Page 80 of Dark Angel

“I had to for him to charm it correctly. Please don’t hate me for it. I’ve known Julius for years. He won’t tell anyone.” His hands cup her cheeks, lifting her head ever so slightly to gaze up into his. “I want to help you, to protect you, and this seemed like the right idea.”

Daisy nods against his hands. She goes to thank him again when he leans in, kissing her gently on her full, soft lips. Butterflies swarm her insides as her mind blanks. It’s only thinking about Clarence’s hands holding her.

Eyes fluttering closed, he deepens the kiss. His hands frame her face tighter as he leans in more. The sounds of the festival around them drowning out. This is what she’s been waiting years for, and it feels exactly like how she dreamt it would feel.

Pulling himself back after a few blissful moments, her eyes flash open to his. A full smile arresting her face as he drops his hands.

“I am so sorry. I just needed to do that.” His voice hushed.

Daisy lets out the smallest giggle, feeling her face flush with happiness. “I have been waiting a while for you to do that.”

“Oh, really?”

He goes to touch her face again when the shouting begins.

Both of their heads snap towards the loud commotion. Clarence immediately spots the group of Infernals appearing in front of the others, who are quickly grabbing at their weapons.

Clarence grabs Daisy protectively, rushing towards the others and pulling a dagger out from his leather boot.

Matthew pulls Alice behind him, following Clarence’s movements.

Daisy readies herself for the attack.

Kora twists around to see the group of Infernals covered in darkness, glaring at them with soulless dark eyes. The familiar stench of demonic energy suffocates the air as Mortals and Marked kinds scatter from the water’s edge.

Kora removes Uriel’s blade smoothly from the spot between her shoulder blades as Levi shouts in the demon’s direction, “Who sent you here?”

The Infernal at the front angles its head in a menacing way, its gnarly voice speaking gravelly, “Angels of light. We are here to retrieve something.”

Alice squeaks from behind Matthew’s back. Her pulse is thumping and rattling her bones. Her brother’s hand grips her tightly as he holds out his weapon protectively.

“Who sent you?” Levi repeats in a harsher tone.

The Infernal steps closer and blasts a shot of darkened mist towards him and Melody.

Levi takes the hit, falling backwards, and his head collides with the earth. “Levi!” Melody shouts, falling to her knees to wake him, but the impact has knocked him unconscious.

“Angels of light. We are here to retrieve something.” The demon echoes itself, like it’s programmed to only repeat one sentence.

Matthew’s jaw clenches, and he takes off, running at the Infernal. It reaches out, swiping its blackened nails towards him, but misses. Matthew grunts, spinning and tries hitting the Infernal, but his bladenarrowly deflects. He swipes out again, embedding the dagger into the monster’s chest.

With a grunt, he pulls out another weapon, pushing it through the neck of the creature. A guttural scream releases from its mouth as it falls to the ground. Its flesh burns from the angelic weapon piercing its skin and failing to repair. Essence pours out leisurely from its throat like sticky water.

Clarence strikes down another as Lewis and Daisy fight off three more Infernals. At least a dozen demons swarm around them like vicious, shadowed monsters. One appears after the other as they’re being summoned from different realms. Some are holding onto demonic blades while others fight with only their dark elements and poisoned claws.

Clarence pulls a knife from the head of the Infernal lying in the shadows when another dark creature goes to hit him with a gust of darkness.

Jordan pushes him out of the way, taking the blow and falling backwards onto the hardened ground. His vision blurs momentarily.

A hand reaches out, helping him to his feet. “You all right?” Clarence asks while his attention is on the next Infernal approaching them.

“Thanks.” Jordan says with a hard look on his face.

He spots Kora on the other side of the battle, her blade swiping through an Infernal. The Infernal falls just like the others, its body leaking clear essence on the ground as she shoves it away.

Another creature is getting ready to hurl a gust of shadow at Kora. Jordan lunges forward, wrapping an arm around its neck, dragging his dagger from its throat down into its rib cage, opening up a gaping wound. The cry that floods his ears is deafening as Jordan lets go, and the creature slumps lifelessly to his feet.

Kora stares at him. Her eyes screamthank youwhile her body screamshelp.

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