Page 76 of Wings of Betrayal

Kyle cups my face between his hands. “Hey, look at me.”

I stare into his eyes as I fight desperately for enough air. Gods above, I’m dying.

“Breathe, Zarla. Breathe!” he demands.

His voice lulls my body into doing what it’s supposed to do, and I suck in a gasp of air. And then another. The panic slowly subsides, but then my lip quivers, and a sob escapes.

Kyle wraps his arms around me and holds me. “You’re okay. We’ll figure it out, I promise.”

After I’ve collected myself, Kyle and I fly back to his castle, where we find his parents and several guards and council members gathered around in the entranceway. Once we land, Kyle grabs hold of my hand, and I follow him through the doors and into the chaos.

“Mother,” he says, rushing over to Zeta, who somehow appears quite calm. “She can’t go back there.”

She gives his arm a squeeze. “I know. We are having discussions now about what to do next. We fear war if we don’t do as they ask.”

Kyle snorts. “So what? We can take them easily.”

This is insane. I’m not about to allow a war to break out over my presence within their Kingdom.

“No,” I say, stepping forward. “I don’t want that. I’ll go.”

Kyle shakes his head. “There is no way I will allow that. You will stay here, with me, where you belong.”

Warmth spreads over me, knowing how willing Kyle is to protect me, no matter the cost or the outcome of doing so. But I can’t let him. I won’t. I’m not about to put any angels’ lives at risk to protect myself.

As if seeing the decision in my eyes, he grits his teeth, his jaw tense. “No. You’re not going.”

I stroke his cheek. “I have to. I won’t put anyone here at risk.”

A guard rushes into the entranceway, breathing hard as if he’s just flown over the entire Kingdom to get here. “They’re here.”

Kyle storms over to his father, and I follow him. “Father, she’s not going anywhere. We can’t do that! They’ll kill her!”

I tug on his arm. “No, they won’t. I’ll be okay.”

Apollon places his hands on Kyle’s shoulders. “Son, we don’t have a choice. As the ruler of this Kingdom, I will not place the lives of many on the line for the life of one, no matter who it is. It’s my job to protect this Kingdom and the archangels within it.”

Kyle shrugs his father’s hands off him and starts pacing. He digs his fingers into his head and lets out a frustrated grunt. “This is bullshit, and you know it!”

“Enough!” Apollon shouts, and the authority in his tone halts Kyle in his tracks.

I dart my focus between the two stubborn males. The last thing I want to do is cause tension between Kyle and his father. I walk over to Kyle and wrap my arms around him, stealing his focus.

“Come with me,” I whisper and take hold of his hand.

I lead Kyle back outside, where we can have a moment alone. “I know this isn’t ideal, and I know you’re only trying to protect me. But I’m going. It’s my decision to make, and it’s the right one.”

He shakes his head and cups my face between his hands. “It’s not. I can’t lose you.”

Tears well in my eyes, and I attempt to blink them away. “Let me go. I can’t put anyone’s life at risk. I won’t.”

He searches my eyes and seemingly understands that I will not back down. I’m going, no matter what he says.

“I don’t like this.”

“I know,” I say, cuddling into him. “I’ll be okay. Amaros won’t harm me.”

His body tenses at the mention of Amaros, and a protective growl rumbles low in his chest.