Archangel's Heart (Guild Hunter 9)

It appeared everyone was ready for a field trip.

Seeing her and Aodhan, Tasha said, “Magnus has already left. He’ll go overland, meet us in the town.”

Magnus, she remembered, was the vampire Astaad had brought as his escort. The other man had arrived on a glossy black stallion he left to run wild, calling it back with a whistle when he needed a ride. Elena had no idea how they’d got the horse to Morocco—maybe the gorgeous creature was used to planes. “Cristiano?” she asked Tasha.

“He’s going to stay with Hannah—she’s still drinking up the Gallery.”

Seconds later, they all spread their wings in preparation to rise, and then the sky was filled with wings as they took off one by one, careful to give one another space to get lift without the risk of tangling wings.

Elena waited right to the end, until only Aodhan was left. It would make it more difficult for the others in the sky to judge how much effort it took her to achieve a vertical takeoff. As for the Luminata, hopefully, since she stood in the center of the courtyard, they were far enough away not to catch any betraying nuances.

“Ellie, I can give you a boost.”

She shook her head. “No, I’ve decided I want the Luminata to know I won’t be easy prey.” There was a time to play games of stealth, and there was a time to showcase your weapons so your enemies would think thrice over before considering any hostile action.

That the Luminata had done nothing threatening to this point didn’t change the fact that her skin crawled with an awareness of danger every instant she was in this place. Keeping her face expressionless despite her emotions, she spread her wings, gathered her strength, and launched. The familiar strain pulled across her shoulders, made itself felt in her chest, sent sparks of sensation shooting down her back.

But then she was airborne and able to glide on an air current while Aodhan came up to join her. “Go high, Aodhan,” she said to him, her fitted black T-shirt sleek against the wind. “You’ll be better able to keep an eye on things.”

“I can’t protect you if I’m too high.”

“I can hold off anyone in this crew until you’re here to back me up,” she pointed out, patting the crossbow she’d strapped on over her jeans. “I’d rather have eyes above so you can monitor any strange movements.”

So brilliant in the sunshine that it was hard to look at him, Aodhan nodded and then he was winging his way to the clouds, where he turned into a distant shatter of light, an independent piece of the sun.

The others had all scattered across a wide area, each one flying independently while staying with the wider group. When Neha’s general fell back until he was next to Elena, she had to stop herself from checking that her gun remained within easy reach.

25

“Consort,” said the black-haired angel with wings of dark sienna, the color one she’d seen on no other angel.

“General Hiran.”

“I have instructions from General Rhys to ask after Mahiya,” the male said, his expression impassive. “Is she content?”

Thinking back, Elena remembered that Mahiya had spoken warmly of Rhys and his wife. They’d never treated her badly. “Yes,” she answered. “She’s finding her wings.” For the first time in her life, Mahiya was free to be exactly who she wanted to be and she was extraordinary.

“The spymaster treats her well?” Hiran gave a thin smile. “The question is General Rhys’s—he says he knows it is not his right to ask such questions, but Mahiya has no father to watch over her.”

No, her father had been Neha’s consort and a useless waste of space from what Elena knew. “She has a very scary mother.”

“Nivriti loves her, this I do not doubt,” Hiran murmured thoughtfully, “but I think for Neha and Nivriti, they have ever been one another’s most important relationship. Even in hate, they are forever bound.”

It was an unexpected and insightful comment. Mahiya’s mother and Neha were twins, but it wasn’t that bond alone that bound them. It was centuries of emotion, of memory, of betrayal. Elena understood. The same mess of emotions bound her to her father. “Jason and Mahiya are very happy,” she said, knowing she gave away no secrets.

What she didn’t say was that the man known for his impenetrable darkness would do anything for his princess. Anything. It would’ve made the spymaster painfully vulnerable had Mahiya not possessed the exact same vulnerability. If Jason asked, Mahiya would carve out her own heart.

“I’m certain General Rhys will be pleased to hear that,” Hiran said with enough warmth that she knew he respected the other man a great deal. “His heartmate, Brigitte, has sent a gift for Mahiya.” A pause. “With the cool relationship between your consort and my lady, they have felt disloyal in reaching out to Mahiya, but they could not let this opportunity pass. It would be a great favor if you could take their gift to her.”

“I can do that,” Elena said, knowing she’d also go through the gift with a fine-tooth comb. No way in hell would she take anything back to Mahiya that had the potential to hurt her.

“I will get it to you before it is time to leave Lumia.” Hiran inclined his head in a polite good-bye and then he was sweeping away, his wings beating powerfully as he caught up to Valerius.

Xander, meanwhile, was flying far below, skimming close over the golden landscape of this sunlit land, the gold filaments in his wings and the silver on the underside afire as he dipped this way and that with youthful exuberance.