by Sadie Hobbes
“I will do whatever is necessary to protect Sterling Peak.” He raised his voice to make sure that everyone heard him.
I glanced over my shoulder at where Noel and Micah stood. Both looked confused and more than a little scared. Torr was in the back corner of the gymnasium. He’d just finished a round on the obstacle course. I glared at him, trying to say without words that he’d better not move.
D’Angelo stopped ten feet away from us.
Donovan crossed his arms over his chest, staring D’Angelo down. Donovan had a few inches on him and more than a few pounds of muscle. “Do you see any demons here? Get out of here, D’Angelo.”
D’Angelo’s gaze scanned the room, passing right over the spot where Torr stood. Then his eyes lasered in on Micah and Noel. “What have we here? Who are these two?”
“My wards,” I said.
D’Angelo raised an eyebrow at that.
“And they are under Graham’s protection,” Tess said.
“There are rumors that demons can disguise themselves.” D’Angelo flicked his hand toward Noel and Micah. “Seize them.”
The soldiers immediately spread out, heading toward the Noel and Micah.
An ache began to build in my chest at the fear on both of their faces. The room seemed to grow brighter. My focus narrowed as I jumped toward them. “You will not touch them!”
The soldiers gasped. The ones closest to me stumbled back. A few dropped to one knee, their heads bowed.
I looked down at them and realized I was hovering four feet from the ground. And holding me up were a pair of wings outlined in flames.
Chapter 45
Every time we came down to the gym, I had tried to get my wings to appear. But nothing happed. I had begun to think that Torr, Noel, and Micah had all had some sort of shared delusion the night of the apartment attack.
But now, I hovered above the ground, staring at the soldiers, who quickly backed away.
The wings that had sprung from my back were gorgeous, extending out six feet. Composed of white and pale blue feathers, they were completely engulfed in flames that shifted from white to orange to blue at the very edges. I didn’t fear them or worry about getting burned. In fact, the feel of them, the heat of them, filled me with power. They felt right.
D’Angelo’s mouth fell open. Then he, too, dropped to one knee. “We didn’t know.”
“They are under my protection, and they are not to be harmed.”
A tremor ran through D’Angelo’s body. I cast my gaze out across all of the soldiers. Some of them looked at me in awe while others did so in fear, but none looked like they wanted to challenge me. “No one will touch these children. Is that understood?”
I scanned the group, waiting for all of them to nod.
Donovan stepped forward. “You need to leave now. Commander Graham will hear of this.”
The students in the back began to filter out first. The rest quickly followed. Recognition flashed across D’Angelo's face. He narrowed his eyes. “You’re that maid.”
“Apparently she’s a maid with angel wings,” Tess deadpanned.
D’Angelo shot her a glare, the side of his mouth curling in a snarl. The golden boy didn’t look so pretty all of a sudden.
I stared down at him. “You need to leave.”
He got to his feet, puffing his chest out. “I’m a member of the Seven. You do not give me orders.”
My wings flamed higher as I swept them toward him.
He stumbled back.
“You need to leave,” I repeated, firmer this time.
He stared up at me, hate and loathing in his eyes, before he turned tail and ran with Hunter right on his heels.
I lowered myself to the ground, completely forgetting about D’Angelo. Because I had something much more important to focus on.
My wings.
I glanced back at them in delight. Now that they were out, I knew how to use them. It was like I just needed them to open to understand. I extinguished the flames and then retracted them.
Noel and Micah walked over to me, smiles across their faces, D’Angelo’s threat seemingly forgotten by them as well.
“That is so cool,” Micah said.
Tess grinned from the other side. “So, wings, huh?”
I grinned back at her. “So it seems.”
Chapter 46
Graham
Annoyance rolled through Graham as he stormed back to his home. He’d been called to the Academy this morning. He had been looking forward to finally being able to spend some time with Addie and her family. Truth be told, he was finally going to see if maybe Addie wouldn’t mind spending some time alone with him. They wouldn’t leave the grounds because Addie was never willing to be that far from her kids, but he could have a nice private dinner set up in the dining room downstairs.
Marcus’s news had made him realize that he needed to stop beating around the bush with Addie. He’d been giving her space because of everything that had been thrown at her. But he felt like they were running out of time.
He’d planned on asking her this morning at breakfast, but then he’d gotten the call and had headed to the Academy. Yet once he arrived, no one knew who had called him. There was no emergency, nothing urgent that needed his attention.
Quickly, he turned around and headed back home, not sure what was going on. But an uneasy feeling settled in his gut. As he approached his gates, students from the Academy streamed out. More than a few of them looked shaken.
Graham grabbed one of them and pulled him up short. “What is the meaning of this? Why are you at my home?”
The man swallowed as he shifted his gaze to his feet. “Major D’Angelo ordered us to accompany him to your home. He said there was a demon that you were giving sanctuary to.”
Fear lanced through him, but he kept it in check. “And?”
“And we didn’t see a demon, but we did see an angel. I’m sorry, Commander Graham. We were just following orders.”
