Page 93 of Frosted Torment

“Shouldn’t Maros have taken you to hell by now?” yelled Lex, who now unleashed his wings. The white and silver feathers began to form a cocoon around me, still allowing me to see Vincent.

Vincent’s lip curled back as he scoffed. “Maros and I had a little talk. I made him realize that only someone with angel essence could activate the bracelet, but Noa’s lineage could bring forth the powers and secrets.”

“You won’t win this, Vincent!” I shouted up at him as his dark wings flapped menacingly.

He clapped his hands and smiled as though I meant nothing.And to him, I didn’t. “Kindly hand over, Noa,” he said in that chilling voice of his, “and I’ll let one of you live.”

A maniacal laugh erupted from him because we knew he meant that I would be the one to live.

We were surrounded; the hovering angels couldn’t land but swooped close enough to make my body shake with terror.

“Lex,” I said, glancing back at him. “Please unwrap your wings from me. Go to the camp and alert the others. Baz,” I paused, choking on a sob, “Baz told me Nevaeh’s house is gone.”

“What!” Lex dropped his protective wings like I had asked.

“Baz didn’t get a chance to tell me everything, but he managed to tell me enough.” Then, I looked up at Vincent. “You willneverhave me!” I spat.

Vincent watched, amused, as Lex ran his hands through his hair, worry coating his face. A cruel smirk spread across Vincent’s face. “You won’t make it, Lex,” he sneered calmly.

Lex’s gray eyes danced with fog and rain, something I hadn’t seen since my birthday, and it made my stomach lurch. He searched Vincent’s face. “You revolting son of a bitch! Why?”

Vallen’s arm shot out in front of me, his grip firm as he pushed me behind him.

“What the hell, Vallen?” I twisted against his grip, my frustration boiling over.

“Lex, I want to thank you for your service,” began Vincent mockingly as he pranced and fluttered higher above us.

“No!” I screamed. My voice cracked with desperation. Vallen’s arms were vice-like around me, unyielding, and I felt my strength float away.

Vincent’s wings beat twice as he shifted to the left, eyeslocked on mine. “If it weren’t for you, Jossy, and Ivy…” His voice dripped with menace. “Remember her, Noa? She loved you, but did you love her back?”

“I did love her, you piece of shit!” The tears burned hot trails down my cheeks as I thrashed against Vallen’s iron grip. “She was my everything—my best friend.”

He looked back to Lex, bored as his eyes glazed over as if he couldn’t remember why we were there. “If it weren’t for the three of you finding Noa and setting up the New Year’s Eve party,” he praised Lex with a nod of respect. “We wouldn’t be here now.”

“Don’t listen to him, Lex,” I ordered, my hands balled up at my sides.

“Anyway,” Vincent shrugged nonchalantly, his eyes shifting briefly to meet mine before flitting away. “Thank you.” He gave a powerful flap of his wings, sending a gust of wind swirling around us and rustling the leaves in nearby trees. Then Vincent’s angels descended like a well-coordinated flock, their wings slicing through the air as they circled around Lex.

Vallen grabbed me and slung me over his shoulder as we sprinted.

“Lex!” I shouted, watching him turn and give a quick wave before launching into the sky to fight.

Time seemed to crawl as another fallen angel swooped in, snatching me from Vallen’s grip. I almost hit the ground, but Vallen caught me at the last second, holding me tight against his chest with one arm. With the other, he reached out and crushed the angel’s throat. She disintegrated into ash upon hitting the ground, leaving only bones and ripped wings behind.

I spun back toward the mountain where three of Lex’sformer allies hovered menacingly in the air. Within seconds, they seized Lex by his shoulders and flung him into a dark cave below, boulders crashing down on him. Tears streamed down my face as I went limp in Vallen’s arms. He swiftly lowered me to the ground.

“We have about ten seconds before Vincent and his horde get here, Noa,” he said urgently, though his voice was distant as my ears began to muffle. His hand gripped my shoulder firmly. “Focus! We need to get to your apartment.”

My body turned to lead with every motion feeling cumbersome, and I couldn’t think straight. A wave of panic hit me as I wondered if I should go back for Lex. I made another attempt to contact Baz, but there was still no response.

Tears streamed down my cheeks as I struggled for breath between sobs. “He...he won’t answer me.”

Vallen pressed his palms against his temples, his breath trembling as he fought to keep calm. “I know,” he murmured. “But please, stay with me. We need to reach your apartment.”

My nails dug into my palms as I whipped around to face Vincent, the legion of angels looming behind him like an impending storm. Electricity crackled through my veins, setting off a wildfire of rage that blazed hotter with each heartbeat. Bolts of searing orange and yellow erupted from my fingertips, disintegrating two guards mid-flight before they could even react.

With an earth-shattering roar, Vincent launched himself at us. His claws flashed ominously in the dim light as he closed the distance with terrifying speed.

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