33
LACK ROS
ERIK
My eyes fly back and forth between the two males. Brothers. Helena’s uncles. The two men are the dictionary definition of alpha males. Unadulterated power ripples off of them in waves. Though they are brothers, they look vastly different.
The Daemon King is the embodiment of death itself. His eyes flash a dangerous green as shadows swirl around him, removing Helena from view. His black crown seems more prominent as his wings snap behind him. He is so rigid, like a statue.
“What are you doing here, Raphael?” the Daemon King asks. Aidoneus looks like a snake ready to strike. He draws Phaedra nearer to him, almost sliding her body under his. Soon, his shadows cover both women.
Interesting.
The Angel’s slanted eyes take on an innocent look as he presses a shimmering, golden hand to his chest. “Who, me? Can’t I help my dear older brother out in his time of need?”
“Cut to the chase, Raphael. No one has the time or energy for your crap right now.”
The King of the Angels sighs. “You used to be so much fun. Fine,” he snaps his fingers, brushing back a lock of silver-white hair as he gestures to a fierce-looking Angel standing behind him. “Gabriel. Turn off the damned neuro emitter and get a healer here, asap. I need to have a discussion with my brother.”
Gabriel nods once, his pale blue wings snapping as he vaults into the air. “Yes, sir.”
No one speaks until the Angel is out of sight. The second his pale blue wings disappear from view, the Daemon King turns his gaze back to his brother. Black shadows leak from his pores as his voice deepens.
“Raphael? Why are you here?” Aidoneus growls. The words are brimming with barely contained violence.
Tension radiates through the air as the King of Angels snaps his head towards his brother. A lazy grin spreads on his face as he straightens his impeccable clothing. How the man looks that good after flying, I’ll never know.
“Relax, Aidy,” the Angel snickers. “I’m not here to hurt anyone,” he laughs. “I just heard you had a special guest, and I wanted to see her for myself.”
The Daemon King’s shoulders tense at his brother’s words, but he doesn’t move. The air stands still as the two kings stare at each other. Aidoneus’ arms are still wrapped around Phaedra as he raises a brow. He has pulled his shadows back enough that the females are visible once more. He snarls, “Don’t call me ‘Aidy.’”
Raphael laughs. “Still bothered by the nickname? Why is that? Do you have some repressed issues about our childhood?”
Shadows ripple through the air as the black-winged Daemon lays Phaedra on the ground before pushing himself to his feet. Helena begins to inch closer to me, but we keep our eyes on the Daemon King. His nostrils flare. “We aren’t talking about me right now, Raphael. I want to know why you’re here. Inmycity. Inmydomain,” his voice thunders. “You want me to believe you just happened to hear about our niece’s arrival and decided to show up after disappearing to your Angelic lair for an entire century?”
Raphael shrugs. “Believe what you want. I have a question for you, though. Why would Phelix hide our niece from us? Is she hiding something special beneath that long hair of hers?”
He narrows his slanted eyes as he raises a hand as though to touch Helena. Instinctively, I shove her behind me.
“You don’t touch her,” I say. My voice is so low I don’t recognize myself.
Raphael laughs. The sound is golden and melodic and tinged with deep echoes of violence and pain. “Oh, look. Isn’t this sweet?” Raphael gestures towards me with a golden finger, and I fight the urge to recoil. “Our niece has found herself ahumanprotector.”
The Daemon King snarls as shadows flickerthroughhis eyes. “This human just took down some of our brother’s so-called Elite, so you should show him some respect. Not only that, but he is our niece’s chosen partner.”
Chosen partner.
The words echo as I tilt my head towards the Dameon King, who has unexpectedly defended me.
“Thank you,” I dip my head. Helena is pushing against my arms, but I move with her whenever she tries to come out from behind me. Something about the King of the Angels is off, and I don’t want her anywhere near him.
“Don’t thank me,” Aidoneus says as he shoves past me. His black, leathery wings brush against my chest, and I tense. “Just keep her safe.”
“Yes, sir. I—”
Just then, sirens begin to wail around us once more.
At that exact moment, the DaePolice suddenly start moving once again. Their cries of alarm rise through the air as a massive bang rattles through the square. I stumble backward, my body slamming into Helena’s. Both of us go tumbling to the ground.