“She is not mine!” Her scream cracked through the darkened sky. Then she straightened. A slow smile crept upon her face. Her white teeth flashed. “And there is no obsession. I’m just trying to win a war. You are the mortals’ biggest protectors. Doesn’t it make sense to take out the key players?”
Elisa smirked. “She is yours. She told me so.”
Annie’s head jerked back; her grin slid from her features, turning into a scowl. “Either you lie, or the girl lies… neither is a surprise.”
“Then to whom does she belong?” Elisa asked.
Her eyes glazed over as she regarded Charlie’s prisoner. “The puppet master, of course.” She held out her hands and began twitching her fingers in such a strange way that we all watched. They wiggled the imaginary strings of some strange marionette, dancing along to the tune of an unknown song in her head. “She is his toy and does his bidding like a good little dummy. He likes to make people dance. He likes to make you dance.”
Her fingers froze in the air as she cocked her head to the side. “Bring the mortal here, little dummy.”
My heart dropped into my stomach. “No.”
Grayson arrived behind Charlotte and prodded her in the back to move. Tears leaked from her eyes. The color shifted from ice-blue to black, then back again. She jerked her head, fighting the demon within her.
My pendant pressed against my chest, turning cold, warning me. My heart beat faster as I scanned the landscape, searching for the new threat, and then I saw him. He peered from the shadows, his stare sending a tremor down my spine.
I opened my mouth to warn the others, but nothing came out. I couldn’t look away from the demonic mortal or his strange eyes—not even when Elisa gasped or Cedric cursed. The new creature barely registered the disturbance his albino presence and transparent gaze caused, until…
“Father!” Charlie cried.
“Nikolaos?” Elisa clutched the material at her heart. “No.”
“Nikolaos… you bastard.” Laith’s voice was unrecognizable for the malice embedded within.
Without removing his gaze from mine, the newcomer addressed Laith. “Strong words for our first reunion, in… forty years, brother?”
Laith sneered. “You are no brother of mine.”
Nikolaos’s gaze slid to the field beyond. “It’s strange and interesting to me that after all this time, I can still see the shroud of the sanctuary, but yet…”
“You can see it?” the Annihilator asked. Excitement played within her voice.
Nikolaos nodded, his hand drifting forward as if to touch the veil, but then he dropped it to his side. “I would think that gift would have been taken after all that happened.”
Laith spat, pointing his blade at Nikolaos. “You mean after you abandoned your mate and your family?”
Elisa stepped in front of her mate, placing a hand on his raised arm. “Rachel. She felt you leave. Your essence was gone. There is only one way we cannot feel the connection to our mate, and that is death.”
“Elizabeth.” The man, the traitor, the deserter named Nikolaos almost smiled as his gaze roamed over Elisa. “I have missed you so much, my dear. The connection was severed, and to Rachel, I was dead. Or so she believed.”
My insides twisted in anger.
Charlotte made a noise, drawing attention. “Father!”
Nikolaos closed his eyes. “I’ve told you not to call me that.”
She grimaced, fighting Violet from within. Grayson held her tightly by the shoulder. “Maker, there is a Fallen inside me. She is trying to take over.”
Nikolaos studied her curiously. “Let her, my child. She will be powerful. She will make you powerful.”
“Child?” Laith looked from Nikolaos to Charlotte, no doubt seeing the resemblance between father and daughter. “You had a child? But how…? You have fallen.”
“You of all people should know the physical outcome of sexual intercourse.” Nikolaos’s eyes shifted to mine, watching my reaction, but I had none.
“She is obviously the child of the Annihilator as well.” Laith lowered into a crouch.
“What?” Charlotte paled, the blood draining from her face. “No. That’s not possible. My mother… my mother died in childbirth.”
Laith remained ready to pounce. “You resemble them both. But female demons cannot spawn. They kill their offspring.”
“As we should.” The Annihilator took a step closer to Nikolaos. “Don’t you dare look upon me for future nurturing, you quivering child. Your mother is dead. You’re lucky to have been spared.”
“How is that possible?” Laith asked, his voice sharp.