Angel? In his gut he knew whatever had happened involved Addie. That curiosity, though, was out paced by his anger, which boiled to a fever pitch but not at the soldier in front of him. He was telling the truth. He was following orders. In the Seraph Force, you were expected to follow the orders of your higher ranks. Without that authority, it devolved into chaos. In the middle of a battle, you couldn’t have people questioning why they were doing what they’re doing. They just needed to do it.
But it didn’t lessen his annoyance. He released the soldier and stepped back, giving him a nod to indicate he could leave. The man scurried away. Graham scanned the group, looking for the target of his rage.
D’Angelo burst out from around the side of the building. He sprinted across the lawn, Hunter Uriel on his heels, and disappeared out the side gate. Graham frowned, watching them. They looked like death itself was on their tails.
Graham hurried to the gate and around the side of the house. He knew everyone would be at the training facility. He stepped inside, expecting to see a scene of destruction. But there was nothing out of place. Everything looked as it always did, except for one glaring exception: Addie had wings.
She flew along the ceiling and then dove down to get targets set up along the ground. She was amazing. Beauty and strength all rolled into one. Graham stared at her, not able to look away, until Donovan caught sight of him and moved to his side. “D’Angelo was here. He was looking for Torr.”
Graham finally tore his gaze away from Addie. “Did he find him?”
Donovan grinned. “Nope. But he found one pissed-off Addie.” Donovan’s grin then dimmed. “She made an enemy of today of him today. She’ll have to be careful.”
Graham knew what damage D’Angelo could do when he put his mind to it. But hopefully Addie would be spared, at least for a little while. From the look on D’Angelo’s face, he’d be too scared to do anything any time soon. And hopefully once he figured out what to do, Addie would be too strong for him to do much of anything at all.
“She is the child of flame, isn’t she?” Donovan asked softly.
Graham nodded, a knot in his throat. He’d hoped Marcus was wrong. He’d hoped that maybe there was some other explanation for all she could do. He didn’t want her anywhere near the fight to come because he knew she would belong to the war effort, to the world.
And selfishly, right now, he wanted her to belong to him.
Chapter 47
Addie
Two days after D’Angelo came to the gym, my world felt as if it was as it always should have been. I'd shoved my worries about the prophesies to the back of my mind and focused on the new love of my life: flying. Everything about it felt right. At night, when the world was dark, I slipped outside and flew through the air. I had never felt so free in my whole life.
Marcus had been right. I was the child of an archangel, the child of flame. He’d gone through his books and found references to children of archangels who could fly. He’d spent time sitting in the training room with his books, watching me fly. Earlier today, he’d hurried out after only a few minutes without a word, lugging his books. From experience, I now knew that was his eureka look.
I’d expected him to be at dinner to explain what he’d found. I couldn’t help but wonder if it had to do with me. I knew he was trying to research which archangel had given me life. He was convinced now that I was the offspring of one of them, or as Donovan put it, the kick-ass result of some rebel angel on a weekend of fun.
But the question still was: which archangel had given me life? Part of me wondered about that too, but honestly, my life, despite the demons possibly targeting me aside, was better than ever. I had my kids safe with me, they were healing, none of us were hungry, something was growing between me and Graham, and I was having one long, serious life-is-good moment.
Plus, I had these incredible abilities. A nonexistent parent wasn’t really much of a concern for me at present.
D’Angelo had been quiet ever since he’d come into the training building, but I was worried about what he’d said about Torr. Graham wasn't sure where the leak had come from. It was possible the staff had reported that part of Graham’s home was off limits. Maybe someone overheard mention of Torr or caught a glimpse of him when he'd revealed himself in the gym to catch Micah. However the rumor had started, it seemed to have been quelled by a bigger reveal: my wings.
But I knew we would have to find another place to live soon, somewhere a little bit more remote. I tried to shove D’Angelo to the back corner of my mind. Still, after that incident, I’d taken to wearing my sword at all times. Graham hadn’t said anything, but I also noticed he’d placed a Seraph Force at the end of our hall after D’Angelo’s stunt.
Tonight after dark, Graham had set up dinner on the balcony at the end of the hall. It was a beautiful spot. With the full moon as a backdrop, it offered an incredible view of the bridge and Blue Forks beyond it. Torr even came and joined us at Graham’s invitation. Of course, he was invisible, but Noel, Micah, and I could see him.
Micah popped a grape into his mouth. “I finished the obstacle course faster today. I took a full minute off my time. Donovan said I’m a shoo-in for the Seraph Force if I keep up like I’m doing.”
Every time I saw him these days, he was eating. But it was good for him. He needed it. I swear he’d grown a few inches just in the last few days.
“Donovan says you have the makings too,” Graham said, looking at Noel.
She pushed the food on her plate around and bit her lip. “Actually, Marcus said that maybe I could go to his old university. I mean, I know it’s years away, and I’d have to study a ton, but maybe …”
I smiled, my heart filling. They were both talking about their futures. They’d never done that before. A weight in my chest released. “I think that’s great.”
