Chapter 30
Wynter and his mates were standing by the holiday homes.
“It shouldn’t be this hard to hunt a shadow,” Wynter complained.
Tatum and Saxon laughed.
“It’s a shadow, my angel,” Saxon said. “We knew it would be hard.”
“I guess,” he grumped.
“Tell the truth, you’re only griping because rain clouds are rolling in,” Tatum teased.
“It was so nice and sunny earlier,” he pointed out. “There wasn’t a cloud in the sky.”
“Are you complaining, Wynter?” Maletayah asked, walking up to them.
“Yes, yes, I am.”
Maletayah laughed. “It’s certainly wet.”
“Maletayah, meet my djinn mate, Saxon, and my demon mate, Tatum,” he introduced.
Maletayah nodded to them both. “Welcome to the family.”
“Thanks,” replied both Tatum and Saxon.
Maletayah laughed. “How is shadow hunting going?”
“Badly, but we’ll keep trying,” Tatum replied. “Do you want to help?”
“Maybe later. I have training with Battle’s defence team in ten minutes.”
“Then go forth and kick arse,” Wynter said, with a wave of his hand.
Maletayah laughed. “I will do. By the way, did you know everyone thinks gargoyles are the best sword fighters?”
Wynter gave a fake gasp. “Say it isn’t so.”
“I know. I’m going to ask who their best sword fighter is and we can show them how wrong they are.”
“Let us know when that happens, and we’ll come and watch,” Saxon said.
“I think everyone will be wanting to see that battle,” Tatum said.
Maletayah nodded. “You might be right. I should go. I’ll catch up with you all later.”
“Have fun,” Wynter said.
Maletayah grinned. “I will.”
Frederick walked into the cells. Sergeant Cowell, Major Delinga and Jaxton were with him.
He led the way to the shaman’s cell.
The man was sitting on his bed, cross-legged, his back resting on the wall and his eyes closed. He opened them quickly. “What do you want?”
“We want to know everything you know,” Frederick told him.
“I’ve told you everything,” he replied, his eyes flicking away.
“Lying won’t help you,” Sargent Cowell stated.
“Prove I’m lying,” he spat out.
Frederick laughed. “We can still smell your lies, but lucky for you, these three gentlemen are here to make you tell us everything you know.”
Frederick unlocked the cell door and led the way inside.
The shaman quickly got off the bed and moved to the corner of the room. “Stay away from me, I mean it.”
“Please, what can you even do?” Major Delinga said. “This cell is magic proof.”
The shaman laughed. “Then you can’t use your dragon magic on me.”
The Major laughed, then sobered, staring at the shaman. “I don’t need to.”
Frederick looked at the Major, suddenly glad he was on their side. He moved out of the way and leant against the wall, pulling his phone out so he could record everything the shaman told them.
Maletayah had made it to the training ground with time to spare. He looked at those gathered and nodded. They would all make a good team.
Now they were currently jogging around a track Ares had created.
It had obstacles along the way. Walls to jump over and through, others that needed people working together to get up and over, a low net rope over mud trenches and tunnels dug into the ground.
Along with random flames that could appear anywhere and any other surprises Ares had added.
Maletayah was jogging alongside Battle.
“Are rogues really going to go to this much effort?” Battle wondered out loud.
“You never know what rogues will do, but this is just Ares having fun.”
Suddenly, out of nowhere, Maletayah saw a barrage of arrows heading straight for them. “Arrows,” he called.
Quick as anything, Maletayah grabbed Battle, he called on his wings, turned them to steel and wrapped them around both himself and Battle.
They heard the arrows hit Maletayah's wings and bounce off.
“Whoa, you’re fast. I didn’t even see them. Thanks.” Battle looked at the wings encasing them. “Your wings are steel.”
“They are. As warrior angels, we can switch between our normal white wings and our steel ones,” Maletayah replied. “They are what defines us as warrior angels.”
“Clear,” he heard someone call out, and unwrapped his wings and let Battle go.
“That was amazing,” Robin said, raising his hand. He stopped and looked at the angel. “Can I touch?”
Maletayah nodded.
Robin gently stroked one. “It’s really steel,” he said, dropping his hand. “That’s amazing.”
“It really is,” Julian commented, walking closer.
“And handy,” Battle said.
“The change was incredibly fast,” Mario, one of the gargoyles, said.
“Maletayah, as our Commander, can change his wings faster than we can. Ours would take a few more seconds,” Ryddian told them.
“That will be handy if we come under fire,” Julian said.
“Can you fly when your wings are steel?” Battle asked.
“We can,” Maletayah said, and to prove his point, shot up into the air. He flew a circle around them and then landed.
“That’s incredible,” Shiloh said, walking over to join them.
“And that’s why Zeus wanted us here, to help protect Battle and to help the defence teams,” Maletayah said.
“I can bring back the whole legion if you want,” Zeus said, appearing next to Battle.
“Babe, I think we have enough,” Battle said, taking his hand.
“I need you safe,” Zeus said stubbornly.
“I am safe, plus there is the fact I’m basically immortal now.”
Zeus sighed. “I know.”
“Hey, if you’re worried, you could always lend me your lightning bolt,” Battle said with a laugh.
“That would be handy,” Robin said with a grin.
“I’ll keep that in reserve and think of something else you can have,” Zeus told him. “Are you done for the day? Athena has invited us to dinner tonight.”
Battle shook his head. “We’ve only just started. I’ll come and find you when we’re done.”
“Good,” Zeus said, pulling Battle into a steamy kiss. He pulled back, grinning. “Something to tide you over with.”
Before Battle could say anything, Zeus vanished.
“That was just mean,” Battle muttered, shaking his head, hoping to reboot his brain. “How am I supposed to train now?”
“Carefully,” Robin replied.