Page 22 of Rage of the Fallen

As we floated there, human and phoenix, a profound connection grew between us. I’d never felt like this with any other animal. Her very presence chased away the fear in the face of this miracle. I tilted my head back and exhaled a breath of exuberance. Despite Maci’s little tricks, I had found Aurora and broken the spell.

She was free, and she was on our side.

The phoenix soared from the water, a bright ball of hope. She lit up the embankment, and my heart nearly stopped.

There wasn’t only one gluttony demon. There were six. Six men dressed in suits, ready to kill me.

Their eyes glowed with an unholy red light, fixed on me with murderous intent. They stood arrayed along the embankment, a gauntlet of evil between me and safety.

For a moment, despair threatened to overwhelm me. How could I possibly fight six demons? Even with Aurora by my side, the odds seemed insurmountable.

Then, like an answer to an unspoken prayer, a figure leaped onto the embankment. Justice! His sudden appearance sent a jolt of hope through me. He landed in a crouch, then straightened, his face a mask of determination. In his hands, he held the Mirror of Aethereal.

The demons hissed and snarled. They rushed at him, their hands stretched out. Justice raised the mirror high. Its surface caught Aurora’s light, magnifying it and directing it toward our enemies.

The effect was instantaneous and horrifying.

The gluttony demons released a collective screech of agony, a sound that seemed to claw at the fabric of reality. Their forms wavered and distorted like images in a funhouse mirror. Then, in a grotesque display of unmaking, their bodies dissolved into black smoke.

The smoke writhed and twisted in the air as if fighting against an unseen force. But it was a losing battle. With one final, unearthly howl, the smoke was sucked downward, disappearing into the ground as if the earth itself was reclaiming some long-banished evil.

In the sudden silence that followed, I heard my own ragged breathing and the gentle lapping of water against the shore. Aurora circled overhead, her light now gentle and soothing. Justice stood on the embankment, the mirror still raised. Power radiated from him.

As I struggled to stay afloat in the frigid water, my gaze locked with his. His expression held a mixture of relief, triumph, and love.

I reached the embankment, and Justice was there in an instant. With one powerful motion, he lifted me from the water, his strength making me feel as light as a feather. He cradled me to his broad chest, and I felt the rapid beat of his heart against my cheek. His warmth seeped into my frozen limbs.

“Sawyer, are you all right?” He scanned me for injuries.

I tried to respond, but my teeth were chattering uncontrollably. “Ye-yes,” I managed. “Just fr-freezing.”

Relief washed over his face, softening his features. He pressed a gentle kiss to my forehead. “Let me warm you up,” he murmured, his breath ghosting over my skin.

Justice rubbed his large hands over my trembling form, the friction generating blessed heat. His touch was determined yet gentle, each movement deliberate and caring. It felt like magic, chasing away some of the bone-deep cold that had settled into me.

“You did it,” he murmured, a note of pride in his voice. “You found Aurora and made it back. I knew you could.”

I nestled closer to him, seeking more of his warmth. “It was close,” I admitted. “If you hadn’t shown up with the mirror when you did…”

He tightened his arms around me. “I’ll always be there when you need me,” he promised fiercely.

After a moment, Justice reluctantly loosened his hold on me. He reached over and snatched my clothes piled on the edge of the pool. “Here. You need to get dressed before you catch your death.”

My fingers were still numb and clumsy, but I managed to pull on my jeans and shirt. Justice knelt to help me with my socks and shoes, his touch lingering a moment longer than necessary.

As I stood, feeling somewhat more human now that I was clothed, I caught sight of Aurora circling overhead. Her presence reminded me of the gravity of our situation.

“Justice.” I caressed his muscular chest and leaned in closer, feeling his warmth and strength. “We did it. We rescued Aurora.”

His gaze softened, and he gently cupped my face with his rough hands. “No, you did it. You’re amazing.” He kissed me, then pulled back to look into my eyes. “All we need is the harp, and we can stop Maci. We’re stronger now, thanks to you.” Hebrushed his lips over mine again. “After this is all over, I’m taking you somewhere peaceful and far away from monsters.”

I smiled at him, lost in his dark eyes. “Somewhere tropical?”

His lips traced a path down my neck, leaving a trail of tingling kisses in their wake. As his sharp fangs grazed my skin, an electric current shot through me. “You drive a hard bargain, my stunning mate,” he muttered.

“Hey,” Damon called from above, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “Sorry to interrupt your little Twilight moment there, but we’ve got bigger fish to fry. You know, like the army of demons probably heading our way?”

Justice wrapped his arms around me and jumped, carrying me to where the others waited.

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