Wings of Vengeance (Hidden Wings Series Book Five)

by Cameo Renae

  She got up from the chair and walked to the kitchen, washed her face, and wiped it dry. Pacing around the room, she appeared to be calming herself down. “So, are you telling me the child I gave birth to was a girl, and she’s alive?”

  “Yes, she is very much alive, and she looks a lot like you.”

  “Oh God,” she exhaled. Her body was trembling, and her mind went elsewhere, staring blankly at the fire. “What’s her name?”

  “Lilith,” I answered, trying not to say her name with venom.

  “Lilith,” she repeated in a soft whisper. Tears filled her eyes and trickled down her cheeks. “And Lucian?”

  “He’s dead.”

  Her eyes popped back into reality, and she turned her attention to me. “How?”

  “He was murdered, less than a year ago, by someone he’d pissed off. It was an old feud that ended very badly.”

  Her head bobbed back and forth. Then she paused and looked directly at me.

  “What was he?” she asked.

  She caught me off guard, and at that moment, I didn’t know what to say. “What do you mean exactly?”

  “Lucian—what was he? I know he wasn’t human,” she said. “And the child, I know it couldn’t have been human either. All I want is the truth. After all these years of exile, I think I deserve at least that much.”

  “I don’t know if I’m the best person to explain this to you, but I’ll try.” And I did. I explained as best I could the entire celestial world.

  When I was done, her face told me she was still trying to process the information. I knew it was a lot to take in.

  After a minute of pacing, she stopped and looked directly at me.

  “What is the real reason you’re here?”

  “I’m here because Lilith believes I was the one who killed her father, and she’s taking out her revenge on me. She almost killed me once and is now targeting my family and friends. She thinks she’s alone in this world, which is why I’m here. I thought, maybe if you could talk to her, things might be different. She grew up believing you were dead. Lucian told her you died during childbirth.”

  She shook her head. “No.”

  How was I supposed to respond to that? “Why?”

  Her response came quickly.

  “For eighteen years, I’ve lived in fear, wondering if Lucian would ever find and kill me. But after all these years, I’ve finally found a peace within myself. I came to believe that whatever it was—boy or girl—was dead, and I would never see the child again. Then you come along and tell me the child is alive. That she is part Fallen, and wants you dead?”

  She put her head down and closed her eyes. A deep sigh filled the room.

  “I don’t want any part of that madness. I don’t even know, or care to know her, and it sounds like having her in my life could be detrimental. I just want to live out the rest of my life, in peace.”

  “But she’s your daughter,” I blurted.

  Her face turned hard. She pivoted toward me and pointed out the door. “Leave now!”

  “I’m sorry,” I said. “I didn’t mean to upset you.”

  “Just leave.” She walked to the kitchen. “We’re done here.”

  I was a little upset, thinking she didn’t want any part of her daughter. But when I looked past my disappointment, I could see her side of things. She was finally free and living her life in peace. I don’t even know if I would want to try and make things work with Lilith. She might not be willing to get to know her mother, or even care.

  I slipped back into my coat and made my way outside. “Thank you for your time, Selene. I’m sorry for everything you’ve had to go through.”

  She kept her back to me, but stilled. “And I’m sorry I can’t help you. I hope you find peace one day.”

  I opened the door and walked out. Once I stepped outside, the frigid air smacked my face, which added to the blow.

  I headed for the trees where I left Dom and Kade.

  “So how’d it go?” Kade asked, popping out from behind a tree.

  I shook my head.

  “Is she crazy like her daughter?” Dom asked.

  “No, actually she was very nice. She’s been through a lot, but has finally found peace and would like to keep it that way.”

  “Well, we should get back before Alaine starts to worry,” Kade said. “It just means that we will have to find another way.”

  BACK AT THE PORTAL, DOM forgot about taking hold of my hand, and jumped right through. A pained scream followed, and the bloodstone amulet around my neck heated and glowed brightly.

  “I have to help him,” Kade urged, running toward the portal in a full sprint.

  “Kade, no!” I screamed. “Wait!”

