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

M orning comes far too soon, and yet it feels like too much time has passed. I want to know how Hayliel is doing, but I don’t dare risk waking her. After yesterday, I can’t imagine she had an easy time falling asleep.

Sitting up in bed, I check my slate. There are a few unread notifications—one from the rune weaver, letting me know she received the deposit I sent her, which unfortunately used up most of my emergency funds.

I don’t dare ask my parents to refill it.

I’ll have to figure something else out to pay off the rest—along with a not-so-subtle reminder to send over the details ASAP.

Fuck. I’ll have to put pressure on the others.

Now, more than ever, we need those protective articles of clothing.

Hayliel’s parents are in jeopardy, and if I know anything about my sunshine, it’s that she won’t rest until they’re safe.

Even though it scares the shit out of me, her big heart is one of the many things I love about her.

The next text is from Raduriel—time-stamped from half an hour ago. Of course he’s awake early on a Saturday.

Raduriel : Mom was looking for you this morning. I covered for you and Hayliel. Just go with it if she calls.

Oh, goodie. Another mess to deal with.

Raphael : How am I supposed to go with it when I don’t know what excuse you gave her?

The moment I hit send , my slate vibrates with an incoming message from none other than my mother.

Part of me doesn’t want to open it. There’s enough shit on my plate right now, so I’m not particularly interested in adding a tongue-lashing to it.

But if Raduriel tried to cover my ass, the least I can do is play along—even if his motives are suspicious. I’ll figure him out later.

Karena : Raduriel explained why you had to leave early.

I wish you’d told me you started working with him and his colleagues.

I’m glad you finally put aside your childish behavior and joined the adult world, Raphael.

Karena : That said, your little friend’s outburst yesterday was awfully uncalled for.

I hope you’ll have a talk with her about manners.

I expect a full apology for her rudeness if you plan to bring her back here.

Karena : Probably best to keep away from the riffraff and focus on your studies.

Good grades don’t come easily to everyone, so I expect you to put in the effort to make up for it.

I drop my slate before I snap it in half.

Fucking bitch. If anyone needs a talking to about manners—it’s her.

As bad as her messages are, though, I imagine it would have been far worse if she’d woken up to find that I’d just disappeared without an acceptable excuse.

I still can’t figure out Raduriel’s motives for helping us.

Nothing about the last twenty-four hours has been easy to digest. I guess I’ll just add this to the list.

Are you up? I ask Theo through our mental connection.

Yup. Heading to the cafeteria now to grab food for everyone at the cave. See you there?

I smile. It’s like you read my mind. Showering first, then I’ll head straight there.

Twenty minutes later, I walk through the cave entrance, barking out a laugh when I see the spread of food Theo brought. He wasn’t kidding when he said he’d grab food for everyone. There’s enough here to feed a small army.

Zeke’s talking with Theo, the pair of them laughing as I approach. “What’s so funny?”

“Theo just asked me what the plan is if Azrael ends up paralyzed by the rune, so now I can’t stop picturing my big shot lieutenant wrapped in vines.”

I smile, imagining the pissed-off expression on his face. “I’ll admit I’d like to see it in action, but somehow I doubt he’d find it as interesting,” I joke. “When is he due in?”

Zeke checks the time on his slate. “He left the Fallen district about five minutes ago, so he should be here any moment—if the wind is kind.”

“We figured it might be best to get the testing part over with before Hayliel arrived, given what she’s been through,” Theo says.

I nod. She doesn’t need to witness it if Azrael proves unworthy. Zeke’s slate pings just as I grab a piece of bacon from the pile.

“He’s at the front gates.” The grumpy house leader looks nervous.

I can understand why, given how strongly he’s advocated for Azrael.

For more reasons than just Hayliel and our plans, I hope he proves true.

None of us need the added disappointment, and even though I don’t always love the guy, I’d rather not witness Zeke losing one of his idols.

