Vegar’s just brandished an ink dagger, and I think he’s going to throw it at Mitch for talking back.
Scorpius Malum
Their swords aren’t made of ink. They’re made of nightmares.
Orion, leave the killing to me if it comes to that. I want someone writhing in pain beneath me, although no amount of pain has truly satisfied me lately because I want Arabella beneath me.
Unlike Mitch, I am not ashamed of the truth.
Aran Alis Egan
Damn. Vegar threw the dagger. No one is hurting anyone on my behalf. It stresses me out. Please don’t.
Orion Malum
Mitch, are you okay? That’s the second time you’ve been stabbed today. Also, of course, sweetheart, I will kill them secretly so you do not worry.
Anything so my girl doesn’t stress.
Scorpius Malum:
Fuck, I’m jealous. What’s your secret, Mitch? Arabella, will you stab me?
Aran Alis Egan:
No. No one is killing anyone on my behalf, with my knowledge OR in secret.
I might stab you. It sounds fun.
Scorpius Malum
You’re perfect.
Corvus Malum
Too late. I hate when you call me Mitch.
Aran Alis Egan
What does too late mean? Were you referring to hurting people in secret??????? Also, don’t be sad, baby girl. （hahaha）
Orion Malum
Poor Mitchy needs a kissy. I do love you so much, Mitch, and I hope this name does not hurt your feelings too bad.
Scorpius Malum
His love language is touch. I’m going to crawl down and cover him in kisses.
Corvus Malum
Please come touch me, Scorpius. I am so hard just thinking about it. Sun god, please make it stop.
Aran Alis Egan
AWWWWWWWWW. A part of me loves that you are being vulnerable. I like this side to you. LIES.
Orion Malum
It’s okay, Mitch, I’d come sleep on top of you tonight, but I need to watch Arabella, so I can’t. Try to take some deep breaths.
Scorpius Malum
Do you need me to hurt you, Mitchy? I’ll give you love bites.
Corvus Malum
You have five seconds to get down here or I’m crawling up the bunks.
Orion Malum
Listening to you two make out right now is driving me insane.
Aran Alis Egan
Same.
Chapter 22
Aran
MORE FAILURE
Aliferous （adjective）： having wings.
DAY 12, HOUR 11
“Bend your knees and pinch your shoulder blades together.” Knox pulled his shoulders back and shook his wings to demonstrate. “Your power comes from your wings. First, you must learn to fly. Once you’ve mastered your wings, then you’ll be able to use the energy of your feathers to create an ice sword. However—flying is the crucial first step.”
His crystalline feathers were so pale they were almost silver and were streaked in black. They clattered loudly in the quiet forest.
Knox bent his knees, flared his wings wide, then flapped downward with a whoosh as he said, “Without flying, we are nothing.”
He hovered a few feet off the forest floor.
Snow whirled around his levitating body and the frosted forest floor. Gray branches clattered together on a chilly breeze that carried the scent of pine.
The wintry forest was eerie with no animal life.
It was steeped in shadows.
Tones of blue-gray distorted my vision even worse than usual, and a preternatural chill froze my bones from the inside out.
I shivered uncontrollably as Knox hovered gracefully among the trees.
His shoulder-length brown hair defied gravity; it floated around the crown of his head like a halo as the rapid beat of his wings created wind.
His face was ethereal.
Contorted in pure bliss.
One black and one yellow eye were opened wide and staring up at the sky as if he’d found his life’s purpose and there was nowhere else he’d rather be, nothing he’d rather do.
He was built to fly.
I’d never known such rapture.
The angel captain folded his wings against his back and dropped to his feet. He smirked at me.
Sadie clapped loudly in the silence, and I glared over at the traitor.
Rina put her pointer finger to her red lips in an exaggerated shushing motion.
Sadie made an obscene gesture back, and Cobra smirked down at her. Jax rubbed at his face like he was exhausted, while Ascher and Xerxes stood behind Sadie, making similar gestures in solidarity.
No one would ever say they didn’t support their mate.
The twins sat on the ground in front of the shifters, watching me silently. I made eye contact with John, and he gave me a thumbs-up.
Scorpius was the only king present, and he’d announced that Orion and Malum had to do “secret High Court business.”