Per and Ark spent the day clearing away the scorched remains of the ceiling. Charred beams and blackened debris littered the hall, and despite eleven Fallens working tirelessly for days, only half of the damage had been removed. The rest still loomed overhead, dark and stubborn.
"When that girl gets back, I'm making her scrub this place from top to bottom," Per grumbled, tossing aside a burnt plank.
Ark glanced at her over the stack of debris he was carrying. "Weren't you the one saying she deserved a break?"
"She did." Per grunted as a piece of timber finally came free. "For a day. After that, she's helping fix the disaster she caused."
Ark glanced around at the wreckage and let out a low whistle. "Knowing her, she'd probably say we should just wipe the whole place out in one blow."
"Quite the catastrophe you've got here."
The unfamiliar voice drifted across the hall.
Both Per and Ark stiffened.
The speaker's tone was casual, almost amused, but neither of them had sensed anyone approaching. They turned sharply toward the source of the voice, every trace of humor gone.
"Euphilis," Per breathed, stunned.
He stood just a step from the entrance of the hall. His immaculate white attire, adorned with silver and gold embroidery across the shoulders, stood in striking contrast to the ruins before him.
He possessed a flawless, deep bronze complexion, accentuated by white hair, brows, and lashes. A remarkably tall Angthen, his lean physique carried well-defined muscle beneath its graceful form.
Ark carefully set the debris down and straightened. "Second Ermilord of the East, I'm afraid you've arrived at an unfortunate time."
Euphilis swept his gaze across the ruined hall. "This is precisely why I'm here," he said.
He stepped forward and turned his attention back to them. "The Council wants a full account of what happened here."
****《•》****
After watching the sunset, Clair and Zach began packing up to head home. They had barely started when rain began to fall. What started as a light drizzle quickly grew into a relentless downpour.
"I don't remember seeing this in the forecast," Zach said, glancing up at the darkening sky.
"These bags are done. Anything else?" Clair asked. By now, her dress was completely drenched.
Zach winced at the sight. "Here." He handed her the umbrella. "Stay dry. I'll finish up."
She opened her mouth to protest, but he was already gathering the remaining items, moving twice as fast under the pounding rain.
Once everything was packed into the SUV, they hurried inside, soaked to the bone. Water dripped from their clothes as Zach started the engine and pulled away from the beach.
The rain only grew heavier.
Wipers swept furiously across the windshield, but visibility remained poor. The road ahead was little more than a gray blur.
Clair noticed the tension in his grip on the steering wheel. "We should stop somewhere for the night," she said.
Zach hesitated. He had promised Per they would be back before nightfall, but the weather was only getting worse. Pushing forward would be reckless.
YOU ARE READING
Divine & Wicked: The Strayed Memories (Book2)
Fantasy(Fantasy•Romance) COMPLETED Zach awoke a few days after his surgery, his mind foggy and his heart empty, as though his life had been reset. He moved through what he believed was his normal routine, unaware that fragments of a forgotten past were slo...