  Horror rushed over me as I watched him disappear into iridescent swirls. I immediately called my gift and ran after him. As soon as I stepped through the portal, I entered madness.

  One of my worst fears had again manifested, in the form of two Hellhounds. My mind was transported right back into the Underworld. I just had to remind myself that in the Underworld, we defeated them, although they killed Danyel first.

  One had its sharp teeth sunk deep into Dom’s thigh, trying to drag him away, into the surrounding woods.

  Kade was facing off with the second. Its fiery red eyes were blazing, its teeth bared and dripping with hatred.

  I called my wings, and felt a boost of confidence in my ability to beat this situation. I was invisible and armed with Michael’s magic dagger.

  The Hellhound in front of Kade was ready to strike. Its front legs were bowed and prepared to pounce. Deep rumbling growls reverberated in the air around us. Its sharp teeth snapped, waiting to sink into him. I knew Kade could probably handle it, but I wasn’t going to take any chances. Being invisible, I had the advantage.

  I took to the air, flying directly above the Hellhound. I watched smoke exit from its throat as it heated. My pulse was racing, and adrenaline surged. Folding my wings and dropped directly onto it. It reared, trying to throw me off, but as its head bent backward, I thrust the dagger down into its thick skull. Bones snapped and cracked as the sharp blade cut straight through it.

  It tried to buck me off, sending me sliding down its side. But I held on to the blade, bringing the Hellhound’s head down with me. As I reached the ground, its head snapped to the side, and its body fell on top of me. The weight of the beast knocked the air out of my lungs, making me visible again.

  “Emma,” Kade called, immediately calling his wings. He shot forward with his sword in hand, severing the Hellhounds head from its neck. He picked up its lifeless body and effortlessly moved me out from underneath. Holding out his hand, he helped me to my feet.

  Without saying a word, we dashed into the forest to help Dom. His cries could still be heard as he attempted to get loose from the Hellhound’s deadly grip.

  I took hold of Kade’s hand and we became invisible. We ran through the trees, chasing after Dom, following the drag marks and blood left on the ground.

  Above us, Fallen were flying, creating dark shadows through the woods. I had no idea how many there were, but there were more than a few.

  Then we spotted them.

  Dom had grabbed hold of a tree, halting their escape. The Hellhound’s head thrashed from side to side, trying to set him free, but all it was accomplishing was tearing the flesh on Dom’s thigh.

  “You bitch!” he yelled in agonizing pain, before slamming the beast in the face with his free leg.

  “Dom!” I screamed, as we continued to charge forward.

  His head snapped in our direction.

  “Emma,” he hollered. “Don’t let it take my leg!”

  “Go after him, but please be careful,” Kade said. “I’ll be watching your back.”

  “Kade, no.”

  He let go of my hand and dove behind a tree as I continued forward with the dagger tightly gripped in my hand.

  As I got closer, my stomach twisted. Dom was covered in blood; the flesh from his
leg, not only torn to shreds, but burned from the fiery breath of the Hellhound. He must have dropped his swords because they weren’t behind his back, and he was using one of his fists to pound the Hellhound in the face, which only served in making it tighten its grip. He called his wings several times, but as he tried to pull away, it tore his flesh even more.

  The trees surrounding them were too tight for me to call my wings and take to the air, so I sprinted forward. When I reached them, I jumped up and thrust my dagger into the Hellhounds eye. It jerked back, releasing Dom’s leg from its powerful jaws.

  In desperation and fury, it snapped its razor sharp teeth at the air, catching me. I screamed as its teeth sank deep into my shoulder. Once it tasted my blood, it locked on.

  The excruciating pain dropped me to my knees, forcing me to become visible. Scorching heat from its muzzle seared my skin. I screamed out in pain and in a flash, Kade was at my side. His eyes were black and enraged.

  As Dom pulled himself backward, Kade leaped over the beast and with an empowered cry, pierced his sword through the middle of the creature’s back. The Hellhound jerked and thrashed, throwing me against a tree.

