Page 131 of Dark Angel

Colton is lingering in the shadows, waiting for her. She rushes up to him and his feral grin returns. “You did well, Petal.” He speaks calmly. “I need the blade now. You know where it is.”

Daisy nods slowly.

“Go get it. I will be waiting for you. No doubt your friends will show, so I might just call some of my own to join us.”

“Are you going to hurt them?”

“If they get in the way, yes,” Colton answers with no remorse.

Daisy’s brows crease at the thought. His hand wraps around her neck, drawing her gaze back up to his dark one. “Don’t you fret, Petal. I will be with you every step of the way. Remember, I can see everything. All you need to do is retrieve my blade. Leave the rest to me.”

“Ourblade.”

Colton’s smile drops as he stares at her delicate face. “Do you have all you need, then?” She nods hastily. “Then let’s go take what’s ours, Petal.”

44

It’s Darkest Before the Light

Kora stands beside Alice and Matthew, waiting in silence. The mechanical clock on the wall reads ten minutes past midnight. Surely, she will come soon.

Kora managed to find the blade easily. Robert didn’t spend any time hiding it. He simply left it in his office.

Safer in the Ascendancy.

She wants to laugh at how ridiculous he was.

Alice gulps beside her, holding a blade in her fragile, innocent hand. Matthew is on her other side, holding one in each of his.

“It’ll be all right, Alice.” Kora reassures her quietly.

Alice nods hurriedly. Kora can almost feel her nerves vibrating off her, she’s shaking that much.

A sudden clanging sound echoes outside of the building, and they halt their breathing to listen closely.

“She’s here.” Kora exhales, walking to one of the windows and peering out at the garden below. Several Infernals are outside attacking Clarence and Jordan. Her chest moves rapidly as she watches her brother and him fighting alongside each other like a team.

Clarence fights off two as Jordan takes on another three demons.

Slashing. Swiping. Jabbing. Kicking.

The Infernals are hissing and clawing in an effort to bring the two of them down.

Jordan manages to stab one through the throat, ripping it apart so that essence spurts from the wound, killing the demon instantly, before turning onto the others.

Clarence holds both blades in his grasp, swiping at an Infernal that’s carrying its own deadly weapon, slashing it in Clarence’s direction. Another is approaching him as well, but Clarence spins to-

Suddenly, a door slams shut, echoing through the large, silent building. Then there are footsteps racing up the flights of stairs. Each one climbing higher and resounding louder the closer they get.

Daisy.

Kora holds the golden blade out in front of her protectively, sliding Alice behind her as they wait for Daisy to appear. Fear builds inside of her. Trepidation floods in her veins. Her throat feels dry and scratchy as Kora tries swallowing.

Daisy’s head appears at the top of the staircase, and she stops in her tracks to stare at the three of them waiting to defend. Then her gaze falls onto Uriel’s blade in Kora’s grip.

She’s covered in someone else’s blood. Her skin is blotted with scarlet liquid, drying against her darker flesh. Some splatters decorate her face, which makes Kora sick to her stomach. Her bright sunshine dress is now ruined with gore.

“Give it up, Daisy.” Matthew says as gently as he can.

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