Page 25 of Wings of Valor (Silver City University #4)

I t’s been days, and still the council refuses to act.

Hayliel is going out of her mind. We all are. Her parents are counting on us. Zeke, too. And don’t get me wrong, I’m all for being smart with our plan this time. Honestly, it’s something we’ve lacked in the past, so I can certainly see the benefit—but this is too much.

Other than our first brief chat, I haven’t heard from Raduriel.

Castiel has been extra cagey since returning from SCU and refuses to tell us what happened, but I get the sense that whatever it is, it isn’t good news.

He’s thrown himself into research with Theo, but they haven’t found anything concrete, despite following a few hopeful leads.

They’ve narrowed it down to the cliffs or the desert, both of which are far too large an area.

Mira’s lucked out at the guild, though she confirmed there’s a strange vibe there, not that we can do anything with a vibe check.

Dina is back at school but her father continues to track her movements.

Most of her communication happens through Mira, who passed along a devastating piece of news.

Uriel is back, teaching as if he isn’t consorting with the enemy.

It pisses me off.

The only one of us who’s truly succeeded in their goal is Hayliel.

She’s imbued an impressive number of blades—more than half of the entire supply at the sanctuary.

I’ve watched her every chance I’ve had. The way she imbues so effortlessly boggles my mind.

Every day, she grows more and more into her abilities.

She’s used this time to test out her endurance and find out just how much power she can use before it’s depleted.

It’s safe to say my sunshine has one hell of a deep well.

Would be nice if she could fucking use it on more than just weapons. Instead, we sit around while angels talk and stew. Half the time they don’t even let us in the council room. Remiel, Mikhael, and Shubael have all apologized, spouting some political bullshit for why we aren’t allowed to join.

We’re all at our wits end.

At least we have an in with Azrael and Kirach, but they aren’t always in the meetings, either.

The lack of progress is really starting to irritate us.

I can see it now in the way Hayliel imbues.

Theo and I watch as she shoves her power into weapon after weapon, never once breaking a sweat.

Part of me wonders if the Archangels are doing this on purpose.

Getting her riled up and frustrated so she can imbue more for them. At this point, it wouldn’t surprise me.

What does surprise me, however, is the knock on the door that arrives as Hayliel is finishing up with her last blade. If it were one of the Archangels, they wouldn’t knock. Neither would our friends, so who could it be?

“What now?” I grumble as I head toward the door.

“Optimism, Raph,” Theo says with a wink. He’s my best friend, but damn, he sure knows how to get under my skin. It’s not his fault, though. He’s only trying to keep our spirits up.

Trying and failing … but still trying.

I open the door and stare into a pair of familiar eyes.

“Rad?” I whisper, surprised to find him here. Briathos stands behind him, offering me a nod.

“Good to see you, brother,” Rad says, peering over my shoulder.

I break free of my stupor, grab the pair of them, and pull them inside. “What the hell are you doing here?”

“Holy shit. Even the guild doesn’t have this many sunblades,” Briathos says in awe.

Raduriel isn’t distracted by the blades. He looks confused, and for some reason that only pisses me off more. “You needed me, so I came.”

“I needed information—information you could’ve given me telepathically. But of course, you had to fucking show up. Hoping for center stage, I bet.” Rage bubbles inside me. I do my best to contain it, but with everything else happening, I feel like I could blow any second.

“No. I just wanted to help.”

How can someone so smart be so completely clueless?

“Well, let’s hope no one saw you gallivanting around, or else we’re screwed. They sidelined us, and if they find out we’re working our own angle, they’ll put an end to it.”

“Raphael,” Hayliel says gently, coming toward me while Theo makes his way toward my brother and his friend. I’m vibrating with energy and more anger than I can even understand. I feel foolish, but I can’t stop it.

Hayliel’s soft hands skim up my chest to cup my face. “Hey,” she soothes, rubbing her thumbs across my cheeks and forcing me to meet her gaze. “Breathe with me, baby.”

