Wings of Deception (Silver City University Book 1) by Victoria Pauley

Author:Victoria Pauley [Pauley, Victoria]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: anonymous
Published: 2023-08-16T16:00:00+00:00

15

The cool night air threatens shivers down my spine, but the warmth of the blazing bonfire chases it away.

To the left of us, the arena sits empty and dark. To our right, the weaponry training building has one lone light shining from what I can only assume is Professor Malik’s office. Sitting next to the fire with Hayliel and Raph, I can almost believe we’re the only three on campus.

We’d originally come here to burn as many of those fucking SCU newsletters as we could. Harold the Herald was at it again, this time speaking with other students who all said terrible things about the angel I now call a friend. We’d considered paying him a little visit, but Hayliel stopped us. “They just want a reaction. Drama. I’m inclined not to give it to them,” she’d said. I can’t argue with that.

Despite there being several empty benches around the fire, the three of us sit huddled on the same one. Raphael and I perch on either end with Hayliel in the middle, each of us roasting a marshmallow now that the burned newsletters have floated away on the breeze. Something about the moment just feels so right. Her sage-and-honey scent fills my senses, mixing with the smoke and sweets until I’m breathing in one addicting combination.

None of us care that the other students avoid us. Hell, I say it’s a gift from the Archangels. More s’mores for us.

I don’t really like other people, anyway. They’re too talkative and nosey, like they deserve every ounce of my past just for existing. I never had an issue with Hayliel, though. I wonder why.

She laughs at something Raphael says, playfully swatting his arm while trying to keep her marshmallow from falling into the flames, and I can’t look away. Her brown hair appears red against the glow of the fire, and when she smiles, it’s like watching a meteor shower. Rare and beautiful.

If it were up to Raphael, he’d don a jester costume and be her own personal joker if it meant we’d see her happiness more. I’m starting to see his point.

“Oh, no! Rest in peace, Marshmallow King.”

I shake my head, realizing now that Hayliel’s grin is gone, replaced with a pout. She’s looking at me like maybe I should be sad too, but I don’t …

Then I see it. The flaming ball of goo at the end of my stick. I jerk it back and watch as the oozing fireball seems to hover in midair before falling to the embers with a plop.

“Here. You can have mine.” Hayliel brings her own stick forward, revealing the perfectly toasted marshmallow. It’s golden brown around the edges, creating a crunchy shell around the soft, gooey inside. But I can’t eat her food. I let myself get distracted and burned my treat. It’s no one’s fault but my own.

“You don’t have—”

She shoves the warm marshmallow into my mouth, interrupting my protest, and I can’t help the moan that leaves me as flavors explode on my tongue.

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