Page 17 of Wings of Valor (Silver City University #4)

T he Archangel Sanctuary is like something out of a movie.

There’s luscious green grass and bushes shaped like angel wings. Flowers and trimmed trees. Every inch is perfectly landscaped. And it all leads up to the high white stone walls and curved gate that’s covered in flourishing green vines with multicolored flowers growing from them.

If it were any other day, the sight of it might make me feel something. Astonishment. Awe. Joy. Instead, I don’t feel much of anything. Only pain. Loss. Fear.

I’m not sure what I expected to find as we finally pass through the large gate, but it wasn’t this.

The inside of their sanctuary is massive.

Most of it appears to be stone or marble, with large columns lining the hallways that lead off in all directions.

Even the railings are made of polished stone as they overlook the open room below.

There is no ceiling above to protect it from the elements.

We take a turn and pass by a hallway with tall windows on all sides, with views of sprawling fields and a stunning garden tucked into the corner.

In the distance, I see the burning embers of a tree.

It stands out amidst the perfection that is the rest of the landscape, and it’s not just me who notices.

“What’s that?” Mira asks.

I want to be pissed that she’s here and Dina isn’t, but I know my best friend has a good reason for not joining us. Besides, it’s not like Mira’s question isn’t a damn good one.

When Remiel answers, his voice betrays his dissatisfaction. “The demon blood tree.”

My gaze darts to Theo as recognition clicks. Didn’t Castiel say that’s where those pouches came from, the one Zeke stole from the guild?

“Why is it burning?” Theo asks, hesitation lining every word.

“There is no proof, but I would guess Auriel is to blame. We believe he came by last night, grabbed what he could, and ran. I doubt he’ll try to come back, but we’re making alterations to our wards, so even if he does, he won’t get far.”

I want to ask why he’d burn the tree down completely if it’s the last one of its kind, but the answer is obvious.

If that tree can be used as a weapon against the demons, he’ll take it from us, just like he tried to do with our remaining sunblades.

Too bad he didn’t account for someone to make new ones.

Me.

We continue on, passing rooms with plush pillows lining the many rows of seating and some with long tables where one might hold important meetings. It makes me think of what Raduriel said he does. Is this the type of room he was in when he learned of war?

What would my parents think of all this? Or Zeke? My chest squeezes at the thought until I have to clutch my middle just to make sure there isn’t an open wound there.

Even though I know it’s pointless, I try to reach them through the tether that connects us mentally.

And just like before, no one answers.

Remiel stops to open a door in a long hallway. We all pile into the room, and I’m surprised to find an empty sitting area. I expected him to take us to the others so we could discuss what’s been going on, so what are we doing here?

He spreads his arms wide, and I notice a few more rooms built off this one. Their doors are shut, so I can’t tell what’s inside. “This is where I’ll leave you to clean up and rest.”

“What? No.” I step forward. “We don’t have time to rest while Zeke and my parents are in danger.”

“I understand your concern, truly, but we must do these things in a certain manner. Wash up and grab a spare change of clothes from one of the bedrooms while I alert the other Archangels.”

At my side, my hands are balled into fists as anger radiates off me. “We don’t have time to waste, Remiel. They can’t afford it. How can you not see that?”

I expect him to be mad at my outburst, but when our eyes lock, I see understanding instead. For some reason, that only pisses me off.

“It is not a waste of time to collect yourself and rest your body. In fact, it would be doing a disservice to them if you don’t. Saving them requires we all be at our best. I’ll call for you once the Archangels and our generals have assembled.”

Remiel doesn’t wait for me to respond—which is probably for the best. Rage is clouding my thoughts enough for me to make poor decisions.

Castiel offers me a sad smile, then follows him out the door while Mira disappears into one of the rooms on either side of the sitting room.

Good. I’m too annoyed with her right now to have a productive conversation.

I know it’s not her fault Zeke was taken.

And I know I agreed she could tell the guys what I was doing when it was too late for them to try to save me, but everything is too fresh to think realistically.

