Page 51 of Vampire Runner

I click my lips, pointing at her. “Exactly.”

When we approach the area illuminated by the barn lights, I incline my head to the witch. She steps forward, raising both of her palms. The air swirls around us, the sound of nonexistent leaves rustling in the wind drowning out the real world. With a hard tearing motion, Cassandra’s magic rips down the bright magic coating the building. Brutal but effective.

“Remember, he’s mine,” I say once more for the vampires.

“Our brother is our priority,” Ambrose states, readying himself, daggers in hand.

I don’t wait another moment. I raise my knee and slam my foot in the center of the barn door, sending it splintering inwards. Ambrose and Kasar are on my heels as I sprint inside. Cassandra follows behind us, her magic writhing around her and eager to be released. I find my target immediately, baring my teeth and hissing.

“Eris. How unexpected.”

Aeternaphiel, the male who’d once meant everything to me, greets me as if he hadn’t destroyed my life for his personal gain.

I breathe deep, settling myself. Aeternaphiel wants me to lose control. It was the only way he could ever best me in training. I cock my head, ignoring Ashe’s bloody body hanging limply by his wrists behind him. “Why? Because you cast me to the depths of Hell for your crimes? Or because you thought that siphoning blade of yours would have drained me of my life force on your behalf?”

Cassandra is tense beside me but I can’t look away from the archangel for a moment. Not when he’s so unpredictable. Any suggestion of distraction and he could strike out. He was the master of patience when it came to combat.

Aeternaphiel purses his lips in disappointment, but then raises a brow as he sees the witch. “Perhaps I was too hasty when I judged you innocent of this demon’s aberrations.”

I’ll give Cassandra credit. She doesn’t cower.

“Release my mate. You’ve no right to keep him.”

The male watches her, then looks at Ambrose and Kasar. He shrugs, indifferent. He takes three steps to the side where a long industrial cable hangs with a button box at the end and presses it. “He’s more trouble than it’s worth, it seems. Pity. We were having fun.”

Ashe, his bindings suddenly released from where they were attached to the chains, crumples to the floor. His body hits the cement with a loud thud, drawing a gasp from Cassandra and twin snarls from the vampires. When she steps forward, I catch her arm, keeping her back.

“Step away from him,” I order Aeternaphiel.

He backs away, hands raised, with an expression of innocent cooperation. I keep ahold of Cassandra while Kasar and Ambrose approach the injured male. Kasar keeps his gaze on the archangel the entire time, while Ambrose rouses Ashe enough to get the male to loop his arm over his shoulder. Ambrose hauls him upright; Kasar steps into Ashe’s other side under his arm. Ashe is weak but conscious enough to attempt walking. Broken, haggard stumbling is more accurate in my opinion.

When they finally turn their backs on the archangel, Aeternaphiel slowly resumes his place at the center of the room, hands in his pockets. He’s wearing expensive tailored pants and a shirt, the shirt sleeves rolled neatly up. No doubt to try to spare his clothing the stains of Ashe’s blood.

I let go of Cassandra when the vampires are in front of us. She goes to Ashe, cupping his bloodied face with her hands. She murmurs something I make a point not to hear and meet Ambrose’s eyes. He nods once in silent understanding. With a nudge, he moves them forward. Cassandra sends me a concerned look, an offer in her eyes to stay. I decline in a quick, sharp shake. This isn’t her fight. It never was.

In the end, it was always going to be just me and Aeternaphiel.

I return my attention to the male I’d loved as the four make their way out of the barn. The sounds of engines and then doors opening and closing let me know that they weren’t alone out there.

“I never intended for you to suffer,” Aeternaphiel states when it’s only us.

I cut him off with a snort. “Save me the bullshit. I know you as you really are. You were willing to sacrifice your mate to gain control over the celestial realm.” I tilt my head with a sickly-sweet smile. “Doesn’t look like it worked out too well for you.”

Aeternaphiel’s once beautiful face twists in rage. “You could have been my queen!” he spits out. “You were the one who betrayed me. Going behind my back to whisper in the council’s ears. Poisoning them against me. I saved you. They wanted your head on a pike.”

I scoff. “Only because you’d convinced them I was the one planning a coup. Better my head than yours?”

He raises his chin in arrogance, the righteous anger I used to admire burning in his eyes. “I was meant for more. I could still help our people, even if it cost me you.”

I raise my hand to idly inspect my sharp talons, then turn the hand palm out and study my nails. “All for nothing, as it seems. Else you wouldn’t be here on Earth, turning to dark magic to prevent your death at another celestial’s hand.” I drop my hand, looking at him with wide eyes. “Oh, right. That hasn’t worked out for you either.”

He furrows his brows, eyes flicking in the direction of the house. His nostrils flare with agitation and he takes several steps closer, only stopping out of reach. “What did you do this time?”

I drop the act and meet his glare with one of my own. I’m done playing this game. “Cassandra severed the protective spells on your soul. Interesting thing about demons, Ae. We eat them. Yours was surprisingly better than I expected. Not much taint of rot.”

“You lie.”

I cock my head. “Do I?” I let out a humorless laugh. “Why don’t you let me slit your throat and you can find out.”

---