Page 27 of Wings of Valor (Silver City University #4)

A fter hours of discussion, we finally have a fully fledged plan.

Team A distracts while Team B sneaks in to rescue my parents and Zeke.

It took a lot of convincing, since the entire council wanted us to wait.

They said that if we had more time to plan, the odds would be more in our favor—but I’m tired of waiting.

And after all the waiting we’ve already done based on their empty assurances, I refused to budge.

It wasn’t easy, but it helped that Remiel took our side. Awfully handy when someone who sees glimpses of the future agrees with your plan. The longer we hold off, the more likely it is that something terrible will happen to the angels I love, and that just isn’t worth it.

We have a plan. And a backup. Besides, I made enough damn weapons to arm everyone joining the rescue mission, so it’s really only Auriel I’m worried about.

Still. All we could find was an old set of blueprints from an underground bunker in the area. Let’s hope it hasn’t changed too much because it’s a pretty damn big part of our plan.

The council is dismissed, and we all head back to our shared room. We need pizza, and lots of it. Whoever had the foresight to order some in advance has every ounce of my gratitude because it’s waiting for us when we arrive.

“I knew you had balls after you told Karena off at her own dining table, but I didn’t realize they were that big,” Briathos says around a mouthful of pizza.

I raise my slice toward him in salute, a grin spreading across my face as I chew. Damn right.

“Is it really true, then?” Rad asks. “About the whole Seraphim thing?”

“It is.”

“Incredible.” Rad looks at me with a spark of awe in his eyes, then he turns to his brother.

“Please let me be there when you share the news with Mom. I want to see the look on her face when she realizes all the snide, shitty little comments she made about Hayliel growing up Fallen don’t matter because she’s literally an angelic class above. ”

I damn near choke on my pizza at his words, totally not expecting the dig at his mother.

And even though I want to tell him yes, I know this isn’t something for me to decide.

Besides, despite what I might be, my views on angels haven’t changed.

None of us are better or worse. More powerful, maybe.

Harder to kill, sure. But better? No. It’s what’s in our hearts that decides that.

When my eyes lock with Raphael’s, I can tell he already knows what I’m thinking, but he also knows me well enough to understand how badly I want to see her eat her words. “Deal. I’ll even try to snap a keepsake photo.”

The group chuckles before silence falls again as we continue eating, but I can’t stop the thought poking around in the back of my mind. “Briathos, you’re a Fallen. How come she doesn’t look down on you?”

He and Rad share a look before he shrugs and says, “Status.”

“Because you’re in the guild?”

“Well, that, and my Pure father held a rather prominent seat on the council before he retired. I think growing up in a household like that made me fit in a bit more with the Pures, so as long as Karena doesn’t see my wings, she can pretend I’m just like her.”

I roll my eyes. “The more I learn about her, the more I dislike her. No offense,” I add quickly. Not that I think they’ll mind. I know Raphael won’t, at least, but Raduriel is still a mystery.

“Never any offense, sunshine,” Raph says with a kiss to my temple.

Rad offers me a soft smile. “Despite how it may have seemed in the past, I’m not fond of her behavior either. Or Dad’s, for that matter, but that’s a whole other can of worms.”

It’s nice to see this other side of Raphael’s brother, even if there’s still a long way to go before these two siblings move past all their shit. “He seemed sweet, if I ignore the puppet strings tied to his every limb, that is.”

“A puppet he might be, but it’s still a choice he’s making for his own gain,” Raph grumbles from beside me. I squeeze his thigh, offering reassurances. Baby steps. We’re making progress with Rad, and that’s what matters.

“Speaking of puppets,” Briathos says grimly, “I still can’t believe Lieutenant Atlas is a traitor. We worked together a few times, and aside from being a bit of a snob, he seemed perfectly normal.”

“Wait a minute,” Raphael says, turning to Mira. “Your dad’s a lieutenant. Had you ever met Atlas?”

“Probably. I’ve met a lot of guild members over the years,” she says, looking a little pale. Her slate vibrates, and she jumps up, grabbing her plate of pizza. “I’ve got to take this.”

Poor girl. She must be having a hard time keeping all these secrets from her dad. Maybe we should let her bring him into the fold after we get Zeke and my parents back.

Castiel clears his throat, breaking the weird vibes. “Well, we all have a big day ahead of us tomorrow, and I’ve got a few more books to go through before we leave. Rest up—we’ll need it.”

Theo watches him get up, and I know without him having to say a word that he wants to go with him. His thirst for knowledge is sexy as hell. Who am I to stand in his way?

Go , I say through our mental connection, offering him a smile.

You’re too good for me , he replies with a wink before standing and calling out to Castiel. Then, through our shared connection with Raph, Theo adds, Wear our girl out so she can sleep through the night, yeah?

Raphael’s smile turns wicked, and although I’m excited by the idea, I can’t help but be a little distracted. Raduriel watches Raph with an intensity that might scare me if I didn’t know they were brothers.

“We should be going too,” Briathos says, standing.

Raduriel doesn’t follow right away, continuing to stare at Raphael with wonder.

When he finally breaks free of his trance, he rubs the back of his neck.

“I’m really proud of you, Raphael. This bond you share with your friends is like a fairytale.

I’m so glad you have angels like Hayliel and Theo in your corner.

” There’s a beat of silence before he adds, “I’m sorry I haven’t been the big brother you needed, but I’m grateful you’re willing to give me another chance to make it right. ”

He leaves before Raphael can say or do anything. It’s for the best, I think. Raphael can let the words sink in before he decides how to move forward. I, for one, am just happy to see his family finally do right by him—even if it’s years overdue.