The heartache inside me doesn’t allow for reason.

Raphael and Theo each take one of my hands and lead me into what might just be the most exquisite bathroom I’ve ever seen. A high, vaulted ceiling arches over a large sunken tub in the center of the room. Directly above it is a window that reveals dark clouds gathering in the sky.

Dreary—just like my mood.

“Come here,” Raph says. He’s standing near the tub where hot, steamy water pours from the tap.

I’m still pissed at them for showing up, but I’m too damn exhausted and worn down to fight anymore. Without a word, I do as he says and allow him to pull off my dirty clothes. Even though they’re covered in blood and sweat, Theo folds them into a neat little pile before setting them on the floor.

When I’m completely naked, both of them look me over with a serious gaze. I know they’re looking for open wounds, but I can already tell there are none. All of my pain is internal, anyway.

They help me into the tub without ever breaking the silence. I’m grateful they can sense how much I need this. The quiet. I don’t want to hear their apologies, their worries, or even their reassurances. I just need silence for a while.

I sink into the scalding water, letting out a long breath. Closing my eyes, I do my best to relax and just exist in this moment because even though I hate it, Remiel was right. We need to be at our strongest to get them back.

Raphael and Theo must have put something in the water, because it smells of honeysuckle and jasmine. After ten minutes of soaking, my aching muscles feel more soothed than they have in months.

At the sound of water splashing, I open my eyes to find both Theo and Raphael joining me in the tub.

Theo pulls me forward so Raph can settle behind me.

I relax into Raphael, letting him wrap his arms around my waist and press a kiss just below my ear.

Theo sits across from us and pulls my left arm straight, rubbing a soft sponge along the length of it.

“We’re sorry we made you feel you couldn’t be honest with us,” Raph says, his breath tickling my flesh and causing goosebumps to rise.

“We never wanted to control you. We just wanted you to be safe. But we realize now that how we handled it wasn’t right,” Theo adds, and my heart squeezes a little.

Then, as if they planned this speech in advance, they say in unison, “Can you forgive us?”

I want nothing more than to forgive them, and deep down I know I already do, but the loss I feel right now overshadows everything else.

“I think so,” I tell them honestly. “But right now I’m angry.

Angry at Auriel. At Uriel and the demons.

At Mira for telling you where I was, and at the three of you for showing up.

This is my mess. My responsibility. I went alone because I couldn’t bear to see any of you harmed, and now the worst thing has happened. ”

A sob escapes me as flashes of Zeke’s slumped form being taken race through my mind.

“But that’s just it, sunshine. It’s not only your responsibility. We’re a team. Not just against the evil forces of this world, but here.” Raphael places a hand over my heart. “The four of us are a unit. Against everything. Your enemy? Well, that’s our enemy. Your problems? Also ours.”

A single tear falls down my cheek, leaving a wet path in its wake.

Theo shifts the sponge from my collarbone to my right arm, his touch gentle and so full of love.

“We shouldn’t have tried to take away your choices, but we should also be allowed to decide for ourselves.

About whether it’s worth the risk of helping, of joining this fight.

We all knew the risks of going to that meeting.

And we were all prepared to endure the consequences, as long as you were safe. That alone is worth everything to us.”

Tears flow freely as I realize they’re right. I took away their choice just as they had done to me. And even though I hate that Zeke was taken, I’d be a hypocrite to be mad at anyone; I was making that same sacrifice. Allowing myself to be Auriel’s pawn to save everyone else.

“I’m sorry,” I whisper.

“And so are we, firefly,” Theo says, placing my hand against his chest where I can feel his heart beating.

Behind me, I can feel Raphael’s heart too, and I swear the three of ours are pounding in the same staccato rhythm, fully in sync.

I wish I could feel Zeke’s, too. That thought sours the air around us, tainting it with pain.

“Hey,” Theo says. “We’re going to get him back. Your parents, too. But we do it as a team this time. With all cards on the table and all of us in the know. Deal?”

