HowdareStephen intervene? I tried to exercise soulsight on him to understand why he betrayed me like this, but I’madmittedly out of practice. I’ve grown far too used to blocking others out of my soul as opposed to tuning into theirs.
I lift my eyes from the ground to the Archangels again, noticing all their eyes resting on me. I refuse to display even a shred of weakness in front of them. I’ll own up to my mistakes and prove myself worthy of maintaining my position again. I’ll do whatever it takes, even to his detriment. I can’t afford to make more mistakes in the Middle Realm—I don’t belong anywhere else.
“Well?” I ask, boredom lacing my tone. Jessenia widens her eyes in surprise.
“Are you okay?” she asks kindly.
“Am I okay?” I grit my teeth, attempting but failing miserably at hiding my displeasure. I know she’s the purest one. Logically, she doesn’t deserve this backlash. But it’s not personal—Idetestthat question. Always have. Willing to bet I always will. “You just stripped me of my title, demoted me to the—pardon my French—fucking libraryindefinitelyto watch over a wingless Guardian, and you’re inquiring about my current emotional state? If you have to ask, you’re not as all-knowing as they say you lot are.”
“Enough,Cleo,” Nial barks, gravel in his voice. “We didn’t ask you to stay behind for you to berate the youngest among us. If you experience any further emotional outbursts, you will regret it. Mark my words.”
Chills spread across my arms, no doubt the physical reaction to the force of his divine power rumbling throughout the throne room.
I simply nod in response, taking a quick breath to steady myself, and look at Jessenia.
“I’m not offended, Cleo. It was naive of me to ask, but I feel like it’s important you know I was coming from a place of compassion. We have known you longer than you can comprehend. We care, despite how it may seem. It’s not like you to break rules like this. We simply want to know why you didn’t prevent this from occurring in the first place.” She tilts her head. “It’s most curious. We would like to learn.”
Can’t they see that I don’t even understand what possessed me to make this decision? I cross my arms in response, quirking an eyebrow. “You’ll be disappointed to know I have no rhyme nor reason behind this poor decision.”
Annalise interrupts, “As soon as you determine what led you to make this choice, do let us know. Additionally, this sentence will not prevent you from ultimately ascending, should you choose to do so. You’ll still be qualified to ascend once the consequences run their course.”
“Onto the important part—your duties in overseeing Mr. Greene,” Luke’s voice chimes in, clearing his throat. “Tonight, we’ll craft a ring to prevent him from using his teleportation abilities between realms. We haven’t had to craft one out of golden starlight in quite some time, so we need to channel our combined golden light energy into it. It will be delivered to your room by morning. Once he slips the ring on, he will not be able to remove or alter it himself. The only way to remove it will require your signature. With your touch alone will he be granted his ability again.”
“How will the ring recognize me?” I ask, puzzled as to how this will work. Fascinating. If I weren’t still fuming, I’d be honored to be trusted with such knowledge.
“It’s nothing to fixate on—the ring will be delivered in a pure golden ring box infused with our divine energy. Simply rest yourfinger on the box and channel your healing aura into its edges until it opens on its own. Once it opens, slip the ring on one of your fingers and hold it over your chest. In doing so, you’ll fuse your magical signature with the ring and become its keeper, similar to how you’ll be Kai’s keeper for the time being,” Nial finishes explaining. “Once he puts the ring on, only you will have the power to take it off. You can choose whether you’d like to disclose its purpose to him or not.”
“I see… While Kai is living out his sentence, are there any other restrictions I should be aware of? Does he have a curfew or anything?” I nod my chin at them, awaiting an answer. The group bursts into laughter.
“No, he won’t have a curfew. We promise we aren’t asking you to babysit the man.” Annalise suppresses a smile and lifts her chin. “You don’t need to watch him twenty-four-seven. Although he broke the divine law, we didn’t find reasons to fear him when exercising soulsight. He doesn’t seem inherently dangerous.”
Well, that’s debatable.
I’m surprised they had the capacity to perform soulsight so subtly; at no point do I ever remember seeing their eyes melt into bright gold. Archangel perks, I suppose.
“But again, we take the divine laws seriously, and as such, we have chosen to implement these consequences for both of you until further notice. We cannot allow him, underanycircumstances, to travel back to the land below. Now that he has crossed the veil once, reaching within himself to cross it again to reveal himself to others—say, his former lover, for instance—would be almost too easy. We can’t risk it.” Annalise shakes her head, while the others nod in unison.
“Understood. At what point will I be able to rejoin the Watchers division? May I keep my office?”
“We aren’t enforcing an expiration on this sentencing. You were an accomplice. We debated the matter of your office and ultimately decided that you may keep it for now. However, youwillface the consequences set before you, or other more dire consequences, for you in particular, will follow,” Annalise affirms. My throat involuntarily squeezes as I gulp. The only more severe consequence for me would involve the staircase just beyond them.
“I won't let you down.” I nod, bowing my head before them. “Thank you for not resorting to other worse punishments. May I please be excused?”
They all nod. I turn around and hastily vacate their vicinity, tucking my wings in as much as possible and retreating to my haven.
“Starlight be with you till we meet again, Cleo,” Jessenia calls out as I walk away.
I gaze in the mirror and hardly recognize the woman who stands before me.
Her midnight blue wings appear limp on her backside. Her dimples hide within her deep tan cheeks. Her shoulder-length black hair, usually voluminous, is flatter than ever. Her restless eyes appear more ebony than honeyed, not a ray of light in sight.
I poke and prod at her face, tugging at different parts until the jabs redden her skin. She stares back at me from beyond the glass,haunting me. I’ve never fully loved the look of my dark wings, either. I guess my soul must be extra gloomy.
A soft knock interrupts my fixations. I pat my face, then walk out of my bathroom toward the front door, knowing exactly what awaits me—the enchanted ring. Opening the door, a familiar face greets me—not one I expected to see at my haven’s door at midnight.
“Hello, Cleo,” he purrs, his amber eyes locking on mine in a predatory way as he tucks his wings in and steps into my quarters nonchalantly. Archangel perks—theydoown the place. “I figured I’d hand-deliver this. Wouldn’t want it ending up in the wrong hands.”
“Nial.” I nod, reaching out my hand for the box. “Thank you. I’ve got this.”
