Chapter 33
With the morning encounter she had had with Nuriel still vividly fresh on her mind, Flame toured the halls of the Triecan.
The angel had spent the entire day with her. Not leaving her sight even once. She was grateful for his concern about her, but she had insisted on being left alone for a while. He had things to tend to no doubt. And she did not want him to spend the whole day trailing after her to ensure that she was fine.
It was a surprise that he had respected her wishes and let her be. She looked down at the lovely crimson gown she was wearing. And she could not help but recall how he had stared at her when she walked out of the room fully dressed.
" You look highly enchanting.. " was what he had said. And she had blushed like the weak idiot that she was. But now was not the time to be thinking of him. He had left her alone but she was sure it wouldn't be for long. And she could not waste her entire time simply thinking of him. She passed a few staff members who stood and bowed while she passed. Rewarding them with a smile she went ahead and stepped into a very nicely lit room. She was on the first level of the house. And the room she was currently in had floor to ceiling windows that overlooked the back of the house. The sun illuminated the entire space, and the view from there was spectacular. She walked towards one of the windows and looked out.
From the distance stood high mountains. The tops were very clear. It felt as if she were standing outside. But she limited her visual exploration to what she assumed was the back yard. Trees lined most of the space. And flowers that stole her breath. She could hear the sound of running water and she assumed it was a stream. Or perhaps a fountain. Either way the sound was relaxing. There was also a clearing admist the trees. And on it was a construction of sorts.
It looked like a gazzibo. But she couldn't be sure. So she narrowed her eyes and concentrated on it.
Then a new figure appeared out of nowhere and clouded her vision. She gasped in fright as she stumbled back. Her hand on her speeding heart. And looking back up she shook her head.
" Kael! "
He stood on the other side of the window, smiling broadly. He said something but she couldn't hear him through the glass. So she gestured for him to wait there as she walked out of the room and exited the house.
It still felt strange to be so high up. But she ignored the feeling and made her way to the back of the house. Walking on the pebbled path that led around the massive mansion. She was glad that Kael was still around. She didn't know why but he made it so easy to like him. She had only met him once but she always missed his company. There was just a positive energy around him that she loved.
" Where are you off to Flame? "
She stopped and turned around. It was Kael, he was hovering above her again with that heartbreaking smile he always wore. The sun did wonders to him. He was the type of being that would have made girls back on earth pass out. It just didn't seem real to be that good looking.
" If you keep complementing me like that I will be forced to believe that you fancy me more than you ought to, " he said in that honeyed voice that seemed to make the birds stop singing. It was no joke, the moment he talked everything seemed to have gone quiet. As if to listen specifically to him.
" I thought I warned you against reading my mind. "
" And I thought I told you that I could not help it. It is entirely your fault though, your thoughts are as clear as I am amazing. "
Flame rolled her eyes. Then she recalled the last encounter they had had.
" Can you come down for a sec? "
He shrugged and did as asked. His hands locked behind him and a look of anticipation on his lovely face. His hair was so thick, and the golden streaks added to his heavenly appeal. Flame took one step forward, intent on jokingly hitting him as pay back. But then he took several steps back and rose into the air again. That spark of mischief clear in his gold eyes.
" Nice try Flame. How quickly you forget, next time you want to hit me try not thinking about it first . "
She grunted and rolled her eyes. Kael laughed at her reaction.
" Hey, what's that construction at the back? "
" Oh, that's the fort I told you about the other day. Remember? "
She did recall him saying something about that. And he had also promised to introduce her to his best friend whose name she could not quite recall.
" It's Phelan, " he offered. Guess she would just have to get used to him invading her personal thoughts.
" Oh, yeah. Are you still building it? "
" We are. Phelan and I were just finishing up. You actually happen to be in luck, he's over there now. Come along, I'll introduce you. "
With nothing else to do, she followed behind him. He landed on his feet and she took the chance to hit the back of his head. He overreacted, saying that she had messed up his hair which had taken hours to comb right.
" Oh, and just so you know, no matter what, I am still the heartthrob of this kingdom. "
" And why exactly are you telling me this? "
He stood and looked back at her, his wide wings now spread, were obstructing her vision of everything that was behind him. Including the fort itself that was now a few feet away.
" Because, he is the only one capable of taking the attention away from me, " she shook her head and walked around him. Looking up at the fort that had captivated her from a far.
It was a circular construction. Made of wood painted a pristine white. And she could see windows that resembled those she had seen in a cathedral. They went to the entrance, and she climbed the three steps that led inside. There was no door and she figured that it was meant to be that way. Overall the fort was really nice. And the inside of it was even better. It was like walking into a green house. Not at all what she had expected.
Plants filled most of the space, stems that crawled the walls all the way up to the roof, and on them were flowers in lovely shades. She looked up and mouthed the word 'wow'. Next to one of the windows was a gold couch set against the wall. And there was also a shelf beside it filled with books. But none of those things caught her attention as much as he did.
Phelan she assumed.
He had his back to them. As if he had not heard them enter. And at the moment he was down on one knee at the far end, doing some sort of carpentry. And she understood what Kael had meant about him being capable of taking the attention away from him. Something she had thought impossible. But clearly it was not.
Wings of midnight blue were neatly folded on his back. And on them were what appeared to be stars. Or silver spots that just happened to be in the shape of stars. And though they were not as long or as wide as Kael's, they truly were phenomenal in their own way. Kael gestured for Flame to keep quiet, then he sneaked up on Phelan in an attempt to scare him.
But Phelan stood immediately, and Flame watched in shock as he retrieved two throwing stars from the belt of his leather armor . Holding them in both hands as if about to strike at the golden angel.
" Hey! Easy there, " Kael put his hands up in a gesture of peace. And Phelan sighed as he put the weapons back.
" For bloody sake Kael! I almost chopped you up. "
" Which is why I keep telling you to ease up on the throwing stars. They are for war, not your personal enjoyment. "
" How did you know that I would enjoy chopping you up? "
Flame listened as the two engaged in their little banter. Still standing inside the doorway. But even at that distance she could tell that the two were just joking around with each other.
" Oh, " Phelan finally noticed her. And he turned to Kael with a scolding look. As if silently asking why he had not informed her of her presence.
" Um.. hi there, " she waved at him and Phelan scratched his head smiling and looking around the room. Then he walked over to her and she saw more distinguishing things about him that were a real eye turner.
For instance, there was the fact that instead of pupils, he had silver stars in his eyes. Making them wildly luminous and as mesmerizing as sunrise. And the thick lashes that fringed them were also tipped with silver. He took her hand, and she felt.... free. It was very odd. Like she wanted to go out and jump off a roof because she lacked even a single care about precautions.
And when he kissed her knuckle, that feeling intensified.
" I think it would be advisable for you to let go of her hand Phelan, " Kael said as he stepped closer. His voice though calm, sounded like a warning. And Phelan did as asked.