Now that everyone else is gone, it’s only Raphael and me left on the couch.

He tucks a strand of hair behind my ear. “Are you tired?”

I shake my head. I really should be exhausted, but my brain won’t shut off.

“Go grab a sweater. I want to take you somewhere.”

Searching his face reveals nothing about where we’re going, so I rush to grab a sweater from our shared room. We still don’t have our own clothes, but there’s enough here for us to get by. I still wonder where the hell they all came from, though.

I’m back in less than a minute, which only makes him laugh. What can I say? My men have a history of taking me to the best places.

We walk hand in hand through the sanctuary. Down hallways and up stairwells, until we reach a beautiful stone balcony that overlooks all of Silver City.

Lights from each district shimmer under the fading light of the sun. This stunning view is my home, and despite the troubles I’ve had growing up in it, I couldn’t imagine living anywhere else.

“Raphael, this is incredible.”

“I wanted you to see it—this gorgeous place we call home. I’ve never seen this much of it at once, and it’s crazy to think there are areas we can’t even see from here.”

“It’s kind of intimidating,” I laugh.

“Maybe. But it’s also proof that, however big our foes might seem, we have an entire city backing us. We have Mikhael, Remiel, and Shubael. The council and the uncorrupted members of the guild. We aren’t alone. How can we be in a place so vast?”

I lean against the balcony, taking it all in with Raphael at my back. “I want to preserve this view so I can always remember just how small I am compared to all this.”

“After we get Zeke back tomorrow, we’ll take a million group photos here.” Raphael wraps his arms around my middle and squeezes. I’m not willing to consider we might fail tomorrow, and it’s nice to see that neither is he.

“Thank you. For bringing me here. For accepting and loving me.”

“Always, sunshine. No matter what.”

Silence falls around us as we linger, taking it all in while the sky grows darker and the city lights below grow brighter and more defined.

“I wonder how often the Archangels come here and just look out at this view at the end of a long day,” I whisper, not expecting an answer.

“I’ve been here twice before, and no one has ever shown up,” Raphael says into my hair. He kisses the shell of my ear, the sensitive skin behind it, and down my neck. “It’s only you and me out here, little sun. Just us above the entire city.”

Tingles race down my spine as he piles my hair in his hands and wraps it around his fist. He tugs gently, causing my head to fall back against his chest.

I close my eyes and he tsks. “Open your eyes, baby. I’m going to fuck you right here—on top of the world. Watch the city sleep while I make you fall apart. Let them hear your bliss.”

His free hand strays lower, dipping beneath the band of my pants where he cups my pussy. A moan escapes me as he glides his fingers over the dampening fabric. He’s not in any rush, but I am.

I want him inside me. Need it more than oxygen.

“Raph, please,” I pant.

“What do you want, little sun? Use your words.”

“Fuck me. Now.”

His deep chuckle travels straight to my clit, heightening my desire. “So demanding. But if you want me inside you, you need to let me in.”

I fumble with my clothes until I finally manage to get my pants and underwear down around my calves. When I hear the jangle of his belt buckle, I can’t hold back the needy, “Yessss!”

He doesn’t waste a single second before sliding inside my already wet pussy and staying there as we both take in the shimmering city.

“I have never been happier than when I’m with you,” Raphael says as he pulls almost all the way out before pressing all the way in again, oh so slowly. “You challenge me to be a better angel, and you make me believe that anything is possible.”

He picks up speed, but it’s still only torture. I need more.

“I love you, sunshine, and I plan to spend the rest of my life making sure you know just how much.” He says the last words on a groan as he finally pumps into me exactly how I want.

Hard. Fast. Rocking my entire being.

Stars dance above us in the growing darkness, and I feel them converging inside me, ready to explode.

Then he stops.

“Nooo,” I whine as my orgasm slips away.

“Just wait, baby,” Raphael says as he withdraws and turns me to face him. He lifts me until I can rest my ass on the railing. As he slides back in, he says, “I want to watch you lose control.”

In this position, I might not get the view of the city below, but what I get is so much better. Raphael—along with Theo and Zeke—are my world. They’re the lights that guide me through the darkness. And when we get Zeke back tomorrow, I’m going to spend hours making sure they all know it.

Raphael’s hands move up my spine while he kisses me. The tips of his fingers reach the sensitive area where my wings are hidden, tucked inside me, and I suck in a sharp breath.

“Raph. Please,” I beg, but that only causes him to chuckle.

Asshole. I just want to get off, and I think I know how to make it happen.

I let my wings free, surprising Raphael.

He stares at them in awe, but I don’t let his reverent gaze distract me.

Instead, I put my hands on the railing and transfer my weight there, lifting my hips off their perch.

My wings beat hard, and the pressure forces me to sink farther down on Raphael’s cock.

“Oh, fuck,” he rasps.

I hook my ankles together at his back so he can’t pull away as I fuck him with every beat of my wings.

“Fuck, little sun,” he says again, his voice cracking. “You’re so fucking perfect.” His fingers find my clit, and all it takes is a few glides of his fingertips to make me tumble over the edge of bliss.

I lose control of my wings as I spiral through oblivion, but Raphael doesn’t stop fucking me.

He pumps into me harder, faster, until I’m plummeting into another orgasm, but this time I take him along with me.

His hot cum fills my pussy, and I swear the stars are shining even brighter now than they were before.

We might be standing over the entire world, but in his arms—or Theo’s or Zeke’s—I have everything I’ll ever need.