A gargled groan escaped Charlotte’s mouth. “Father, what is he talking about?”
Annie’s lip lifted in disgust as she regarded Charlotte. “I would never damage my body with a child, especially one as weak as that, but the mortal woman was so beautiful, even after birth—so rare—and Nikolaos was pleased by her. I couldn’t help myself. I took over the human whore the moment the child was born.”
Laith glared. “Why bare a child, Niko? What could you gain by it?”
“Look how useful she has grown to be. And now an even more powerful Fallen lies within her.” He looked upon Charlotte with an almost loving expression. “And my darling Rachel would never give me one. She refused me that gift but, it seems, blessed it upon another.”
His piercing, transparent gaze shifted to mine, and my heart almost stopped. “I see you, my Defender. A part of the intoxicating beauty that bloomed within my mate now blooms within you. I see her in your eyes.”
“It shocks me you did not know of her daughter.” Laith’s grin was wicked. “Did you not see her using your powerful future-gazing?”
Nikolaos shrugged. “‘The Lord giveth… and he taketh away.’ I deal with a far greater power now.”
“What do you want?” Laith asked.
Nikolaos smiled and whispered into the Annihilator’s ear. Annie jerked back, spearing him with a look.
“No,” she growled, hackles raised.
He tsked. “But this is my desire. Would you deny me?” He gently stroked the line of her jaw, smiling in such a way that would melt most hearts.
The Annihilator’s gaze narrowed, but she nodded. She turned away from him, her face a deep shade of red.
Raising his voice, Nikolaos eyed the line of our compound warriors. “We will return your mortal to you and allow all of you and your saviors to flee back to the safety of your sanctuary. We will further promise to leave this town. No one will be touched. Not a single drop of blood will be shed.”
Laith shouted over his voice. “In return for—?”
“Ava.” He looked into my eyes, reaching out his hand.
My brows furrowed. “What?”
With a growl, Darius inserted himself between us. I peered around him.
Nikolaos ignored the obstacle. “Come with me, Ava. For the safety of your sanctuary and mortals around the world for a space of ten years. Ten years of peace I swear to enforce. The Annihilator and her followers will not molest you. The Three can train up another Defender of their choosing in that time. All I ask for is that you come with me. I will not harm you.”
Darius spat. “Bullshit, old man. Lower your hand before I rip it off.”
Nikolaos only smiled at the threat, ignoring him. “This is your choice to make, Ava. Although I recognized The Three have moved the veil, somehow, I also know you are not yet bonded. I can tell by your Guardian’s reaction. He has not yet attacked, something he would not have been able to control if you were.” His eyes grazed the line of mortal warriors. “My offer stands,” he shouted.
Murmurs spread rampantly from both demons and mortals. I looked toward my wards, their expressions a mixed display of confusion and fear.
My brain buzzed along with them.
“I—don’t—” But my heart dropped.
This would save countless lives, including Cheryl and Zane, and give The Three the chance to retrain a ne
w Defender.
Darius gathered my face in his grasp. “Don’t you even consider—”
But I shook my head, pushing away his hands. Maybe this time Darius could choose someone he wanted. Someone less damaged and more willing to be mated. This way, I could finally get close enough to kill the Annihilator—or die trying.
“Darius.” Laith took him by the arm, drawing him a step away. “The traitor is right. This must be Ava’s decision. But tell me this, Nikolaos,” he said, turning back to his brother, “how can you stand by the side of the one who killed your eternal mate?”
Nikolaos’s gaze flew to the Annihilator, a look of shock across his face, and then… he laughed, a low chuckle that sent chills up my spine.
Annie smiled, caressing the side of his face. He kissed her palm. “She would never kill something I love.”
Laith’s upper lip lifted. “Your fallen mate has fooled you, Niko.”
Anger flashed in Nikolaos’s eyes. He pointed an accusing finger. “No, he has fooled us all. Your God…” He swallowed hard, making a visual attempt to control his features. “Your God wants us to kill off the Fallen so they have no chance of returning and setting things right. This is a war, my brother. These humans are not worth protecting as you do. It is foolish, and I told Rachel as much.” Again, he extended a hand. “Come with me, Defender, or be the cause of death to the ones you are duty-bound to protect.”