Part of me wants to slap her hands away and bolt, but that would be irrational.

I breathe in and out, doing my best to calm down.

Fucking hell. My brother gets under my skin like no one else.

I should probably go to therapy and deal with this cloud of overshadowing doubt whenever he’s around, because I can’t fucking live like this.

Hayliel shouldn’t have to deal with me in this state.

When I’ve come down enough to be rational, I place a kiss on Hayliel’s forehead. “Thanks, sunshine.”

“I got you,” she whispers back.

“Did anyone see you come in?” I finally ask my brother.

“Just the guards.” Before I get the chance to chew him out again, Rad adds, “And all I told them was that I’d found out my brother was here and wanted to make sure he was alright. We can play up that angle to the Archangels if they ask questions.”

Briathos steps into my line of sight. “The information we have, it’s dangerous, Raphael. Your brother and I only wanted to offer our help, so you and your friends don’t have to face it alone.”

“Or take over,” I mutter, earning a sharp glance from Hayliel and Theo.

Shit, shit, shit. I’m mucking this all up.

“No,” Rad says. “We’ll stay behind if that’s what you want. But we’re here for you if you need us.”

I hear his words, but I don’t believe them. When has my brother ever sat on the sidelines? Never. How else would he get all the clout and praise from our parents? Ignoring his last statement, I say, “Well? Care to share with the class? Tell us what you know.”

“Please,” Hayliel and Theo tack on as one, making me feel like an even bigger asshole.

“It’s not good,” Briathos begins, but Rad cuts him off.

“Wait. Why are you guys hanging out in a room filed with sunblades?”

Seriously? That’s what he’s worried about? “Not important, Rad.”

“Right, okay. As Briathos says, it’s not good. It turns out that one of the Archangels, Auriel, is a traitor. There’s been a lot of discussion recently about what the best course of action is to take him and the demons he’s working with down.”

Briathos nods. “It’s being kept very tight-lipped. I don’t think they know who to trust at the moment, so not even the guild is fully aware. I guess someone there was aware of Auriel’s plan and even helped him a few times.”

So far, they aren’t giving us anything we don’t already know. A tingle of satisfaction works its way through me. For once, I know more than the legend that is my brother—take that Mom and Dad.

Still, I ask, “If it’s so tight-lipped, how do you know all this?”

“We called in a few favors.” When I don’t reply, Rad goes on.

“They’re finalizing a plan to trap Auriel and put an end to this mess once and for all.

Apparently, the Archangels have the means to end him, should it come to that.

Which is wild, because if you ask me, there’s no other way out of this if he truly is responsible for what they’re saying.

Now this last piece is only a rumor, but apparently Remiel said the possibility of reform is there.

Slim, but there. They’re hoping to avoid the death route. ”

Hayliel rolls her eyes, fists clenched. “So their focus is on Auriel. What a fucking joke.”

Shit. The information hadn’t clicked in my mind.

I was too focused on the fact that I’d one-upped my brother, and I wasn’t really listening to what he and Briathos were saying.

But this is bullshit! The lives of Zeke and Hayliel’s parents aren’t a game.

They were supposed to be helping us get them back.

Theo takes Hayliel’s fisted hand in his, gently prying until he can entwine his fingers with hers.

“Clearly we’re missing something. Why are you all so pissed? Hell, why are you even here at the sanctuary?” Raduriel asks, staring straight at me.

“You know, I’m asking myself the same question.

Why are we even fucking here?” These walls suddenly feel like a cage, keeping us trapped until we can be useful.

Is that what they’re doing? Using Hayliel to make weapons.

Using Hayliel to take down Auriel. All while not doing a damn thing for the angels we love.

Hayliel’s soft voice floats into my head. I think we should tell them what’s really going on.

I don’t trust them , I push back. In truth, I just don’t trust Raduriel not to fuck it up and make everything about him.

He’s here, Raph , Theo says through our mental connection. He and Briathos are here, offering support, and Rad even agreed he’d stay out of it if that’s what you wanted.

