Page 70 of Fallen Demon

Lacey cleared her throat. “We don’t want to see anything not PG rated.”

Reluctantly, Levi and I pulled apart, but I kept my hand on his arm as we stood. Once on our feet, he slid my hand down and entwined his fingers with mine.

“Thank you,” Levi said, first staring at me, then his sister, and then at everyone else. I knew these words weren’t easy for him to say, and I was sure he wouldn’t repeat them for a while, but I could see the emotion in his blue eyes.

“That explosion released a lot of magic, and it felt like a beacon.” Topaz approached us and handed me the dagger. “You should go before trouble finds you.”

“Trouble always finds me.” I took the dagger from her.

Levi’s eyes narrowed as he stared at the dagger.

“What about her?” Abbie asked.

We all turned to the smaller circle, where the mad angel still yelled and punched the wall.

A growl started low in Levi’s chest.

“You guys go,” Topaz said, “and I’ll keep her locked in here for the rest of the day.”

“What if she attacks you?” Aspen said.

“She can try, but she won’t be able to.” Topaz offered us a small smile. “My cottage is warded and only those with no ill intentions can approach it.”

“But she’s powerful,” I said.

“Are you doubting my powers?” Topaz feigned annoyance.

“Then let’s go,” Lacey said, her voice still flat.

I let go of Levi’s hand and reached for Topaz. “Thank you for?—”

My words died as a new sound reached my ears.

The zooming of something approaching fast.

Angels.

I looked up, and sure enough, a dozen or more angels dressed in their white and silver battle uniforms flew directly at us.

“I’m on it,” Aspen said, as he moved his hands fast and started opening a portal.

A light bolt zipped from behind us, hitting Aspen’s side, and stopping the spell. He fell backward, and for a moment I feared he was dead, but then Lacey knelt beside him and told us he was just injured.

Behind us, dozens of new angels approached, and these were much closer than the others.

“Shit,” Levi muttered.

“Get ready!” Ava yelled.

The demon hunters formed a wide circle around us. Wyatt, Farrah, and Zad joined them.

Lacey put her hand over Aspen’s wound, closed her eyes, and three seconds later, pulled her hand back. The wound was gone.

“Thank you,” Aspen said.

“Can’t you open a portal?” Zad asked Abbie.

She shook her head. “My portals are tethered to the Grand Eternity Hall. Only I can go there.” She pressed her lips for a second. “And I won’t open one to the hall now.”

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