My muscles spasmed, my mind and body torn between the longing to accept Niko’s offer to save my people and friends, and the desire to stay and fight with my loved ones.
Without warning, Charlotte shoved Zane to the ground and jerked away from Grayson. The Annihilator looked at her in revulsion as she moved upon her maker.
Nikolaos’s gaze narrowed. “Child, what are you—?”
Faster than the crack of a whip, Charlotte lunged, knocking the Annihilator to the ground with a powerful side kick then grabbed Nikolaos’s wrist, twisting it up and behind his back. Annie let out a feral cry of rage before Charlotte slid the blade beneath Niko’s chin, freezing everyone in their place.
She raised her mouth to his ear. “Hello, little Nikki.”
Nikolaos blanched.
Violet sneered, her black eyes pools of death. My heart leaped within my chest.
He flung his head to the side. With a sickening crack, Violet stumbled away, raising a hand to her nose. Niko distanced himself from her further with a back kick to her gut. She flew to the ground.
“Violet.” He wiped at his neck, smearing a streak of blood where her knife had nicked his skin. “You old psychopath.” He spat her direction. “Kill her.”
“No!” It ripped from my lungs, as did the power from my soul.
Light exploded, red and fierce. All I could see was Violet. All I could feel was overwhelming agony as I tore from the confines of my friends. I blasted past Niko and his mate. The two fell away before me just as the demon horde reached my mother’s demon.
Violet’s purpling eyes met mine, and in that instant, understanding passed between us.
She jumped to her feet, thrusting her knife into the chest of the first demon that neared. It burst into a thousand pieces, falling to the earth and blending into the dirt beneath our feet.
The night sky was rent with the cries of war. Mortals moved upon lesser demons.
Violet screamed in warning as a ragged, toothless demon rushed me. I leaped back, but his serrated blade scraped across my stomach and the slash-resistant material. I growled, parrying the demon’s next attack, and waited for the pain that would come with such a cut—but it never did.
The demon rushed me too soon. I blocked his advance using his momentum against him, and without hesitation, stabbed him in the heart.
At contact, the Demon’s Eye erupted open at my chest. I braced against the power as light pooled, gathering the demon’s soul. Violet held me upright until the pendant closed its gate.
She tsked, giving me a light shove. “Get stronger, my Ava. We don’t have time for this,” she said, fighting off another demon.
I cursed beneath my breath.
Darius reached me. With a swift downward blow, he took out a lesser demon who attacked. A whirlwind of daggers and blades, my temporary Guardian cut down any vile entity that blew into my radius. They lay down before him like wheat amid the harvest.
Laith leaped over the lesser ranks, moving upon Nikolaos with a fury I had never seen from the Herald. Elisa cut a line through the enemy to fight by her mate’s side.
Noah led his sanctuary brothers and sisters against the lesser ranks. Roman and Hector battled the giant, Grayson…
But if Hector was fighting, where was Cheryl? Fear seared my soul. I searched for her among the sea of warring bodies.
In the distance, Aaron was an angelic blaze of light, blasting a path through the throng of demons. Ray appeared out of nowhere, Cheryl draped in his arms as he sprinted toward the veil. Cedric ran, tight on Ray’s heel, carrying Zane over his shoulder. Fiona cut down anyone that dared to follow.
My relief was only momentary. Annie’s violent cry sent chills up my spine.
“You filthy, thieving whore!” She stalked between the fighting masses, her sight trained on me.
27
New player
“I am ready,” Violet spoke next to me, steadying her weapons.
I nodded.
Annie sprinted across the small expanse, but a black shadow caught my attention. Like a ghost, it flew down the obscure street. Metal glinted, spiraled from the haunt, and impaled the Annihilator in the shoulder. With a scream, she slid to a halt. Reaching back, she ripped the blade from her flesh and twisted just as Jonathan propelled into battle.
Annie shuffled back, her lips in a snarl. “Traitor. You would fight against your own kind?”
