I turned and found Farasee Nathaniel trying to get closer to me. Omarion and Daelun gave him no room to pass.
“Farasee, if you’ll excuse us. We need to be getting on our way…”
“I just want to see if you feel like her?—”
The Farasee’s shadow lengthened past his natural height becoming monstrous. My eyes widened as the shadow plunged onto the Farasee and began choking him. Then a wave of shadows seeped out of the ground and slapped the Farasee with such brute force, he went flying across the grounds into a distance I couldn’t see.
We all turned to look at Quazar.
But Quazar was only looking at me. His nostrils were flared. He looked vehemently angry at having his time wasted.
“Are you ready to go now? Or are we going to stop every time one of these Hèls-possessed Farasees pisses themselves when they see your eyes?”
I rocked back as if I’d been slapped across the face. Hard. My jaw dropped. I’d used up my storehouse of anger for the dawn. All I was left with was a crushing ache.
I blinked at the Prince for a long time, stunned into silence. Then I turned around and flew away without a word. Disrespectful bastard. I was mentally exhausted and would not deal with him any longer.
A strange emotion formed in my chest, knotting my stomach. I missed Manmi so bad. She taught me so much, yet now that I was facing certain challenges in real time, I just wanted her back. To ask her questions. To just have her give me a hug. I held back tears. I would not let the males of the Farasee Order rattle me.
With the help of Isandra’s scrollmap we navigated our way through the grounds. We passed goddesses handling the many gardens littering the grounds, while watching more stareagles fly overhead. We finally made it to a tower with a single level and a winged design carved into the sides.
Above the doors were the smoke insignia of Incense Order. Inscribed above the doors balanced a sign:First Dominion, Seventh Choir.
Isandra flew to the doors first, shoving them open without preamble. Sweet incense filled the wingtower. We all floated into a common room that was beautifully decorated and laid out. On either side were hallways leading further into the wingtower. I assumed that’s where the bedchambers were accessed.
“I want firsfast,” Isandra sighed, her wings drooping.
I nodded in agreement. I pulled off my sandals, then lowered to my feet, opting to walk around. The cold of the marble floors gave me enough of a shock to soothe the burn in my body some. The rest of Seventh Choir removed their sandals. The hall to the left was labeledEfysiens.The hall on the right was labeledAzarathiens.
I turned in time to see the Legionnaires remove their boots before lowering to their feet. Xadari Legion stood by the entrance glaring at Seventh Choir. And we glared back.
“Quazar?” Ivyana called.
He slid his gaze to her. I watched his face change. He looked…caring. Protective. Gentle.
I wrinkled my nose at the thought. This male was anything but that. His emerald eyes landed on me. The hatred of a thousand generations speared me through. I lifted my chin and crossed my arms. He could try me, if he dared. But he’d be met with a viper that would never relent. We glared at one another. And again, all I could think about was Manmi and her life brought short because of him.
“You,” I seethed.
He tilted his head. Slipped his hands into his pockets.
“Me.”
Dakairi crossed his arms, as Ivyana followed suit, tilting her head at me.
“Keep your Fallen on your side and we Hallowed will stay on ours.”
The Fallenspawns flinched. Quazar looked like he was ready to set me—and the rest of Seventh Choir—on fire. Without another word, he stomped away letting his wings drag across the marble.
“Talons,” Quazar barked without looking back.
Xadari Legion followed him as a unit without question. They headed down their hall which was separated by glass walls. The moment they all crossed to their side, Quazar threw up a thick barrier of shadows that coalesced into a black wall writhing from the floor to the ceiling. We couldn’t see past it and we couldn’t hear a thing either.
One of the front chambers opened and a Raephim flew out.
“Thank the stars,” I cried, practically running over to her. “I desperately need mending. I can’t even tell you what all is damaged?—”
“Ascendant Safah, it’s quite alright. Come on in.”
