Page 70 of Wings of Betrayal

You nearly gave me a damn heart attack. You can’t keep doing this to me.

He’s right, and my heart twists because of it. Finlay is my guard, and I need to trust him and trust that he can hold his own.

Where are you now?

I’m back in Silanthia. Our bond didn’t connect in Galespo. I just need to have a word with Amaros.

He sighs.Okay, then. Just be careful.

I will,I tell him.Catch up later.

Okay.

I glide down and land on the grass, passing students and Zelons on my way in. The hallways are quiet as I head for the arena. Amaros trains in the academy gym from time to time, and maybe that’s where he’ll be. Several guards stand near the arena entrance, and I know he must be in there.

Pushing the arena door open, I step inside. It’s quiet in here, aside from four more guards hovering in the middle of the arena near the gym area. I scan the vast space as I slowly cross, and sure enough, Amaros is in the gym. He’s lying on a bench while lifting a heavy barbell stacked with weights.

I cross my arms and wait for him to finish. He startles when he sees me, and I smirk at his reaction.

“What are you doing here?” He gets to his feet, and my gaze drops to his shirtless body and back up again.

His lips twitch at the corners, and I mentally kick myself for checking him out, knowing how much he enjoys it when I do. He raises his brows and uses his sweat towel to wipe his face.

“You need to tell me the truth about my father. Now.”

His expression shifts in an instant from sly to cold, and he brushes past me, crossing the gym to another piece of equipment.

“How could you keep that information from me? He’s my father! You pretend to care about me, but if you really did, you would tell me what you know. Where is he, Amaros?”

He looks over his shoulder at the guards, shoots me a warning glare, and then prepares the squat rack.

“Oh, hell no. You are not going to avoid me again.” I storm across the gym and stand inside the squat rack, preventing him from using it.

I arch my brow at him, and when he still says nothing, I slap him hard across the face.

Then he snaps. He grabs my throat, maneuvers me across the gym, and throws me hard up against the wall. I gasp, winded at the force of the impact, and then step out from the wall toward him. He grips my throat again, shoving me back and pinning me in place. I will my powers to the surface.

“Don’t,” he threatens.

I can’t breathe. I claw at his hands, desperate for a breath of air.

“Do not push me. I am in charge here, not you. Did you disobey me and go to Galespo after I told you not to?”

My mind is reeling, and I can’t breathe, let alone think straight.

He shifts his attention to the guards. “Leave. Now.”

They quickly exit the arena, leaving the two of us alone. He looks me dead in the eye.

“I am more powerful than you know, and I am tiring of your disobedience. It would be in your best interest to do as I say.” He removes his hand from my throat, and I cough, gasping for air.

He strokes the back of his hand across my cheek. “I’m sorry about that. I never want to harm you. You’re everything to me.”

My hands shake, so I press them against the wall to hide them from him. I don’t need him knowing how afraid I am. I need to play along with him, pretend he’s in control here and that I am going to behave myself from now on.

“I’m sorry. I’ll do better,” I say, my voice breaking a little as I cough and rub my throat.

Once I catch my breath, I right myself and look him in the eye.