Your brother is making an effort, just like he did when we met with him at your parents’ house. I think we should do the same. And we’re running out of options, Hayliel says, giving me a pleading look that dissolves my reluctance.

Okay.

I glance between my brother and his friend, then say, “We’re pissed because there are angels who mean a lot to us that have fallen behind enemy lines.

The Archangels and their council were supposed to be planning how to get them back safely instead of focusing all of their attention on fucking Auriel. ”

“Zeke…” Briathos says. “At the guild, they’ve given four different stories about why he hasn’t been around. He’s been taken, hasn’t he?”

“Yes,” Hayliel whispers. “My parents, too.”

“Well, since we can’t rely on the Archangels or their council for help, it looks like we’re going to have to do this ourselves,” I say, fully prepared to go against the rulers of Silver City.

Their priority might be Auriel, but ours lies with the family that was taken from us. Auriel can rot for all I care.

Rad runs a hand through his hair and turns to me, exasperated. “If you were in trouble, why didn’t you come to me? I’m on your side here, Raph. I always have been.”

The laugh that bubbles up from my throat is loud and unstoppable. “That’s rich, coming from the brother whose shadow I’ve been sitting in for years. Your sole focus is on making Mom and Dad happy, and you stopped caring about me a long time ago.”

“Raphael—”

“No. I used to look up to you. I wanted to grow up and be just like my big brother. But then nothing I ever did was good enough. Not compared to the perfect Raduriel. You reveled in our parents’ love and support while never once sticking up for me or protecting me like you promised you would.

Gods, it bothered me for so fucking long.

It still does. But you know what I’ve learned recently, dear brother?

I’m enough all on my own. And just because I’m not the perfect son our parents want me to be doesn’t make me a disappointment.

Maybe to them. Maybe even to you. But not to me.

I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished and the angel I am.

I don’t need our parents’ approval—or yours—anymore. ”

My heart pounds so hard in my chest, I swear it must be visible through my shirt.

Raduriel says nothing. He looks pale and somehow both shocked and appalled.

Hayliel moves closer, tucking herself beneath my arm and giving me some much-needed support.

I’m so proud of you, Raph , she says through our connection and I relax against her, feeling the heaviness of this confrontation ease.

“I … Raph,” Rad finally croaks. “That was never my intention. I wanted to save you from their expectations, not drag you down.”

A snort escapes me, sounding loud in the quiet room. “Oh, really? Saving me from their expectations meant always doing what they tell you to, never messing up, and constantly bragging about it every chance you got?”

“Well, yes, actually. I thought if I did everything exactly as they asked, when they asked, they’d let you live your life without the weight of their expectations. Because it is a weight, Raphael.”

“I fucking know!”

“I’m sorry.” Rad reaches out a hand to me but thinks better of it and pulls back. “I’m sorry I failed you. I only ever had good intentions.”

“Well, intention means shit if you don’t back it up with action, and you never once stood up for me.

Not when Mom compared my friends to yours.

Not when she implied I was an idiot because my grades weren’t as perfect as yours, or that I was a lazy piece of shit for not having a billion extracurriculars.

Silence is a fucking choice, Rad. And it’s the only one I’ve gotten from you in a really long time. ”

Briathos clears his throat, and fuck, I forgot he was even here.

“We both failed you. I should have spoken up, too. I’m sorry.”

I watch in awe as a tear tracks down my brother’s cheek. When was the last time I saw him cry?

“I’ll do better, Raph. I promise. I’m sorry it ever got this bad.

All I wanted was for you to have a normal life out from under their thumb, not become the problem myself.

Can we start over? I want to help you get your friends back, even if it’s from the shadows.

” His voice is pleading. “This will be on your terms.”

I assess my brother, looking for any signs of bullshit, but I don’t see any. Even though I just drug up all these old hurts, I think I might actually believe him.

Turning to Hayliel, I’m about to ask her what she thinks when I catch the look on her face. “Hayliel, what—”

“Raph,” she whispers. “I know where they are.”