“You ready?” I ask Theo. He nods, and the two of us move to stand near the entrance, just in case something goes wrong.

When Zeke walks through the cave a few minutes later, I hold my breath. Azrael follows behind him, his face screwed up in discomfort as the dispel ward makes him want to run far away from here.

The banned rune glows blue, and I finally expel the air from my lungs.

Another ally for our girl. Let’s hope he agrees.

“Theo, Raphael, this is Lieutenant Azrael.”

“Nice to meet you both,” Azrael says to us, then turns back to Zeke. “Want to explain why you’ve brought me to a heavily protected cave with a banned rune at the entrance?”

Zeke rubs the back of his neck. “That’s why you’re here.

And since you’re not tied up and paralyzed right now, it means we can fill you in on everything that’s happened.

” Azrael looks like he wants to speak, but Zeke cuts him off.

“I vouched for you. But with the way things are now, we couldn’t leave anything to chance. I hope you understand.”

“We need your help,” Hayliel says, entering the cave with Mira and Castiel following hot on her heels.

“Happy to see you off the battlefield, Az.” Castiel pats the lieutenant on the back.

“A little warning would have been nice,” he grumbles, which only makes Castiel chuckle.

Theo motions to the trays full of food. “Grab something to eat, and we’ll get started.” He takes Hayliel’s arm, leads her directly to the biggest pile, and helps her put a plate together. She looks exhausted—her eyes rimmed red like she spent all night crying instead of sleeping.

Mira brought a carton of freshly brewed coffee, so I get to pouring one for my girl. Today is going to suck, but the least I can do is help keep her caffeinated.

While we eat, we spill every detail of the past few months to Azrael—even repeating the small bits he already knows—and end with what we discovered last night.

The poor guy looks green by the time we finish.

I can’t imagine this is easy for him. He works for the company that’s supposed to protect angels—the very company made up entirely of the type of angels who are now being targeted.

Azrael’s shocked gaze roams over Hayliel. “A Seraphim. But how? We thought God extinguished them all before he fell.”

“It was a shock to us all. Hopefully you understand why we’ve been so secretive,” Zeke says.

Hayliel sets her plate down. “Is there anything you can do to help me find my parents? I know there’s so much more going on here, but I can’t just leave them. And since these assholes don’t want me giving myself over, I have to find another way.”

I try not to take her words to heart. She must understand why we don’t want her putting herself in danger like that. Not without exhausting every other option first, and even then … I couldn’t bear the thought of losing her to that wicked Archangel.

Azrael’s entire demeanor shifts, allowing the powerful guild lieutenant rise to the surface. “You said there’s a crime scene? Zeke, have you examined it?”

Zeke nods. “Last night, though I didn’t do as thorough a job as I could have, given the situation. The attack we faced before Auriel’s arrival may have also compromised the scene.”

“Take me.” Azrael turns to Hayliel. “I’m not saying I’ll find anything, but I’ll do my best. Is there anything I should know about the two victims?”

I catch Hayliel wince at his words, but it’s Zeke who answers him first.

“They’re two of the nicest angels I’ve ever met. Positive and accepting.”

Hayliel gives a sad smile at his words. “Eternal optimists. Over the past little while, I’ve been working with them on building and strengthening their telepathy.

I reached out all night without luck, so I’m not sure if the distance is too great or if something else is keeping the mental lines closed. ”

A visible shudder runs through her, and it has my heart squeezing.

An odd look flashes across the lieutenant’s face before he says, “If I know anything about Auriel, it’s that he keeps his word.

If he gave you seven days and promised to keep them alive, he won’t harm them.

As for the distance, the guild might have something that could help.

A totem that strengthens connections and allows for a greater range of communication. ”

Hayliel nods. “Oh, that sounds perfect. Thank you.”

“We only have a limited supply at the guild, so it may not pan out, but if I can, I’ll give it to Zeke. Now, we should head to the crime scene as soon as possible. Who’s coming?”