Chapter 72

Once he got close enough to Flame, he attempted to reach out and touch her hair. Nuriel held his hand before he managed to do so, a warning glare on his face and his eyes close to glowing.

" What are you doing?" Quillon asked him, then he told him to just sit. 

But then Aziel smirked at flame and said.

" It's the queen she needs, is it not? Then why don't we just give her what she wants? "

Flame couldn't believe the nerve of him,she had actually liked the angel before he made that statement. And she stared at him with unhidden disbelief and anger. How could he suggest they do such a thing? 

" I beg your pardon?" Nuriel almost growled but then Aziel asked them all to calm down. 

" Of course we won't let her get hurt, she'll be the bait. She'll serve to lure Phoenix in and then we could just swoop in and tear her apart. Easy. "

Flame was not comfortable with that idea and she let them know. Nuriel asked her not to worry since they'd never do such a thing.

" You protect her too much! I know that she's your mate but don't forget that she's also a fairy. And unless you LET her out of your constant sight she'll never learn the true depths of her power. " Aziel seriously ground out the words. Directing them at Nuriel.

The entire room went quiet after that. And finally Phelan decided to speak.

" I can't believe I'm saying this but Aziel is right, "

Turning towards Phelan, Aziel muttered a thankyou. A satisfied smile on his face. 

" Flame needs to learn. And she can't do that if you're constantly checking up on her. "

Nuriel thought they were out of their minds.

" The only reason you're saying that is because you still haven't found your mates. I can't help but worry, sometimes the worry is ALL I can feel. "

There was no way they could understand his primal need to protect her.

" This has nothing to do with us not having our mates, " Aziel countered. All the others were well aware of the fact that the angel always ensured he had the last word in an argument. Though most were still wondering how the meeting had actually turned into an argument in the first place.

" Of course it does. It has everything to do with it. And unless you find yours don't even bother to question the care I feel for mine. "

" You're treating her like a fragile youngling. "

" And you're disrespecting your king!"

" She's a bloody fairy for crying out loud! Her kind ended the gods' reign of terror! "

" The entirety thing is new to her, she's in a new world don't you see?"

" That in no way affects her abilities. The downline is that she's powerful and she doesn't even know how much!"

" I forbid you from making any choices involving MY MATE. Wait for yours and then you can do as you please, "

" I don't even WANT one, okay? And that has nothing to do with this! " 

No one talked after that, and it appeared Aziel had succeeded in getting the last word in. Nuriel didn't even know what to say to that, he had suspected as much but actually hearing the angel say so was different. 

" Aziel, I think you ought to apologize..." Rehan began but Aziel cut him off with a wave of his hand.

" Oh spare me Rehan, it's not like you want one either! "

Rehan maintained his silence, partly because he had no desire to argue with the angel and partly because what he said was true. 

" And let's be honest, neither do you, nor you, nor you...You don't either!" Aziel continued, pointing at Drexel, Quillon, Rylan and finally Victor. 

" How is that relevant in this case?" Flame surprised the angel by asking.

" We're here to try and find a way to save the kingdom...not to ponder on your attachment issues. " She added, sounding irritated and pissed because that's exactly what she was. 

Nuriel was hers and she wasn't going to let anyone stress him out any more than he already was. Pointing to his seat, she asked Aziel to go back and sit down. 

Then she straightened her spine and asked them all to please proceed. But deep down she knew some of what Aziel had said was true, about her not really knowing the true depths of her power, she hadn't even been trying to find out. She knew there was more to it, but she was still in denial about it...and she had never actually planned on using it before. 

But all that was going to change, she was going to try her very best to learn all she could about her ability to harness fire and she wasn't going to give anyone else the chance to call her fragile and overprotected. She didn't know how she was going to do it but she would. 

After the meeting ended, all the other angels exited the room one by one. Apart from Kalen who still had news to share. With Rehan gone, Flame finally moved away from Nuriel and sat in one of the seats. The one closest to him. 

" Don't mind Aziel, conflict is engraved in his blood, " Kalen suddenly said and Flame attempted a weak smile. 

" He's right though, I'm not taking the whole fairy thing seriously, " Nuriel was about to speak but she stopped him.

" And I know you love me angel but maybe we ought to consider what they think and, " she groaned.

" I don't even know, " 

Burying her head in her hands she turned towards Kalen. 

" What do you think? Do you believe he's being overprotective?" She inclined her head towards Nuriel who asked her what sort of question that was. 

Kalen moved his true violet eyes between Nuriel and Flame, then he cleared his throat and shrugged. Wanting to say something but fearing to do so. And Nuriel wasn't sure he wanted to hear either. 

" You're incapable of lying, true?" 

Kalen affirmed the fact. His skin crawled and his blood turned hot whenever he attempted to do so. He didn't know why but it had been so since his birth. 

" Tell us then, he is isn't he?" 

Kalen turned to Nuriel who gave him the permission to speak freely. 

" Well, in my personal opinion, he could let you spread your wings a little more. You can't walk to the next room without him worrying and following behind, "

Nuriel and Flame turned towards each other. Then Kalen asked them whether he could give them the news he wanted to do so. They could sort out their personal issues later on. 

" Go ahead, what type of news couldn't you give us in front of the others? "

Kalen secretly took a deep breath and realized that Flame remained unmarked, and that was an issue. So he told them that bit about the blood having to be pure and watched as they turned to each other. 

" And by pure you mean he and I..I mean, as long as we don't.." Flame was unable to phrase the question. 

" As long as you remain unmarked then you'll be walking with a target on your back, " Kalen clarified. 

Nuriel shot her a possessive look, if he had known that all their trouble could be averted by simply marking her then he would have done so ages ago. But then he recalled what had happened the last time he had tried to and it suddenly made sense. Phoenix had interfered with his intentions since she had her own evil plans to ensure succeeded. 

" Well that definitely makes things easier, right?" she asked and Kalen tried to keep a straight face as he nodded. The entire situation uncomfortable for him. Telling his king he had to have sex inorder to stop a god from inevitably waking wasn't something he had ever intended on doing. 

" I shall take my leave now, " he stood and slightly bowed. 

" Thank your brother, your research has proved very useful. "

" I'm just fulfilling my duty. I'll go and assist the others now. "

And with that he left. 

On normal occasions Nuriel would have grabbed Flame's hand and led her to their chambers, but he was extremely cautious at the moment. 

He had witnessed the evil that was Phoenix for himself and he didn't want to put Flame's

life in danger. Because that goddess was more than capable of inflicting harm of his mate despite not being close. 

" So, " Flame began, looking at the silver of Nuriel's eyes from beneath her lashes. She was secretly wondering why his eyes weren't already glowing. He actually looked a little worried, very deep in thought. Frowning, she asked him whether he was okay. The Nuriel she knew would have pounced in any chance he got to have her. And he'd just been offered that. So why wasn't he doing anything? 

" What's wrong? " 

He was starting to worry her. But then he reached out for her hand and brought it to his lips, tenderly kissing it before he looked up at her and said, " I love you m'eudail, and fir that reason you shall remain unmarked. "

She had never been more confused.