Chapter 27

A carriage ride was not what Flame had been expecting. She sat next to the wingless angel. Looking out at the greenery which was all she could see on either side of the carriage. Trees and tall green grass. And the occasional lovely flowers that never failed to catch her attention. 

But she still felt like starting a conversation with Drexel. He intrigued her. He was so distinctive that she was sure no other angel she met would give her the same awed impression. 

" Are we almost there? " she asked and he turned to her. Eyes of glass but when she stared at them, there was no reflection. She didn't see herself in them the way she expected to. But they did seem to attract light. For they shone with the heavenly majesty of crystals. 

" Yes. Just a little while longer. " 

He responded with a voice razored with formality. She honestly did not want him to think of her as his ruler. It was absurd. Which was exactly why she wanted Kael around as company. He seemed to see her as an equal. 

" Can I ask you something? "

He turned to her again. His perfectly sculpted jaw line set in a firm line of seriousness. 

" Of course, "

" The other day, when I touched Rehan's wing, he looked..... "

" Shaken? " he offered and she nodded. Weary that maybe she was meddling. But it was something she had found herself thinking about over and over. The same way she wondered why he did not have wings. But she wasn't planning on asking him that. She feared it would be going too far.

" Let's just say that his gift is also his curse, " Drexel answered with a warm smile. An assuring smile. 

But his explanation only made her more confused. And more curious. 

Drexel saw her conflicted features. She was his queen and that meant she had the right to know everything pertaining those she ruled. Plus what he was telling her was no secret to the Council. 

" What do you think of your ability to harness fire? " he asked casually. She wondered where he was going with that question. 

" I hate it. "

He seemed shocked by her reply but made no intention to question it. 

" Okay. Then let's think of it this way, imagine you had the ability to attract every living being to you. That you could captivate them with a single glance. But each time they came to you and dared to touch you, you suffered an agonizing pain. One so unimaginable you couldn't even breathe. "

Flame's eyes widened. Understanding setting in. And she hated that she had asked because it only made her feel bad. 

" Don't worry about it. You didn't know, apart from us no one else does. "

" But why? Shouldn't you inform people so that they wouldn't touch him? " It seemed logical. 

" He does not want anyone else to know. I only told you because you are my queen and I trust your confidentiality. "

" Of course, " it's not like she had anyone to tell. She didn't know anyone there. 

She huffed out a breath and looked ahead just in time to see the footman ran his hand through his hair. And she noted that he had pointed ears. 

" He's not human is he? " she slowly turned to Drexel. He followed her gaze and chuckled. 

" No. There are no humans in Zalian. Or in the entire realm for that matter. "

" Then what is he, like an elf? " She didn't know any other creature that was supposed to have pointy ears. 

" Those don't exist. He's a dwych. "

" A what? "

" Dwych. They are the lowest ranked among the beings. "

She shifted so that she was facing him entirely. He was a large male. Just like the other angels she bad met. Standing over six feet tall with a muscular build. Drexel was also captivated by her to a certain extent. And he could not help but wonder whether all their mates would come from earth. He longed for his. Deep down he did. But he also wished that he would not have to have one. 

For what good was he? An angel who lacked the basic part that actually made him one. He did not however, wish for things to be different. Because he had accepted his fate long ago. He just wished that his mate, wherever and whoever she was would not call to him soon. 

He was not prepared for that. 

Actually, apart from Nuriel, he doubted any of the others were ready for it. 

" So tell me, exactly what kind of beings live here? " Flame cut through his thoughts. If she was going to be trapped there then she might as well learn about her new world. 

Drexel began his explanation. Zalian was made up of five beings. The most powerful being the angels of course. Then after that were the Dreimars. They were stronger than the other three and also made up most of the kingdoms army. Not to mention that they had a longer lifespan and could live for up-to two hundred years. And they could be distinguished from the others by their green eyes. They all had green eyes. 

And after them were the gargoyles. They were normally in charge of guarding the kingdom when the army was away. 

" Gargoyles? Like... stones? " she asked and Drexel laughed. He had a hearty laugh. Short but sweet. 

" Kael was reading everything he could find on earth. He told us that you think of gargoyles as ugly winged statues made of granite and now I assume he was right. "

" Isn't that what they are? "

" Not really, see gargoyles do have the ability to change to stone but that is once they are attached or disturbed by an anemy. Or after they died. Otherwise they look like normal beings. "

Well that was definitely something she had no idea about. Drexel Also told her that they all lived for a total of a hundred years before they died. No more and no less. 

They could not be injured all killed by the lesser beings. Which meant that only angels could end their lives. But otherwise, they all lived knowing when they would die. Flame thought of it as an awful existence but then again, a hundred years was a lot of time.

After that there were the Isors. They did most of the economic work in the kingdom and took great joy from it. They enjoyed working in various fields and had a distinct skin tone. A creamy brown in some or a dark chocolate in others. Though they were not the only ones that liked working. All the beings in the kingdom worked. The Isors just enjoyed it more. 

And lastly were the Dwychs. They preferred to serve. Not because they were forced to but because they wanted to. 

" They make up a great majority of the Triecans staff. "

Flame nodded once he was done. Then she went to ask him why they called it the Triecan but then Drexel announced their arrival. She had not even realised that the carriage had stopped. Being too engrossed in listening to his explanation. She looked out and the scene had changed. And so had the silence. 

Now all she heard were shouts and distant laughter and the sounds of what she assumed were machines of some sort. Not to mention the neighs from the carriages that were passing theirs after each minute. She looked out the small window. It looked like a city from the medieval times. 

The ground was cemented but layered with dust and the buildings which made up the entire left side looked ancient but in a very appealing way. They were not tall. Mostly one or two stories with brick walls. And they had a very old feel to them. She noticed how people seemed to stop what they were doing in order to stare at the carriage she was in. 

No doubt they knew it belonged to the kingdom. 

Drexel got out and held out his hand to help her alight. She took in a deep breath and placed her hand in his. Then she stroked out of the lovely carriage and was met by uncountable eyes studying her with unhidden awe, wonder and curiosity. 

And before she knew what was happening, they all started bowing. One after the other. The ladies dressed either in lovely coloured long dresses or their tunics or plain brown gowns curtsied while the males literary went down on one knee with their heads bowed. 

Flame turned to Drexel to ask him for some kind of direction. 

" They are showing their respect for you. Rumors truly do spread fast in this kingdom. "

Once the beings got something to talk about everyone would know. It must have been the staff or maybe it was just Kael. Out of all the members of the Council he was the one that interacted with the beings more. 

" What should I do? " 

" Nothing. Just tell them to rise and stay by my side, " Drexel answered. Keeping a close hand in his whip in case anyone got too close. It was his duty to protect her and that was exactly what he was planning on doing. No matter who he had to injure. 

Angels were normally kind beings but they were also lethal when they had to be. 

Flame swallowed. Then she diverted her attention to the crowd spread out on the street in front of her. Even little children were bowing. 

" Rise, " she said with as much clarity as she could. And they did just that. That was not how she had expected to be welcomed. And she doubted she would ever get used to it.