. “It’s so nice to meet you all. I never knew I had family outside of Silanthia.”

They all watch me as they fill their plates. Except Zaph, who instead fiddles with a blade, balancing the tip of it on his finger. Patron sips his coffee, his pale-blue eyes studying me, and Ariel smiles at me as she pours herself some juice.

“It’s lovely to meet you, too, Zarla,” Sariel says. “Coffee?”

I nod, and she pours me some. I hold the warm mug in my hands and sip the delicious brew.

“So, how’d you end up here?” Patron asks, his coffee cup still cradled in his hands.

I glance at Atticus and set my mug down. “I portalled nearby then saw the light and passed through it.”

All eyes are on me now, and I swallow.

“Portalled?” Ariel asks.

I clear my throat. “Yeah, it’s one of my powers.”

Patron raises his brows and nods. “Impressive.”

Zaph snorts and stabs his blade down into an apple. “Hardly.”

I glance at Zaph, and he narrows his eyes at me. What’s with him? Does he have a problem with me being here?

I grab a waffle from the pile with my fork, put it on my plate, and cover it with fruit and some kind of yellow sauce.

Ariel leans across her mother. “Zarla, has anyone shown you around the Kingdom yet?”

“Not yet. Atticus is going to show me around today, I think.” I look at him, and he nods then takes another mouthful.

Everyone starts up conversations now, Zaph and Patron arguing about something, and Ariel begging her mother to take her into the city. She’s quite young, not a teenager yet, I wouldn’t think. Patron is clearly the oldest, and Zaph is somewhere in the middle.

I finish my waffle, happiness surging through me. I finally have a family again.

After breakfast, they all disperse, except Zaph, who lingers around the edge of the table, picking at his food. Jehoel and Sariel promise to catch up again soon and then leave.

I eye Zaph, who stares at me, fiddling with that knife of his again.

“Is everything all right?” I ask him. “You don’t seem overly pleased that I’m here.”

He smirks, glancing down at the blade in his hand. “I don’t trust outsiders. And that is what you are.”

“Enough,” Atticus almost shouts, and Zaph casually leaves the room without a care in the world.

“What’s up with him?”

Atticus runs his hand along his jawline and sighs. “He’s troubled. Let’s leave it there. Come on.” He pushes out of his chair. “How about we take a tour of the Kingdom, then?”

Shoving thoughts of Zaph and his apparent issue with me from my mind, I dab my napkin over my lips and stand. “I’d love that.”

We make our way outside, and Atticus releases his gold wings that are some of the largest I’ve ever seen. I stare in awe and release mine. Does everyone in this Kingdom have gold wings? Why don’t I, considering my lineage? Maybe I’ll ask him about that later. We soar into the sky until we’re high enough to see almost the entire Kingdom.

The sun gleams across the pale-pink, cloudless sky, and the air warms my skin, even at this height. Below, lush green trees surround the Kingdom along the base of the mountains. Even the statues of the gods are visible from up here.

“Magnificent, isn’t it?” Atticus says.

“Are they the first gods?” I ask of the statues.

He glides down, and I follow him to where he lands on top of one of the statues, looking out over the city below.

“They are the old gods.”

I crouch down and sit, dangling my legs over the edge of the statue’s head. “There’s so much I still don’t know of the Kingdoms. Of my history.”

He plants himself next to me. “I know. And I look forward to teaching you.”

I reposition myself and slip on the smooth marble, but Atticus reaches out and grabs my arm to steady me.

“Luckily I’m not afraid of heights, huh?” I say jokingly.

He chuckles. “Can’t say I know any angels who are, but I’m sure at least one exists. They probably keep it to themselves out of shame.”

I pick at my nails, deciding the best way to tell him something I think he should know. “When I was in Pyrrhus, Drakon said something that worried me. And I can’t stop thinking about it.”

His brows pull together. “What did he say?”

“He said that I would make a great Queen. But there was something about the way he said it that worried me.”

His eyes widen, and his face pales slightly before he quickly composes himself and looks away. What was that about?

“I wouldn’t worry,” he finally says. “That male is unpredictable. He may have seen something in you that could be of value to him.”

His words confirm what I think about it. And as he says, Drakon’s an unpredictable male, one I hopefully won’t ever have to see again.

Silence passes between us as we enjoy the view without the need for conversation. Just being in his presence is enough. I have a lifetime to make up for not knowing him.

I can picture him and my mother together. It’s still difficult for me to comprehend how I grew up thinking Harlum was my father. All those years spent with him, and now he’s gone.

And here I am with my real father. The one I searched for, for so long.

He glances over at me. “What’s going on inside that mind of yours?”

I look out over the Kingdom and the city below before meeting his gaze. “Do you ever miss her?”

He swallows, understanding crossing his features. “Every single day.”

Something about his answer comforts me. “Me too. I’m lucky I get to visit her from time to time. You could, too.”

His expression shifts, and his forehead creases like something’s wrong. He holds his hand to his ear and looks out across the Kingdom.

“What is it?” I ask.

He stands and reaches his hand out to help me up. “We must go. There’s commotion at the borders.”

We release our wings, and I follow him down toward the edge of the Kingdom. How did he know there was commotion? He couldn’t possibly have heard something from all the way up there.

As we near the edge, I spot the group of guards hovering around something. We land near them, and I follow Atticus as he strides over, pushing his way through the guards.

Several of them crouch around someone. A male. They’re shrouding the male so I can’t see who it is. When they finally shift out of the way and I see him, I gasp.

It’s Kyle, and he’s injured.

Badly.