Ignite: The Archangels Chronicles

The walk back to the castle proper was awkward to say the least. Azreal knew she should say something to Cameron, but she was feeling drained and wasn't ready for the judgment she was sure to find in his eyes. He knew why Minx was so kindly trying to stall him from racing up the watch tower.

Azreal let out a deep sigh, and Belial flicked his eyebrows up at her, a question in his eye's.

'Just tired' she sent down the bond.

Surprise crossed his face before a sweet smile tilted the corner of his lips as he looked at her affectionately.

Azreal blushed and asked 'why are you looking at me like that?'

He shook his head as his face returned to its normal brooding look. 'That's the fist time you've used the bond.'

Azreal only replied 'Oh." And looked away quickly.

She hadn't realized how fast this whole mate thing would happen. Sure, she learned about it from her studies, but Gabriel had been the heir. And Angels, while fertile creatures, did not have many offspring with the Angel gene. As it is not always passed on, especially with those of a mixed bloodline. Not to mention, one usually didn't find their mate until they had reached their full power around age five hundred. Azreal was a mere child in the beginning of her immortality.

Thankfully they had reached the large ballroom once more. Everything including the dr.a.p.es had been burned and the room had been tuned into a hostel of sorts with everyone rolling out threadbare mats to lay next to each other for warmth. Azreal split from the group quietly and went to the back of the hall to the large fireplace that was lit every night during the summer to welcome newcomers to the shores and as a beacon of power shining in the night, letting everyone know the Angels were watching over them.

Azreal slid her fingers along the wide brass lip. There was no logs or coals in its large basin, Angels didn't need them to ignite an everlasting fire.

Belial came to stand behind her, 'Are you going to light it?' He asked, no judgment in his voice.

It's cold this far up and this close to the sea, not cold enough to freeze, but it was uncomfortable. If she lit this fire, though, everyone would know she had taken up residence in the castle. Their position would be compromised and the False King would surely send soldiers to kill off as many of her companions as they could; even knowing they couldn't possibly have enough magic to kill her. Not without the False King coming here to challenge her head on, and if that necromancer is working for him.. That could spell disaster. Not to mention those collars Jasper had said the crown was commissioning.

'Not yet.' She replied as her hand stilled on the rim. "We need to make a little trip to the port, just a few of us."

Belial smirked as he leaned over her, his obsidian hair falling across his eyes as he whispered, "You've a plan, don't you? I can see it stirring behind those crystal eyes of yours."

Gods he was handsome, but Azreal needed to focus on the task at hand. She had more than a few things to accomplish at the port. "More of a rough draft, we can talk on the way. Get your brother and meet me by the servants stairs."

Belial replied smartly "Aye, aye, Captain" giving a halfassed salute.

Azreal rolled her eyes but chuckled lightly.

Well at least he had agreed easily, she knew it was going to be a much harder fight when she told Nadie what she was doing and who she wanted to take with her.

The old woman was sitting off to the side surrounded by Nyx, Jara, Quinn, and a few others. Perfect, at least they were all together when she announced what she was going to do.

"Nadie", Azreal said as she nodded her greeting.

The crone already looked suspicious. "Azreal, I thought we had decided to stay in the castle.. together tonight."

Azreal kicked at the bits of crumbled stone and huffed out "I will be back before the moon has fully risen and I am only taking a small group for reconnaissance."

Nadie shook her head, her leathery skin swaying with the movement as she barked out "Ha! And who is this small group your trying to take? The two brooding demon twins? Oh, I'm sure people are going to just open right up to them."

Azreal looked to either side of the old women where the two sixteen year old twin girls sat.

Nadie bl.u.s.tered out "Oh, No! No no no. They are not going with you! We have lost enough children! Why not take Cameron and Lucia?"

Nyx and Jara squealed out "We are not children!" At the same time. Azreal knew they would gladly join her on the excursion to Illium from Nadie's words alone.

"Lucia is a power house, she is staying to protect you all in case anything happens while were at the port."

Nadie looked to Azreal as if waiting for her to finish explaining why she didn't want to bring Cameron either. But the two teen girls were growing louder with their insistence and Azreal knew she didn't have to say another word, the girls would handle it from here.

While waiting for them to wear Nadie down, Azreal raised her eyebrows, "Quinn, if you would like to come, your welcome too."

Quinn who had been sitting in the corner trying to go unnoticed looked up at her in surprise "Rrreally?" He stumbled out, his mousey brown hair would blend into the crowd well, most people would assume he was a deck hand out on his captains orders.

"Yes, i think you would be quite perfect for the job." Azreal smiled warmly at him.

All she needed was for him to ask around about sh.i.p.s sailing North and find out if they were more of a refugee helping ship or a refugee enslavement ship. A few harmless questions and they would be on their way.

"FINE, fine, fine, go get yourselves killed!" Nadie wailed dramatically.

The teen girl stood triumphantly and smiled brightly at Azreal who had to pin her mouth in a straight line to keep from laughing.

She looked at both girls and Quinn, saying "Let's get going then. The boys are waiting."