“I bet you I’ll pick it up even faster than you,” she teased with a cheeky grin.
“It won’t matter,” I replied. “I still have nearly a century of flight time on you. I will leave you in the dust . . . literally.”
“We’ll see,” she stated with a devious grin. “As soon as I can fly, you’d better watch your wings.”
“Is that a threat?” I joked back, a smile cracking on my face even after the day I’d had.
“It’s a promise,” she replied cheekily.
Kira turned to Emberly then, asking her something else about her water affinity, and I sank back into my seat, my gaze drifting across the three angels seated beside me, a content smile creeping across my lips.
Kira was safe.
She’d earned her wings and received her marking. And even though I didn’t know what would happen going forward after my meeting with Luc earlier today, or why there had beenunauthorized angels entering into Kira’s marking room, I took the small win.
My sister was safe.
Orela was unharmed.
All my friends were sitting around the table with me, laughing and chatting, and for now, I’d thank the stars for that alone.
10
CALLUM
SCOUTING DAY 6 (5 days since last contact with Guild)
“It’s notlike you to turn down a pilaeria match, especially with the Aurelite Guards in the running,” Axel stated as he flopped down on the sofa across from me, remote already in hand as he flicked through the channels. We’d been in Solis Quarter for six days . . . Six entire days of scouting, and we had yet to uncover the reason for the corruption rapidly spreading throughout Solis.
We’d spotted a few Remnant on the streets—messages and warnings being spread. But we’d also witnessed the pure devotion of those in Solis Quarter to their gods. The mockery and disregard they had for the Remnant. The level of devotion they gave to their temples and the false gods they worshipped. The way they elevated their king to a god-like status.
With a quick glance down at my laptop screen, I scanned the remainder of the article I’d been reading. “I don’t have time to watch the match today,” I said, a weary sigh escaping my lips as I resumed scanning the data I’d been searching for. “I alreadymade Eleana promise she would record the match at the Guild so I can watch once we’re back from this scouting mission.”
“Or you could just watchwhileworking. It’s called a work-life balance, you know . . . Plus, you never know if this scouting mission will become something more.” He swirled a glass of ambrosia in his hand as he reclined even further, tilting his head to watch the match broadcasting from the Golden Pitch, back home in Aurum Quarter.
“I’m busy,” I stated, not bothering to look up as I pulled up a new Astra Tech database and cross-referenced it with the previous data.
“Come on . . . come on . . . come—” Axel’s voice rose with every word as he jumped up in anticipation.
“For the love of Aeternus!” My own voice rose as I cut a glare toward my second from where I sat across the room. “I—actually,wehave work to do. And I can’t concentrate with the stars-damned match playing.”
“Since when have you been too busy to watch the Guards get their asses beat?”
“Oh, I’m sorry,” I bit out as I began yet another new search through the Astra Tech database. “I didn’t realize it wasshit on each other’s teamday, but since you started it, when was the last time the Water Wingswona match?”
“At least we have a decent outside wielder this year. Not sure if the same can be said for the Guards.”
My eyes narrowed as I glanced up from the screen briefly, flickering between Axel’s shit-eating grin and the score displayed on the TV that read 3-0, in the Guard’sfavor.
“Just watch the remainder of the match. We can finish the research after and still have time to sneak into the Solis Court before we need to report to Elion.”
“No.” My voice was firm as I stared at the screen before me.
“Okay . . .” Axel’s voice grated on my nerves as he spoke. “If you don’t want to watch the match, then do you at least want todiscuss the starbound mark that appeared on your wrist? It’s been days since it first appeared. I know you have to be able to feel her emotions through the bond by now.”
My jaw ticked, teeth clenching as my gaze flicked up toward the idiotic male who sat there grinning like he just won a fight.
“No, I do not want to discuss the bond.”