Jonathan’s answer was a downward strike. His steel clashed against Annie’s knife. Face to face, his black eyes devoured his prey. His long-sleeved black shirt tight against the expanse of his shoulders, his muscles rippled. “She is my mortal. No one, not you, not your sick little boy-toy, can take her from me.”
Darius stiffened, shocked by Jonathan’s claim upon me, before he lunged at Annie. Annie shoved away Jonathan’s attack, simultaneously spiraling in the air, disarming Darius with a wheel kick to his forearm, and blocking Violet’s assault with her blade.
I watched in awe, momentarily entranced by my friends. Jonathan and Violet’s fluid and even synchronized attacks unfolded like a dance. Although not as graceful, Darius’s powerful strength and impressive skills awed.
Annie’s wild and jerky techniques effectively prevented any forecast of where she would attack next. Finding an opening, I swiped my blade at her middle. She jumped back with a predator’s lust. I jabbed and thrusted, but she deflected them all. Jonathan claimed her attention, blocking me out of the fight.
A deep cry made me turn. Hector flew, landing only feet away. I ran to him but he was already rising. I reached to him, clapping his hand in mine, and pulled him up. “No time for resting,” I said with a faux smile.
He wiped dirt from the blade with his torn shirt. “No, ma’am,” he said.
My gaze quickly took assessment of the battle front. Mortals fought lesser demons, their strength never waning as they beat back their foe.
Darius and Violet had been joined by the Heralds. Nikolaos was a blur of motion, as his once-upon-a-time family attacked from all sides. He lunged to stab Elisa, but she twisted away, grabbed Nikolaos by the arm, and flipped him to the ground. Nikolaos sprang to his feet, slashing at Cedric’s waist. Even though he wore slash-resistant clothing, the power of the assault ripped through the fabric, cutting into skin. Cedric barely registered the blood welling up within the cut, until Elisa stepped between him and Nikolaos, taking his place.
Grayson reclaimed Hector’s attention, and Hector shifted into a low crouch. Roman limped next to him, readying for the attack.
The shape-shifter and another demon with red hair broke from t
heir group and skulked toward me, their sights trained on my blades. I slipped my father’s knife in my pocket and pulled my long dagger. Talons erupted from the shape-shifter’s fingertips, matching the length of my chosen weapon. They charged.
I slashed through the arm of the first demon, nearly severing the limb. He fell to the ground and my pendant burst open once again to receive him. The demon let out a high-pitched scream, and attempted to skirt away from me as I blocked a downward slash from the shape-shifter. I dropped to one knee from the force, but pushed back the attack, swiping at his legs. My knife cut into his naked calves and he tumbled to the ground next to his filthy, quivering friend. I advanced. The shape-shifter cried out and back-crawled over his comrade in an attempt to escape.
I leaped through the air, slamming my blade into the shape-shifter’s chest.
I hissed through clenched teeth. “That’s for Zane, scumbag,” I said, a hysterical twinge to my lilt. As the Demon’s Eye collected his soul, I plunged my dagger into the second demon’s heart, eradicating him.
I closed my eyes to the raw sensation, the additional power sealing itself to my pendant.
The wind knocked from my lungs. My body flew before colliding back to the earth. My head collided against the rocky soil. Black dots filled my vision as I tried to reclaim breath.
Annie hovered over me, her expression murderous as she reached for my neck. I grabbed her arms just as her hand gripped my pendant. The chain strained against my neck, threatening to snap as she pulled. The Demon’s Eye screamed in terror; its shrill voice caused the space between my ears to explode in pain.
From my periphery, Darius ran at the Annihilator, tackling her to the ground. She rolled away, but Jonathan was on top of her next, a dagger over her heart as she held him off. Screaming, she blasted him back with her negative energy. Jonathan sailed through the air, collapsing into a hut of corrugated metal, disappearing into the wreckage.
I flipped to my feet and ran, positioning my knives. Annie swirled, waiting for my attack, as Violet came up from behind her.
Violet wrapped around Annie, pinning her arms to her side while Darius slid to his knees, holding her legs. Jonathan bolted from the shanty, but I was there first. Two blades in each hand, I took aim at the space where the Annihilator’s heart should have been…
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