Shattered Souls (Guardians of the Maiden Book 3)

“Are you certain about this?” Asiel asked him. He leaned up against the wall, his arms and legs crossed. “I thought we detested one another.”

Cassiel stuffed the last of his clothing in his pack. “I detested your determination to get under my skin.” Now knowing what had kept a wedge between them, he felt guilt for taking the affection of a father he had so desperately needed to survive. “If you can hold that stubborn habit for years, I think you are capable of being Lord Protector of Hermon Ridge while I’m gone.”

It was Dyna’s idea and he felt it was a good one. Asiel liked to pretend he didn’t care about his home, but Cassiel always knew he did. Giving him this position will put someone in place he trusted to take care of the Realm as it should be.

“Can I ask you a question without you unleashing your fire on me?”

Cassiel strapped the belt of his sword in place around his waist. “Depends on the nature of the question.”

“Why a human?”

He arched a brow at Asiel pointedly. “Why do you love a half-breed? The fact that she is human is irrelevant. I am hers, and she is mine. There is no life without her in it.”

Oddly, his cousin had nothing to retort. He only looked at him with an unreadable expression.

“You didn’t hesitate,” Asiel said after a pause. “When she fell. Your wings were broken but you threw yourself after her anyway, even if it meant certain death. It was then I understood you would do anything for her. Does that include letting go?” He looked away to the balcony where they could hear Dyna and Sarrai’s distant voices coming from the courtyard below. “Could you let her go if it meant it was for the best?”

Cassiel searched his face, seeing the desolation there. “Asiel, when I named you Lord Protector, I also named my heir. Hermon will be yours again. I have spoken with Lord Gadriel on your behalf, and he has agreed to allow Sarrai to marry you come the next Festival of Light.”

Asiel’s head whipped to him. “What?”

“You have your bride.”

His cousin stood there mutely for a moment, his throat constricting. “I won’t thank you for returning what’s mine.”

“Don’t. Merely be thankful you did not challenge me for it. You would have lost.”Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!

Asiel scoffed at that and his smirk almost turned into a smile. The wall that had formed between them by years of misunderstanding and rivalry would come down some day. It started by returning everything. Including his surrogate father.

The loss made him sad, but Lord Jophiel had done more than enough for him. And he would always be thankful for it.

“Cassiel, I thought on it, and I don’t believe Malakel was the only one there that night,” Asiel said. “He could not have carried them both to the mountain on his own.”

“I know.” There was more to this and until they could uncover it, Cassiel wouldn’t bring Dyna back here.

“That is why you are truly leaving, isn’t it?”

“We have other reasons to go. Don’t allow any of Malakel’s party to leave until you know who helped him.”

“I will investigate, if only to make them pay for what they did to Sarrai. Entrust it to me.” Asiel bowed, astonishing Cassiel.

Dyna was right. Support from his court started here. Finding it in his cousin was the last place he would have expected, but his mate had been right about that, too. Would she ever stop surprising him?

Asiel turned to go but he paused. “Be cautious, cousin. One forgets how easily we can lose the most precious things. I sense your reign and that of your future Queen will stir the skies. And it will bring a great storm that will be felt throughout the Realms.”

Cassiel let him leave without responding. Evening sunlight streamed in through the windows, falling over his mother’s flute left on the bed. The throne may have passed to him by default, but he didn’t plan on ever ruling. Dyna was too bright for his world. He wouldn’t allow anything that would snuff out her light.

Tucking the flute in his pack, Cassiel strode out of his room. The bond pulsed with Dyna’s call and he tugged on it in response to let her know he was coming. The day was ending, but they all agreed not to spend another night here. The Valkyrie were waiting to escort them to the bottom of the mountain on the Pegasi and his uncle had disclosed a passage that was safe to cross Troll Bridge part of the way. After that, they would be on their own.

“Prince Cassiel.”

Cassiel exhaled a sigh and turned to the form idling in the shadows of the hall.

“I commend you on surviving the trials of court. When one finds themselves in such an incredible position, it’s certainly fascinating to see how it will all play out.”

“And you will be watching, I’m sure.”

Lord Raziel stepped into the light. Cassiel braced himself for his next response. He must not be happy that his grandson was overthrown. It was a blow for House Welkin’s reputation.

“Of course. It’s not every day a Nephilim falls in line for the throne. Your father must be very proud.” The Lord of Edym tilted his head in a slight nod of acknowledgement, something sparking in his stoic gaze. “Long may he reign.”

His white wings flared open and Lord Raziel flew away into the clear skies.

Cassiel raised his hand against the sunlight as he joined his waiting companions. He forgot all else when he met Dyna’s radiant smile and took her outstretched hand. If a storm was coming, all he could do was prepare for the rain.