Page 46 of Fated Angel

Of what she’s fighting for.

Lydia’s voice grows louder, the ancient words rising from deep within her well of magic. The ward shimmers, then crackles as if it’s getting annoyed. Lydia extends her arms wider, splaying her fingers. Crying out the final word, she slams her palms on the invisible shield.

Lightning explodes, streaking over the barrier, into the air, and straight through Lydia.

A powerful boom powers through the forest, sending leaves and forest litter scattering. Colt protectively wraps himself around Gabby, but not before she sees what the strike did to Lydia.

Her body lifts off the ground, arches, jerking and writhing as it’s overwhelmed with energy.

The cry that pierces the air is pure agony.

Silence descends and Gabby wrenches herself from Colt’s arms. She rushes over to where Lydia’s sprawled, pale and motionless.

“Lydia!” she asks in a low voice, kneeling beside her. “Lydia?”

Her lashes flutter. Her mouth works. Then her eyes open. “See?” she croaks. “Easy peasy.”

“She did it,” says Colt.

Gabby looks up to see he’s a few feet away. Past where the ward once was.

Lydia pushes up and Gabby helps her to her feet, realizing the battle has begun.

There’s nothing stopping them from reaching Mercy Academy.

18

Colt

Colt’s demonic power surges as the wards fall and he steps forward. Beyond is Mercy Academy, his home, and the Grigori have once again tried to strip him of the most important things in his life.

He realizes there will be no negotiations. No attempts to lure the Grigori out.

Now is the time for battle.

He turns, looking back at Gabby as she helps Lydia to her feet. His stomach drops, looking at the witch. The price of what she’s done might be greater than she ever could have imagined, and Colt worries about what implications that might bring.

“It’s time to fight!” Gabby shouts, still supporting Lydia. “Let’s take back the academy!”

Everyone rushes forward, angels and witches, humans and otherworldly creatures. Colt watches them surge toward him. His blood pumps, adrenaline injecting through his veins. It’s time to fight, for real, at last. And he’s more ready than he’s ever been.

He turns as his friends and allies pass him, letting his wings unfurl slowly until they’re stretched as far as they can go. In each hand, hellfire swords appear, sizzling and crackling in the night air. The hellfire seems just as eager to destroy as Colt is.

“Are you ready?” Gabby asks beside him. Someone else has taken Lydia, and Gabby is his mirror opposite. Her white wings brush his black ones, an unconscious display of affection as the Spear appears in her hand and glints.

“I’ve never been more ready in my life, my heart,” Cole says with a smile.

The blush that crawls up Gabby’s cheeks is so unlike a warrior facing battle, and Colt wishes he could take a picture of her at this moment and always remember his avenging angel blushing on the precipice of war.

“Fiancé,” Gabby whispers, but she stands on her tip-toes and kisses Colt gently on the lips.

“Wife.” Colt grins wildly.

A scream peals through their sweet moment and Gabby and Colt turn to face the academy. In front of them, a group of cultists face their own forces. The lead cultist’s sword is sticking out of the back of the woman who screamed. As her body shudders and goes still, he rips the sword free, spraying blood all over the grass.

“Go,” Colt snarls, looking with relish from the blood splattered to the man. “Find the secret entrance. I’ll finish these vermin and meet up with you inside.”

Gabby hesitates, worry creasing her features, but nods. She tucks her wings close to her back and with a small leap, propels herself into the air and over the chaos.

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