  I quickly scrambled over to Dom as Kade finished off the beast.

  “Aren’t we a pair,” he chuckled, his face tinged with pain.

  “Yeah,” I exhaled. “I need you to take your shirt off.”

  “I knew it.” He flinched in pain. “You want to check out the goods?”

  “No,” I huffed. “I need a tourniquet.”

  “Sure,” he moaned, sitting up and stripping his shirt off. His abs and chest flexed as he laid back and handed it to me.

  I struggled with my injured shoulder, trying to wrap it around the mutilated mass that was his leg. Kade appeared shortly after and helped me. He looked at my shoulder, carefully assessing it.

  “That needs to be tended to.”

  “I’ll be fine,” I said, trying to appear strong. “We need to get Dom back as soon as possible.”

  Kade finished wrapping Dom’s leg and helped him sit up. “Man, you’re a mess.”

  “I hate those damn dogs. They’ve got me twice now. Bitches.”

  Shadows circled above. “We need to go. I’ll take him,” Kade whispered. “Can you fly?”

  “Yes,” I replied but wasn’t entirely sure because I was feeling weak.

  As he lifted Dom over his shoulder, I touched his arm, making us invisible. Kade and I called our wings and began our trip toward Alaine’s home.

  The sky was swarming with Fallen, and I was getting weaker by the second.

  “We need to fly faster,” I urged.

  “What’s the matter?” Kade asked.

  “I’m failing.”

  His hand tightened around mine, and with an abrupt and rapid flapping of his wings, we were headed toward Alaine’s with a speed I hadn’t experienced since flying with Ethon. I could see the tower, but the corners of my eyes darkened.

  “Hold on, Emma.” The grave seriousness in his voice snapped me back.

  With every ounce of energy left inside of me, I held on until we broke the barrier. Kade flew us right to the front door, and I let go. The door was locked so I pressed the doorbell several times, hoping someone would hurry and get the door before any Darkling saw us and came charging.

  Caleb opened the door with a scavenger hunt paper in hand. We pushed past him, and Kade slammed the door shut.

  “Hey, guys,” he said, then gasped as his eyes caught my shoulder and Dom’s leg. “What the hell happened?”

  “We were attacked. Get Alaine, quick,” Kade said

  “Okay.” He sprinted away.

  “Caleb, where are you going?” Lia called. She came around the corner and froze. “Holy crap. Emma, are you alright?”

  She dashed toward me and paused a few feet away, noticing my injury. I knew she couldn’t handle the sight of blood, but as I faltered, she stepped forward and grabbed hold of me.

  “Help!” she screamed.

  I was fighting to stay coherent and losing the battle.

  Thomas and Alex rushed in, and carefully took Dom from Kade’s arms. They quickly carried him back to Alaine’s office. He was turning pale and the shirt wrapped around his thigh was soaked and dripping with blood. The thought of what was underneath made me sick. It was one of the most gruesome things I’d ever seen. The other had been his arm when the Hellhound in the Underworld shredded it. He’d healed pretty quickly then, and I was hoping it would be the same this time around. We needed every able Guardian. With them sending creatures from the Underworld, time was drawing near.

  Everything around me started to get blurry. I was fading.

  “Emma,” Kade breathed, gathering me in his arms and running back to Alaine. “I’ve got you.”

  “I’ll be fine,” I whispered, not sure if the words even came out.

  I was trying to be strong and hold on, but the pain overcame me. Intense to the point where it was shutting me down. There would be no sleeper needed. I couldn’t imagine the pain Dom was going through.

  MY EYES ACHED AS I tried to open them. But they weren’t the only things that ached. My right shoulder was throbbing, the pain excruciating. Kade was right next to me, holding a wet compress to my head.

  “Hey, you,” he breathed.

  “How long have I been out?” I whispered.

  “A few hours. I didn’t think you’d wake,” he said.

  “Dom?” I asked.

  “He’s okay. His leg is torn up pretty bad, but it’ll heal. I put the sleeper on him.”

  A moan escaped my lips, so he pressed his lips against my forehead and whispered, “Sleep.”

