Page 23 of Wings of Valor (Silver City University #4)

I take a single moment to breathe before heading to the library. As I stand outside the door, I wonder if maybe I should have stayed with my grandmother and asked Hayliel to come find this book. But that would make me a coward.

Bracing myself, I push through the door and get hit with memories.

Anytime my parents and I would visit, this is where we all hung out. This is where we played trivia games and told stories. It’s in this very room I found my love of knowledge. And although that joy remains, so does the pain.

For a moment, it feels as if I can still smell my father’s cologne and my mother’s shampoo. But that’s impossible. Dad’s dead and Mom abandoned me.

I find what I’m looking for on a shelf filled with books on demons.

After stuffing the one I came for into my bag without reading it, I search the rest of the titles for anything that could be useful.

How to Take Down Demonic Forces catches my eye, but after flipping through it quickly, I realize it’s all the same shit we already know.

Sunblades and sunfire are the best weapons to defeat them.

Anything else will only incapacitate them for a short while.

When I’m done, I head back to check on Hayliel, grateful when I find they’ve put the book away. From the look on Hayliel’s face, though, I can tell she knows the full story.

Even though we still have time to kill, we don’t stay much longer. I just need to get out of here. Doesn’t matter where, as long as it’s not in this house full of ghosts.

Hayliel doesn’t argue when we leave and head in the direction of the rune weaver. She doesn’t push me to speak, which I’m grateful for, even though I know I’ll have to say something eventually.

It’s too early when we arrive in the yard of the house we’re supposed to pick up our clothes from. I don’t really want to loiter here, but the thought of going back to my grandparents’ house is far worse than sitting outside a stranger’s home.

Might as well get this over with.

“I take it you know?” I ask. “About my mom and dad.”

Hayliel nods. “We don’t have to talk about it. I’m sorry. I wouldn’t have been so eager to see your baby photos if I knew.”

I hate that she’s apologizing as if she’s the one who fucked up. “No. It’s not your fault. I should have told you before. I was just, I don’t know. In my head about it. It’s not something I talk about with anyone.”

“It’s fine, Theo. Seriously. Talk about it or don’t. I’m not going anywhere. You’re stuck with me.”

“So I don’t repulse you?” I ask, the words barely a whisper. “I’d understand if I did. My own mother abandoned me because of what happened—what was my fault.”

Another angel walks by us on the street, and I immediately stiffen. Hayliel pulls me farther into the yard, disappearing behind a row of hedges.

“Absolutely fucking not,” Hayliel says with utter vehemence.

“Just like with Serah, what happened to your dad isn’t your fault.

He was protecting you when that demon attacked, Theo.

That’s what parents do. What happened was awful, but it wasn’t your fault.

And the fact that your mom took off isn’t a reflection of you. It’s a reflection of her.”

A moment of silence falls between us, and I swear I can read everything in her eyes.

The truth of what she’s saying is right there, along with love.

Acceptance. Support. Despite everything she’s learned today, she isn’t running away.

She isn’t blaming me or pulling the plug on this relationship we’ve only just started giving our all to. She’s here. She’s staying.

Hayliel looks around with a smirk and then pushes me back until I’m leaning against a tall fence. There are no words needed between us. Want shines in her eyes, matching the heat in my own. I let her set the pace of the kiss until I can’t hold back anymore.

“Take my dick out, firefly,” I command, my tone gruffer than it’s ever been.

I don’t offer her any assistance while she frees my cock from its cage.

The moment I’m free, I don’t waste a second before lifting her in my arms and spinning us around so it’s her back against the fence.

Tugging up her dress, I push her panties to the side and revel at the slickness coating her pussy already.

When I sink home inside her, I swear I hear bells chiming.

“We only have five minutes, so I’m going to fuck you fast and hard while you play with yourself, okay, baby?”

“Yes,” she moans, using her legs to impale me deeper inside her.

“Oh, fuck,” I groan.

My grip on her hips is punishing, but it only seems to spur her on further. I pound into her, watching her suck two of her fingers before reaching down to play with her clit.

The sight short-circuits my brain. I don’t care that we’re in public, in some random backyard of the housing district. Neither of us tries to keep quiet. We only care about getting each other off.

Her mouth pops open, eyebrows creased, so I know she’s getting close. My balls tighten, a shiver racing down my spine, but I won’t come until she does.

“I’m close,” she pants, moving her fingers faster.

I slam into her harder and harder, giving her everything I have and growl, “Come for me.”

Sparks dance up my spine as I release into her. The walls of her pussy grip onto me, squeezing with her orgasm until it’s almost too much sensation. By the Archangels, I love this woman.

“You’re it for me, firefly,” I tell her, still breathless as I rest my forehead against hers.

“I love you, Theo. No matter what.”

We have one last moment of peace before we separate. I put my jeans back in place while Hayliel fixes her underwear.

“Can I ask you something?”

I glance at Hayliel, my curiosity peaking. “Always.”

“Firefly. Do you call me that because of the blast of sunfire that happened the first time I fried those demons?”

Smiling, I touch her neck and stroke my thumb along her jaw. “No. It has nothing to do with what you are or your special powers. I call you that because of the light inside you. The one that brightens the lives of everyone in your presence.”

A tear slips down her cheek, and I lean forward to kiss it away.

“What you are has never really mattered to me, not like that. But who you are in here,” I place my palm over her heart. “That’s what matters. Hell, you could be a human, a river troll, or even a demon. As long as you’re you, there’s no place I’d rather be than at your side.”

Hayliel grins wide, but before she can say anything, the door to the house behind us opens, and a man steps out in an all-black suit. As we walk around the bushes, his gaze lands on us instantly—like he knew we were there.

Creepy.

He sounds almost bored when he says, “State your name.”

“Theo. Hayliel. Picking up a package for Raphael.”

The emotionless man looks us over twice before reaching inside the house to grab a black duffel bag. He places it on the ground and steps back. “The rune weaver appreciates your business.” Then, without another word, he disappears inside and shuts the door.

“Did you see that?” Hayliel whispers when I return to her side with the bag in my grasp.

“See what?”

“I could have sworn I saw someone with blue hair inside the house.”

“I didn’t, but it might be best not to say that too loud.” With her hand in mine, I tug her away from the house. “Who knows what they’ll do if they know you saw something?”

Hayliel grimaces. “Good point. Let’s get back to the sanctuary.”