The were-beast clamped his mouth shut and his eyes slid up to Cassiel again. They both knew he could never have told her about the Celestials.
Cassiel flew to a nearby tree, landing on a branch. “She encountered the Watchers. Nearly lost her head.”
Zev gaped at her.
Dyna nodded sheepishly. “He saved my life.”
Cassiel crossed his arms and sat against the trunk. “I saved your life three times now, stupid human.”
Zev growled at him. “Pardon?”
“I believe I spoke clearly.” Her antics until this point had only proved the moniker befitting.
“You have my thanks, Your Highness,” Zev grated, “but if you expect to collect a debt, know this: I will never allow my cousin to become your life-servant.”
“I’m not a slave keeper.”
“Then why have you followed her?”
Cassiel glanced at the human, so small compared to her large cousin. As much as she annoyed him, he couldn’t leave her behind to die.
“Don’t worry. He relieved me of my debt,” she said, and Zev’s shoulders relaxed. “He is much kinder than the other Seraphim.”
“He is a Celestial, Dyna.”
“Oh right, he said that.” But by her frown, she didn’t understand the difference.
Cassiel leaned his head back against the truck. “The Seraphim are of Heaven’s Gate. They are not earthbound.”
That was all he would bother to say. He was not in the mood to give them a history lesson.
“Forgive me,” Dyna said. “So as not to keep referring to you as such, may I please know your name?”
He didn’t want to answer, but her soft eyes pinned him. He flew down and landed on a patch of soft grass at a careful distance. “I am Cassiel Soaraway, third Prince of Hilos.”
The were-beast gave him a nod. “I am Zev Astron of Lykos Peak.”
Dyna smiled. “I am Dynalya Astron of North Star.”
He almost laughed. They couldn’t expect him to believe that a human and a beast were of House Astron, one of the most powerful mage families in the Magos Empire. The mages were pureblood elitists. They didn’t make unions outside of their race. But Cassiel chose to ignore the lie because he had other pressing questions.
“Whatareyou?” he asked Zev. “Were-beasts are to remain as beasts under the moonlight until dawn. How can you assume your human form?”
Zev cocked his head, gaze narrowing at him in return. “For a Celestial, you are also unique. Your Highness.”
Anger rushed through Cassiel’s veins. Dyna looked at him questioningly, and his face heated. If she realized what he was, she wouldn’t mistake him for a Seraph or even a Celestial. She would call him that other word he hated so much. Why should it matter what she thought?
“Dyna, the Holy Law calls for you to compensate the Prince for saving your life,” Zev reminded her.
“Yes, of course.” She turned her smile to Cassiel again. “Please allow me to give you a gift as a token of my gratitude.”
“As I said, I want nothing from you. You clearly have no wealth or stature or an ounce of intelligence for that matter. Anything you’d gift would be rubbish,” Cassiel said as he walked past her. He ignored the small twinge of guilt at the flash of hurt crossing her face.
A frightening growl vibrated through the forest, jerking him to a stop.
Zev stalked toward him, primal eyes flashing yellow. The threat in the beast’s low menacing growl sent a cold wash through him. Not in a position to fly out of reach, Cassiel readied his flute. He would not go down without a fight.
“No, Zev!” Dyna leaped between them, placing her hands on his heaving chest.
