“Please tell me it’s notyouin my mind, Spawn of Anathelles.”
Oh! Ohno.
The star gate spat us out onto our faces on another islet I was vaguely familiar with. I turned on Quazar, jaw hanging. Did he just talk into mymind? Did crossing the star gate together seal our bond as temple-mates? There was absolutely no way?—
“There is absolutelyeveryway.” Quazar’s eyes burned like holy fire.“Your precious Temple has bonded us. But don’t worry, it won’t be for long.”He nodded toward something behind us.“I assume you won’t survive.”
Survive? Survivewhat?
I spun around. And screamed.
Terror flooded my body with bone-chilling cold as I looked up and stared directly into the Seal Gate.
Chapter 18
Gaping at the Seal Gate, I floated in place, paralyzed by my fear. As a youngling I used to harass Papi for stories about the Gates.
Who made them? Why did they exist? Did angels ever cross them? Why did my brothers have to go to them?
The only details Papi would fess up was of how tall the Gates were. The Seal Gate specifically was made entirely of the whitest bone. Long bones, short ones. Bones intact, bones broken in half.
Papi always said the Gates looked like an open mouth, yawning out the cosmos from their throats while connecting realms separated by time and space, bridging them together for crossing. Whoever controlled the Gates, controlled the endless existing realms throughout the Elledelle universe and all the planets within them.
As a youngling, so young and naive, I thought Papi was just telling me stories. Giving me nightmares early to try and restrain my curiosity.
Until now.
I stared at the Seal Gate and quivered. I was supposed to be at Temple Efysis. Why in thestarshad I been sent here?
I looked up the length of the Gate, tilting my head all the way back to see the height of the open portal as endless stars swirled at its center. I was at a loss for words. I had no idea what to do. If this was a trial, what was the test?
I looked around and found the islet deserted. Which couldn’t make sense. Empyrean reports always said Legionnaires constantly fought at the Gates, especially the Seal Gate. They fought with their lives to keep all of the darkness out. But as I looked around, I found I was entirely alone.
Wait.
I spun around, searching the deserted island for signs of life. Where in the realms did Quazar go?
A cacophonous rumbling came from the center of the Gate. I backed away, looking back at the realm gate while also hunting for that traitorous Prince. We came here together. We obviously had to leave here together. At least, that’s what I thought. But like a coward, he’d disappeared.
“Not a coward, Starling. There are infinite ways an angel can die. This option isn’t particularly attractive to me.”
What was he on about? I spun back to the gate, eyes widening, as a tear started forming at the center. It was loud, making my ears twitch irritably. Then a claw poked out.
“Burning stars.” I whipped around, searching for what to do. Where to go. I was stranded. And alone.
“What a shame we didn’t get to have more fun together. I enjoyed our first dance. Even if you did sneak in a couple cheap shots. Nonetheless, say hello to your Manmi for me when you’re sent to meet her in the Hèls.”
“You can rot in the Hèls, Wicked Prince,”I spat as loud as I could in my mind. I wasn’t sure how the temple used a blasted star gate to bond us, but I’d stop at nothing until I found out how to break it.
“I’ll be there, that’s certain. Pretty sure your new friends will bring you there, too.”
He chuckled darkly, the sound curling around the threads of my mind, filling my every thought. I shook my head clear. I wouldn’t fall for his nonsense.
The Gate had attempted breaches, but most were unsuccessful. Manmi was at one of the last recorded breaches. If there were no Legionnaires here, even if it was a realm gate, it had to be because the threat of Fallen breach had been contained.
I began turning away, when the tearing sound happened again. I covered my ears. Looking back at the realm gate, an angelic head pushed through.
I froze. Starfire churned in my stomach, flooding into my bloodstream as I remained perfectly still. More and more of a body surfaced. Winged ears, tall, porcelain skin, and long, bone straight hair. Everything inside of me screamed for me to fly.