I nod, feeling the veracity of their words deep in my bones. “Deal.”

“Good.” Raphael places a kiss on my hair. “Now that that’s settled, we just need you to do one more thing for us.”

“Oh?”

I feel Raphael’s smile against the column of my throat. “Lie back. Close your eyes. And let us take care of you.”

I groan, not because I don’t want to do as he says, but because my mind just isn’t in it. Not knowing whether my parents are alright, paired with the fear of what might be happening to Zeke this very second—it’s just too much. It’s all too fucking much.

As if they can read my thoughts, Raphael says, “We want you to think of Zeke. Focus on your love for him and the connection you two have.” He cups my bare pussy beneath the water. “Pretend it’s his hand between your legs.”

“And his mouth on your flesh.” Theo leans forward to pepper kisses up my arm and across my chest, stopping just above my right nipple. “We think he’ll be able to feel it. Your thoughts. Your love. So he knows we won’t stop until he’s back with us.”

Water sloshes over my stomach as my breath turns choppy. “Do you truly think he’ll sense it?”

Raphael teases my clit beneath the water, offering little nips of his teeth against the top of my shoulder. “We do, little sun. This thing we have, the bond we all share with you at the core, it’s greater than anything we’ve ever imagined. Something powerful and undeniable.”

Theo’s lips wrap around my hardened nipple, his tongue flicking it before he sucks gently. Too gently. Still, a moan escapes my throat.

“No amount of distance can dull it,” Theo says. “We’ll only know for sure if we try.”

As they continue to caress my body, I allow myself to think of Zeke. To push my love for him down the tether that links us and hope that, wherever he is, despite whatever he’s enduring, he’ll feel it.

Theo expertly strokes my clit beneath the water until I’m a writhing mess. Bliss takes over, and I whisper Zeke’s name, begging our bond to carry it to him. Before the last shocks of pleasure leave me, the men I love move as one. Their fingers fight for dominance between my legs.

I watch as Raphael shoves two fingers inside me and pulses them against my sweet spot. His movements are slow. Controlled. What is he waiting for?

Then, I feel Theo’s fingers at my entrance, and before I can comprehend what he’s doing, he’s pushing two of them inside to rest against Raph’s.

I feel so fucking full.

Neither of them move their fingers. They allow my body time to stretch and adjust to this foreign feeling, all while lavishing other parts of my body with attention.

Zeke would love watching this. I could see him wanting to fuck my ass while both of them were buried in my pussy. A shiver races over me, and I gasp. Is that even possible?

Suddenly, they begin to move. At first it’s little pulses from Raph and small thrusts from Theo. But with every passing second, it intensifies until I’m not even sure I’m still fully coherent.

I can’t look away from the sight between my legs. Can’t stop thinking of Zeke, wishing he were here to add his fingers to the mix. Then I’d be truly complete. Whole.

Theo pumps faster while Raphael’s fingers tap repeatedly against this button of pleasure that makes my head spin. His thumb presses into my clit and little shots of electricity race through me.

It’s so fucking hot. I’m so hot.

Pressure builds low in my belly, and it feels like I’m going to burst. I try to hold back, unsure of this new sensation.

“Let go, firefly.”

“For Zeke. Let him know what’s waiting for him when he comes home.”

Their words trigger something inside me, and just like that, I snap.

A scream rips from my throat as my pussy flutters around their fingers. They don’t relent. In fact, it seems to have pushed them into some sort of frenzy because they only fuck me harder with their fingers, throwing me headfirst into another mind-boggling orgasm.

When I come down, I barely manage to open my eyes. When did I even close them?

I’m no longer in the tub. Instead, Theo cradles me against his body while Raph dries me off with a fluffy towel.

Exhaustion pulls at my eyelids, making them fall closed again, but I’m aware of being lifted and carried somewhere.

They place me on a soft bed, each taking up a spot on either side of me.

I wish Zeke were here too, cuddled up with us.

Without effort, I find my mental pathway to him and cling to it as sleep finally claims me.