  PEEKING MY EYES OPEN, I saw that sunshine filled the bedroom. Kade was standing at the window, his shirt was off, and his hair was appealingly unkempt. The sun illuminated his flawless skin, accentuating every fine detail of his naked torso. He was without imperfection. A perfect vision.

  If small pings of pain hadn’t confirmed I was awake, I would have still thought I was dreaming. Then, he turned and offered me a smile.

  “Good morning,” he said, striding to my side.

  “Is it?” I asked, my voice still weak.

  “You opened your eyes, so I know it’s going to be a good day.”

  My insides immediately warmed.

  “What’s happened since I’ve been out?”

  His eyes saddened. “War is at our doorstep.”

  “Is everyone safe?”

  “Alaine has moved everyone, including Samuel, into the safe room.”

  “How is Dom?”

  “He’s better, not completely healed, though. His wounds were pretty extensive, so he’ll need at least another day to be in any kind of fighting condition.” He looked at me with worry. “How are you feeling?”

  I didn’t answer because I wasn’t sure. The excruciating pain was gone, but there were small shooting pains in my shoulder, and my limbs felt weighted and weak.

  With Kade’s help, I sat up and took in a deep breath. A wave of dizziness overcame me. He reached toward the nightstand and took hold of the blue vial, then opened it and held it to my lips. I sipped, letting my eyes close, and the magical, prickling sensation run through me. It felt as if it was targeting my damaged cells. Like a sponge, they soaked up whatever energy the potion offered.

  When I opened my eyes, the dizziness was gone, and I felt a tiny bit stronger. I immediately unwrapped the bandage, thinking I’d find it like Dom’s perfect new skin in the Underworld.

  When the bandage was finally removed, my heart dropped. Under it were newly formed scars, deep and hideous gashes across my upper right arm and shoulder. That was from what I could see, and I knew there had to have been more on my back.

  “No,” I breathed.

  “You sustained considerable injuries as well. In a few days, they will fade, and you will be good as new.”

  I sighed, running my finger over the tender, red scars.

  “Do you think we have a few days?�
��

  “I don’t know.” He sighed and ruffled his hair. “By the looks of things on the outside, I’d say no. But we can’t tell. They have made no attempt to strike, or send in the Darkling yet.”

  “Is her army as massive as Bane said?”

  “There are at least a hundred visible, and we still don’t know how many are hidden.”

  “What do you think our odds are?”

  “Always good,” he said with a grin. Optimistic, even in the face of death.

  I hated I wasn’t at my full strength, knowing we could be attacked at any time. But we had the barrier to keep the Fallen out.

  I had to get myself up and moving. Laying around, not knowing what was going on, was going to drive me mad. Kade was right. War was coming, and I wanted to make sure I was ready.

  Jeremy and Lia must have been worried sick. The last look on Lia’s face was embedded in my mind. It was a mixture of horror and fear. I had to visit them and show them I was on the mend, and would be alright.

  I READIED MYSELF TO VISIT the safe room. I needed to talk to Jeremy and Lia, and find Alaine.

  As soon as we left the room, Mark was walking across the foyer below. He turned and waved.

  “Hey, Mark,” I called down. “You’re looking healthy.”

  “Yes, I am. It’s amazing what a few days rest will do for you,” he said, performing a windmill with his arm. “I heard you guys were successful on the last rescue mission.”

  “Yeah, barely,” I sighed. “This has to stop soon.”

  “No doubt,” he said. “I’m headed to the kitchen for some grub. Alaine said Midway sent a few new Guardians, and they are having breakfast.”

  Kade and I glanced at each other. I was thankful we were given backup.

  “We’ll be down in just a minute,” Kade said. “Good to see you back.”

  “Thanks. It’s good to be back.” He whistled as he made his way back toward the kitchen.

  “Have you met the Guardians yet?” I asked.

  “No, they must have arrived this morning.”

  “I wonder how many they sent, and who they are?” I was pretty excited to see who Midway would send to us and was hoping they would be enough to help win the battle.