It was ignorance that led him to protect her. Ignorance that Gabriel was now seeing Halo sought to wipe away. He listened, but he did not move from his position above China’s battered body. Amber eyes glowed with fury, darkening to a color that could almost border red. The Aquila bared his teeth and raised his tail high.
“You have punished her enough,” he said firmly, leaving no room for argument. “I will speak with her when,” if “, she recovers. Do not touch her again, Halo. Leave us.” Though he saw the battle rage in the red-eyes of his second-in-command, Gabriel was pleased to see her retreat. The Aquila called for Enkiel, who came quickly to aid the broken bird. While the jackal patched up her wounds, Gabriel warned her in plain terms that the path she walked was a dangerous one. China seemed to understand, but her eyes were cloudy when she spoke, and Gabriel knew it was not the end.
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