Page 26 of Wings of Valor (Silver City University #4)

“ B reathe with me, baby.”

He resists at first but then sucks in a breath. I watch Raphael calm down before me like magic.

He kisses my forehead, and I cherish the moment.

“Thanks, sunshine.”

“I got you.” And I do. Whatever he wants to do about his brother showing up here, I’ll support him.

As shitty as it is that Rad and Briathos have shown up, it’s not exactly a bad thing.

Not for our cause, and maybe, depending how the rest of this interaction goes, maybe not for Raphael either.

Though I’m not sure he’ll see it that way.

He needs to work out this shit with his brother before it festers into something too toxic to escape from.

I watch the conversation unfold and Raphael’s anger rise once more. Theo and I only step in a few times when the progress of information is at a standstill, but the moment they mention the Archangels’ plan to trap Auriel, I lose all semblance of cool.

“So their focus is on Auriel. What a fucking joke.” Blood boils in my veins as I think about the bullshit they’ve been feeding us. Theo takes my clenched fist and gently tugs until I let go. It doesn’t fix everything, but his presence helps.

A little.

Raduriel asks why we’re at the sanctuary, and I almost want to laugh. Good fucking question, buddy. Can we tell them why I’m here? That I’m practically a pawn being used to make weapons all while being lied to? What would they do?

I push my thoughts through the joined mental pathways with Raphael and Theo. I think we should tell them what’s really going on.

Raphael responds immediately. I don’t trust them.

He’s here, Raph , Theo says. 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.

I give him a look that I hope portrays I’m not saying we need to forget everything his brother has done, but we can meet him halfway in this.

And we really need more allies we can trust.

He responds with a single word. Okay.

Raphael explains why we’re upset without really explaining, but somehow Briathos puts the pieces together.

“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,” I whisper. “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,” Raph says, and I nod.

Here I’ve been, imbuing weapons for them because I thought they were taking care of the situation, but all they’re doing is giving the bad guy more time to do bad guy shit. What is it with all these Archangels letting me down?

My thoughts are interrupted by Raphael’s raised voice as he blows up at his brother.

It’s maybe not the perfect time to put all their crap on the table, but it’s long overdue.

These two guys should have sat down and had a conversation a long ass time ago.

I’m glad I can be here to offer him support now.

I press my body to his, wrapping an arm around his waist and letting him feel my presence.

I’m so proud of you, Raph. It makes my heart burst knowing that he’s finally believing in himself and stepping out of his brother’s shadow.

Knowing your worth isn’t easy, I can attest to that.

Hell, I’m still trying to figure mine out.

It’s a path lined with land mines of self-doubt, but from what I’ve learned about myself so far, and from what others have helped me realize, it’s worth it.

Regardless of what blows up in our faces, we have to just keep getting up. Keep doing it afraid. It’ll make victory so much sweeter.

I do my best to pay attention to the important conversation in front of me, but a mental tug pulls my thoughts.

Mom.

I go still as her words filter through my mind, her voice raw but strong. Haylie-bear, can you hear me?

Mom! Where are you? Is everyone safe? I almost can’t believe this is real, but it’s her voice. The one I grew up with reassuring me through everything.

We don’t have long to talk. Zeke and your dad are … me reach you. Your boyfriend found out where … Underground between the desert and the Godless Mountain. There’s a bomb with … You … to get everyone to safety.

Her words keep cutting off, but the ones I manage to hear make me smile. Dad and Zeke are alive. They’re somewhere underground between the desert and the Godless Mountain. And there’s a bomb about to go off somewhere. Is it where they are?

We’ll come. I’m going to save you, Mom. It’s so fucking good to hear your voice.

I love…

Her words cut off as the connection drops. No! I wanted to tell her how proud I am of her and how much I love them. But I guess I’ll just have to do so in person.

Raphael turns to me with a question in his eyes. Whatever he was going to ask disappears when he sees the look on my face. “Hayliel, what—”

“Raph,” I whisper. “I know where they are.”

It’s like my brain is on autopilot. I don’t wait to fill the others in, I just head full speed toward the council room, where I’ll demand backup from the rulers of Silver City if I have to. It’s time they take action and do what they promised they would from the start.

Theo and Raduriel keep up with my frantic pace and walk beside me. Raphael is only a few steps behind with Briathos. They’re talking, but in my panicky state, I only catch snippets.

“Things haven’t been so great for your brother, either. He’s been under your parents’ thumb …”

There’s a pause, and I don’t hear what Raphael says in response, but I can guess.

“I’m not trying to make this into a ‘whose trauma is bigger’ competition. I just want you to understand that it hasn’t been easy on either side.”

Maybe not the best time for Briathos to have this conversation, but I guess sometimes the best moment never comes and we have to take what we can get. Even if Rad had it rough, they’re brothers. They’re supposed to stick together. Maybe if they’d handled it as a team, things would be different.

The distance to the council chambers isn’t long, but it feels like an eternity passes by the time we reach the large door. I grab the handle, but Rad tries to stop me from barging in and goes off about hierarchy and needing an invitation.

I’m about to bite his head off when Raphael interrupts.

“Rad, don’t. Let her do this her way.”

It’s more than obvious how much Raduriel wants to disagree, but he stares a moment longer at his brother and finally nods, stepping back.

I push through the door and cause a bit of an uproar inside.

“What is the meaning of this?” a council member says, looking from the Archangels to the group and back again.

Remiel, with his visions and glimpses of the future, doesn’t look surprised at all.

Mikhael, ever the peacemaker, says, “It’s fine, Thaddeus. Hayliel, we’re so glad to see you. What brings you here?”

“I know where Auriel is keeping Zeke and my parents, and I know that he’s planning something big.”

After a moment of silence, Shubael replies, “Please sit and tell us everything you know.”

Raph, Theo, and the others step forward, but I don’t budge. “I want assurances you won’t try to stop me or my friends from joining the rescue mission. And before you say anything, please know I’d prefer we do it together, but I’m fully prepared to take on this task without your help.”