Chapter 42
" Haven't you heard? " Kalen asked. Aziel shook his head and the others who also had no idea of what had occurred grew attentive.
Meanwhile Flame was still under the compulsion of Rehans wings. Her fingers itched to reach out. Regardless of what Drexel had told her. At the moment all those thoughts were long gone. There was nothing else in her mind apart from reaching out and stroking the now jade green feathers.
She had not even looked around to see who else was in there. To study the angels she had not yet met. All her focus was on Rehan. Him and his compelling wings. She was sure that if she listened closely enough, she could hear them whisper to her. Urging her to satisfy her urge. Like a soft whisper that was barely audible.
But one that was there nonetheless.
" Well, the female that was killed - "
" Wait! " Rylan cut in suddenly. His voice hoarse. His expression was now cold. Devoid of anything apart from a rage that was so clear, everyone else felt it.
" It was a female that was killed? " he asked. A vein popping up in his neck, his hands now fisted on the tables surface. Onyx brown eyes narrowed in anger, but deep inside, if one were brave enough to look, they would see that it was pain that was rooted right to his very core.
" Unfortunately yes. And not just any female, but Andres' sister. " Kalen explained. The others, now began taking it more seriously, not that they weren't before, but a new amount of stamina and strive had been added onto their mission.
" That fucking bastard! " Rylan growled. Fisting his hand on the table, it cracked at the impact. But not enough to make Flame snap out of her little wing spell.
Rehan was observing her intently. Had been doing so since the second she walked in. And he was planning on his exit strategy. Seeing as to how Nuriels lovely mate was eyeing him.
" Do you mean to say that it was Florence that was murdered? " Kael asked. He was familiar with most, if not all the young and beautiful females of the kingdom. And he had known Florence quite well, she would always come over to bring Andres his lunch. Always wore a smile on her face.
" It was. Andres and the rest of his family are at the preservatory. "Victor said. Already strategizing on how the warriors would carry out the search.
" This has already gotten out of hand, " Nuriel began. Moving closer to Flame and placing a hand on her shoulder. Pressing it, he willed her to stay put since she was on the very verge of reaching out and touching Rehan. And Rehan was on the verge of leaving.
" Which is why right after this we're going to fly over the kingdom and inspect from above. " he completed, and though he was talking to the Council, his attention was on his mate.
" Any news from Bastian yet? " Drexel asked. Concern a clear mask on his otherwise remote features. Eyes of glass looked at Nuriel, impenetrable eyes. Surreal eyes. Eyes that held only worry for his cousin.
" Not yet, but I trust that he'll report back soon. "
That was the longest the raven winged angel had taken on a mission. But he was more than capable of taking care of himself. Not to mention his ability to remain unseen even in the most populated of places.
" And once we find that bloody scumbag... I'm gonna dip him in hot melted steel. So that he may suffer a slow and painful death! " Rylan hoarsely stated.He had always been the crude one. With an uncontrollable temper and a mind forged with single-minded focus. He didn't care about what anyone thought about him. He said what he felt like. Did what he felt like. And he had reason to, one that had to do with the fact that the angel was the largest among the others. And now that Flame had snapped out of her earlier situation, she saw just how large he was.
And his features, though appealing, were too gruff to be termed as the conventional handsome. He was more rough along the edges. And when he was angry, like his state at the moment, he looked terrifying. And she found it not hard, but impossible to picture him smiling.
" I agree. He deserves nothing more than the worst anguish imaginable, " Quillon stated. The others had no argument about that. And Kael suggested that all of them be given a chance to hurt the unfeeling being. He was now slowly roaming the room. And for once, Flame saw him without a joyful look on his face. There wasn't even a trace of it.
" I'll go to the preservatory and offer our condolences to Andres and his family. " Drexel said. Seeing that he would not be able to join them in flight.
" I think I'll do the same, if that's okay with you Sire. I'll meet the rest of you afterwards. " Kalen said.
The kingdom's Herald with the good heart. With the sympathetic spirit and the noble virtues. Nuriel told him it was okay.
" Assure them that we're on this case. I don't want them thinking that we're not doing anything to prevent another casualty. "
To Flame, it was deeply touching how concerned they all were. And listening to Nuriel give orders like that was undeniably sexy. She did however wish that there was something she could do to help. Instead of just staying there all day roaming the empty halls.
" You can wait till we catch the bastard, then we'll give you a turn at hurting him. " Kael said, addressing it to her. She gave him a weak smile and he returned it.
" It's very unfortunate that your Doseth came at such a trying time. " Victor said as he turned to Flame. And when he did, so did the vicious energy that he carried with him. It was like an aura of adrenaline. And it made her feel as if she had been running miles nonstop because of how fast her heart began to pump. The feeling was intimidating to say the least. But she was determined to ignore it as much as she could.
" I don't see it as a misfortune. Whatever the circumstance, I only care that she's finally here. " On those words, she looked up at him. And there was seriousness in his expression. And the words that remained unsaid. Like that he cared for her so much it almost hurt.
" You've turned into quite the romantic, " Barin lightly commented. A very distance sparkling in his eyes. It was like there was no lightening the mood. They could make attempts at doing so, but the weights on both their hearts and their conscience would not let them.
Nuriel gave a weak attempt at a smile.
" And she looks much better while conscious, " Aziel added. Gunmetal blue wings that we're surprisingly uniform. It was hard to tell that they were made up of several layers. And out of all of them, he was more laid back, with a cunning and sleek tongue which most did not trust. Which was why apart from Phelan, he was the only other angel that got along extremely well with Kael. In most ways they were alike. But there was also another side to the angel that would very easily be compared to Rylan's.
Flame now realised that she had become the very center of attention in the room.
" Keep your comments to yourself, lest you frighten her with your odd remarks. " It was a simple statement. But Nuriel razored it with a very stern edge. A warning so to speak.
" It was actually a compliment. " Flame studied Aziel, and he did the same with her. Narrowing those chartreuse eyes as if studying a phenomenon he could not understand.
And she also felt the other pairs of eyes boring into her. Apart from Aziel, there were only three others at the table who she was not familiar with. Victor, Kalen and Rylan.
" Well, since I doubt we'll get another chance any time soon, I'd like to introduce you to Flame, my Doseth. "
She looked around the room. Taking a second to glance at each one seated around the table.
" Um.... hi, " she said.
" I have to admit.... she's smaller than I thought, " Victor said. With no hint of humor. And Flame frowned at him. Her lips parting as if to answer back before recalling where she was and choosing to let it be.
" But she is very appealing to look at. Reminds me of one of those roses planted at the back. " Aziel said before Nuriel brought an end to the conversation. And Flame was only seconds away from smiling like an uneducated fool.
" We'll divide into groups of two. That way we'll be able to cover more land. " He paired himself with Victor. There were only eleven so Zarek chose to go alone. And with him being the fastest, no one disagreed. The task was easy. Nothing that would take too long. But he ordered them all to make sure they were thorough in their search. Time was a resource they were not lucky to be endowed with. Because who knew when another innocent life would be taken. But with the lockdown in place. That was not something they had to worry about.
For now at least. Because they could not make the beings stay locked up in their homes forever.
And now that the meeting had been completed, there was only one thing left for Nuriel to do.
One painstakingly difficult thing.
To say goodbye to Flame and actually fly away.