Graham watched me from across the table. “And what about you, Addie? What about your future?”
I looked across the table, and the world fell away. “I have some ideas about that.”
“Really? Like what?” he asked.
“I—” A strange pull started in my chest. I frowned, turning to stare at the bridge. I got to my feet, scanning the horizon.
“Addie?” Graham asked, concern in his voice.
The tug in my chest grew stronger. “Something’s wrong. Something’s not right.”
I moved away from the table to the edge of the balcony. What was it? The tug was now a throb, but at the same time I knew there was nothing wrong with me. It was a warning. But of what?
Graham came to my side, staring out across the land. “What is it?”
I gripped the metal railing, staring out across Sterling Peak and into Blue Forks. “I don’t know. But something’s wrong. I just can’t figure out what.”
Noel and Micah came to the balcony railing as well. Micah pointed. “What’s that?”
Beyond Blue Forks, trees would occasionally drop to the ground and disappear from sight. It was as if something was sucking them down into the ground or knocking them over. It was hard to tell from here.
But their path was heading for a clearing. Two minutes later, the phenomenon reached the field, and the cause became clear.
Demons, dozens of them, marched straight for Blue Forks.
Chapter 48
Scenarios ran through my head, none of them good. Graham was already issuing orders. “Sound the alarm now!” he ordered Mitch, who’d been standing guard just inside.
Mitch took off sprinting through the halls.
“What’s the plan for this?” I said.
Graham stared at the advancing horde, his eyes shifting back and forth incredibly fast. No doubt scenarios were running through his mind just as quickly as they were through mine. “We’ll pull up the bridge. That should slow them down long enough give us a chance to get our defenses in place.”
“What about the people in Blue Forks?” Noel asked.
Graham shook his head. “There’s not enough time to get them out. We’ll take in as many as we can, but we won’t be able to evacuate all of them before that horde reaches them.”
I stared at the wave of violence heading toward an unsuspecting people of Blue Forks. He was right. The Seraph Force would never reach them in time. I looked at Noel, Torr, and Micah. “You stay inside Graham’s home. And you look out for one another.”
The klaxon of the demon alarm rang out through the night. I'd seen the large speakers at the top of the bridge. I’d known what they were for, but never in my life did I think I would hear them.
Micah started to move forward, but Noel grabbed him, holding him back. “We will.”
Torr burst forward and handed me the second demon sword. He’d started carrying it since D’Angelo’s move as well. “Be careful, Addie. And be deadly.”
I nodded, sliding the scabbard over my shoulder and securing it. I gripped the railing, placing one foot on top.
Graham’s eyes were large as he grabbed my arm. “What are you doing?”
“You might not be able to reach them in time, but I can.” My wings shot out.
Graham jumped back to avoid getting hit.
I looked at Noel, Micah, and Torr. “I love you.” I leaped off the edge of the balcony.
“Addie!” Graham scrambled to the railing.
But I didn’t look back, my attention focused on the horde racing toward the edge of Blue Forks. I needed to buy the people of Blue Forks some time to get out.
Because I was quite literally their only hope.
Chapter 49
Part of me reeled as I flew down the mountain, not because of the imminent threat or because of the stakes but because I was flying.
Flying.
In the sky.
With wings.
At the same time, it felt completely right and natural. I knew how to do this. And I realized Marcus was right: I was born to do this.
More than one person gasped as they looked up at me. I flew high over the bridge. People scurried across it, some going to the s
afety on the other side, others setting up barricades. I caught sight of Sheila’s dark hair as she ordered her guards to help get as many people through as possible.
Some of the Seraph Force had already made it beyond the bridge. They sprinted forward, rushing into danger. Donovan was at the head of the pack. He looked up. His mouth gaped open, and then he grinned. “Give ’em hell, Addie!”
I tucked my wings closer to my sides, making myself more aerodynamic. I soared through the air, barely able to discern the faces of the people I flew by. They weren’t my concern. Those people should make it over the bridge in time.
The others were going to struggle.
I swooped through the air at the edge of Blue Forks, over the buildings, until I landed at the very edge of the boundary. It was chaos. People crammed into the streets, rushing toward the bridge. There were screams, cries, and shouts crowded the air.
A few screams were aimed in my direction. People didn’t know what to make of my wings. But I tuned them all out. In front of me, there were no buildings, no homes. Just forest. This was the only road leading into Blue Forks. Taking a breath, I pulled my swords. They immediately ignited. I widened my stance. The flames of my wings arced higher.
The first wave of demons came into view. Tall, green with pockmarked skin, their horns were only slightly larger than Torr’s. The first wave raced toward me, letting out a collective ferocious roar, showing off their teeth.
Holding my ground, I gripped the swords tighter, my focus straight ahead. I calmed my breathing. I would take down as many as I could. I would fight until my last breath to make sure as many humans as possible survived.
And maybe, just maybe, I would buy the Seraph Force enough time to save them all.