Page 30 of Angel of Ruin

Lyra's hands come up, pushing against my chest. But she doesn't push me away. Her fingers curl into the fabric of my shirt, holding me there.

"You're playing a dangerous game," I growl, my lips brushing her ear. "These accusations... Do you have any idea what would happen if the wrong people heard them?"

"I'm not afraid of you," Lyra whispers, but I feel the slight tremor in her body.

I pull back, meeting her gaze. "You should be."

For a moment, we're frozen, locked in a battle of wills. The air crackles with tension, thick enough to choke on. I should stepaway. I should throw her out, report her for insubordination. But I can't move.

"What are you going to do?" Lyra challenges, her voice barely above a whisper. "Kill me to keep your secret?"

The words hit me like a physical blow. Is that what she thinks of me? Of us? I open my mouth to deny it, to tell her she's wrong. But am I? Isn't that exactly what I'm supposed to do?

"I should," I snarl, my voice low and dangerous. "It would solve a lot of problems."

But even as I say it, I know I can't. The thought of harming her makes my stomach churn.

Lyra laughs bitterly. "Go ahead. Prove me right. Show everyone what you xaphan really are."

Her words cut deep, igniting a rage I can barely contain. I lean in, my lips almost brushing her ear. "You have no idea what we are. What I am."

"I know exactly what you are," she spits. "Cruel. Heartless. Playing with people's lives like they mean nothing."

I pull back, meeting her gaze. The fire in her eyes matches the inferno raging inside me.

I snarl. "You think that's an insult? You know nothing, little nexari. Nothing about me, nothing about the trials, nothing about what's really at stake."

But what I hate is how the lie curls around my tongue. She seems to know everything… All except one thing.

I won't kill this human.

No, I will consume her. And I'll destroy myself in the process.

15

LYRA

I'm trembling, my fists clenched at my sides as I glare up at Sariel. How dare he dismiss my concerns about the trials? The arrogance of this xaphan infuriates me, yet I can't ignore the way my skin tingles with his proximity.

"You're lying," I hiss through gritted teeth. "I know something's not right with these trials."

Sariel's golden eyes narrow, his jaw clenching. "Watch your tongue."

He leans closer to me, so close there's almost no space, and I want to close what little is left. I hate how my body reacts to him, how I crave his touch even as I want to slap that smug look off his face.

"Don't patronize me," I snap, taking a step closer. "I'm not some naive human you can just brush aside."

Sariel's wings rustle, curling around us both. The soft brush of feathers against my arms makes my breath catch. We're so close now, I can feel the heat radiating from his body.

"Is that so?" he murmurs, his voice low and dangerous. "Then prove it."

My heart hammers in my chest as Sariel leans in, his breath hot on my cheek. I should push him away, should focus on the trials and my goal of earning my wings. But the intensity in his gaze holds me captive.

"I-I don't have to prove anything to you," I stammer, my resolve weakening with each passing second.

Sariel's hand comes up to cup my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. "No," he agrees, "you don't. But I think you want to."

I swallow hard, torn between desire and anger. Sariel represents everything I've fought against, everything that's held me back. Yet he's also the first person to make me feel truly seen, truly wanted.