House Of Legions (The Angel Descendants book 1)
Chapter 74 (Liam)

"Do you need reminding of what you truly look like, without my generosity?"

Her eyes glanced widely at him, she snarled, "You wouldn't, we have been kind to you and your siblings for years." "Years, are not enough! As long as I possess the power to undo that falsified beauty of yours, you will be in my debt."

The queen's face rippled and etched with hopelessness as she sat on a throne made of tinted red glass.

The bottom of her cream dress gathered at her feet, she sighed, "I don't have a choice, you not the only one we've made deals with. Being ugly is a small price to pay for staying alive and getting fed, so if you are going to threaten me, then so be it."

Liam remarked, turning his back to Arexandra. "Ah, He knows what I did."

The door shut, with a loud angry bang as Alexa stormed in. Her hair was back to blonde, her beady black eyes wild with fury. "Maybe if you did what you were created to do mother, then you wouldn't have to make so many deals, especially not ones with the devil."

She was wearing Garde clothes or, as Calub always called it, 'disturbing brown leather garments.' Swords, daggers and her famous two guns strapped up around her thighs and waist, in her very own private style of chain and leather weapon satchel.

Alexa's eyes reached Liam, as she blatantly dismissed her mother, "He hasn't arrived yet, we've got time. Once we reach the main gates, we have to run east."

"No, we fight." He turned his back to both mother and daughter, "I never run from Tempters, especially when they're after me."

The queen stood up, "Alexandra you would betray your own kind so easily?" her eyes dark, as she growled angrily, "If you choose to side with him, you betray us all. You would have no place as an Elvan, you could never return." When Alexa ignored her, Arexandra exploded, "You forget how the Lightwatchers treat the Fuized, you wouldn't be any different, they would never fully accept you."

Alexa walked up to her mother and stood directly in front of the snarling queen, expressionless and confident, "I already have no place, I'm not like you either, but I'm doing what I was made to do. I'm a star with the blood of an Angel, I was made to kill demons, and drink their blood, maybe if you just did the same mother.."

Her mother gripped her arm, which was just wicked in Liam's opinion. BUT Liam decided not to intervene, he knew about having a mother once. He missed him, she was most kind and nurturing in her own way, nothing like Arexandra. The Elvan queen was clearly crazed and self-centred.

Alexa shook her mother's hands off her arm and stalked away. She paused, her back faced to Liam, and bound herself by ancient words, "I follow your path William Blackwyll," Her allegiance to him now carved.

Liam jerked his chin, as a silent bye to Arexandra, and stated, "Weapons"

Her mother's voice echoed as she screamed, bellowing, "ALEXANDRA, ALEXANDRA."Alexa didn't look back as she walked out the door knowing there was no turning back.

Liam was silently impressed; it was about time she stood up for herself, "The Asguardians want my blood too."

They reached the outside of the castle door, darkness now filled the air around them, but Liam knew that look in Alexa's eyes, she said, "I was at the meeting in Khiron."

Liam heard as much, Jullie kept a close eye on Clare during the whole meeting. His sister was always the prevention type, nobody hated fixing anything as much as she did, "Clare got her memory back, I heard."

"Not just that, I was spying from afar before Clare arrived, Raphael knows who's Franchesca's son."

Liam hadn't expected that "Dukael, I sent him here, he'll be able to track the boy before Raphael, that kid must stay safe, he's our only leverage to get Azazy-el's alliance."

Liam concentrated again on reaching his sister, the voice swallowed itself inside his mind, "I'm busy, the Tahore isn't going to track itself, I'm close. Oh and Clare's on her way to meet Kole." "There's a few hurdles, I'm gonna be late, lemme know when you see her. It's time, do it quickly, but be careful, Kalbreal isn't to suspect a thing."

He didn't hear her reply, instead immediately altered his attention to Alexa who barely held it together, he knew he was going to regret this, but... "You can stay with us Alexa until you sort something out."

She looked at him and nodded, he could feel the relief the gesture brought her. He knew she wouldn't last with the Fuized in Khiron, she loved the war and adrenaline too much for that. Liam was no fool, he knew the Lightwatchers would ignore her talents, and keep her as a Garde. It was the highest they ever allowed Fuized to go. Alexa was a born killer, keeping her in detective work was a waste, and Liam hated wasting, especially when its uses were vast.

The two of them moved forward, through the crowds of Elvan, whilst street lamps lit the way.

"Kalbreal and Clare are getting closer by the minute, I suspect he feels for her."

Liam faced the moon, it was full, glowing brightly, he knew it would change in the hours that followed, "And the point is?"

"I know you have feelings for her William, or you wouldn't be doing all of this, just to know something you already suspect is certain." She smiled her teeth white and straight, annoyingly so, "She's different from your usual taste, but she'd make a fine consort by your side."

"Consort", he walked closer to her, whilst his expression gave nothing away, he snorted, "I don't do romance."

"You'll change your mind eventually, we all say such, look at my sister, died in the heart of the battle for that she loved, or Azazy-el poised into helping us for the protection of a son, who doesn't even know he has a Tempters blood in his veins. Or myself, willing to give up a prestigious title to fend for the sister of the man I love, who would never love me back."

Liam stood there expressionless, "Dukael's at the stone market with Ulaidea."

Alexa smiled, "That's going to be interesting, Raphael's whore."

Liam corrected her, "Ex-lover, she'll be staying with us as well, so behave."

Alexa snorted, "Julliette isn't going to be pleased."

"I'll send her travelling for a while."

Dukael was spotted a few feet away, with Ulaidea behind him, wearing a black robe covering her braided hair and crown. Walking over to him and Alexa, Dukael's warmly smile, plastered on his face in obvious delight to see Liam unharmed.

Crowds of Elvan busied around as fruits, gems stones and fine jewellery were displayed on silver trestles and titanium bowls, for swopping or buying.

Dukael not interested in anything besides Liam, as he chastised, "You made me hurt you, purposely, all for nothing."

Ulaidea dropped her hood, also oblivious to the market ongoings, "I want to join in on the fight."

Liam crossed his eyes to Alexa and back to Ulaidea, "No, I have other plans for you two, I need you to track Ruheal, Raphael knows his identity, he'd kill him."

Dukael was flabbergasted, "Raphael has gone too far, the boy's innocent."

Ulaidea interrupted, "Ruheal's in Ireland, I could get there fastest, Raphael plans on handing him to Allistor to kill."

Alexa yelled, "Allistor is involved, why?"

Ulaidea with kind eyes now strained on Alexa's snarly face, sighed, "They want to lure out Azazy-el and kill him, I'm not sure why, sorry."

Liam rubbed his neck, before putting his hands behind his back, this was not good news, it confirmed that there was a higher mind behind this. Someone who knew how to kill Azazy-el, that meant at least an Archangel, and if the archangels were involved then he knew for certain it wouldn't be long before they found Clare, they'd want her head. "They'll have to go after Kalbreal first, Raphael must be stopped." Dukael didn't look happy or convinced by the idea, "Won't his father be upset, angering an ARCHANGEL, it isn't a favoured option on my part."

Liam's voice was icy, when he said, "I'll face them all if I have to!", to keep her breathing. Liam could see the sky changing, the moon becoming red, the atmosphere darkening, time was near. Soon there would be demons everywhere, scouring the realm for him, out for his blood, hungry for his flesh, "I need you all to be vigilant in your quest, Alexa and I'll clear a way for you, do as I say, stay safe."