Page 72 of Fallen Demon

“Still don’t have your magic?” Julien asked, his tone teasing. “What a shame.” He cast a bolt of light magic and threw it at my face.

I twisted fast and dodged it, but not before I felt the heat of the bolt on my cheek.

When I twisted back, Julien was right at my side, his magic ready to hit me. But I was quicker. I leaned to the left to avoid the hit, and swung my sword wide, cutting his bicep.

He screamed and let go of his magic.

I lifted my sword, poised at his heart.

His eyes met mine.

I hesitated.

“So weak,” Izrail said from my right. Before I could step away, he brought his sword up and hit the pommel on my temple.

For a second or two, my vision filled with black spots and my head rattled.

I blinked, forcing my mind to clear.

Lost, I stepped back.

And heard a growl.

Levi turned to Julien and Izrail. Without ceremony, he sent a snake of darkfire at Julien, wrapped around him tightly. The angel fell to the ground, squirming against the dark smoky ropes around him.

Then Levi bared his teeth at Izrail.

Izrail’s face became paler. His arms trembled as he moved his hands and tried to summon his magic. But Levi was too fast for him. The demon lifted Izrail by his throat, placed his hand on the angel’s chest, and discharged his magic like an electrical jolt.

Izrail shook, his eyes rolled back, and when Levi let him go, the angel fell in a heap on the ground, right beside Julien, who screamed again.

With a deadly gaze, Levi turned to me and for a moment, I was scared he had gone back to being the same as before. The demon who had been lost to the darkness.

But he blinked, and the darkness fell away.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

“I’m—”

A light whip cut the air between Levi and me, and we both turned to see Sariel and two other angels standing too close for comfort.

Sariel wrapped the whip around her forearm. “Last chance, Ariella.”

I looked around—the battle raged, and though I could see some of them were hurt, my friends were holding on. I couldn’t give up now.

“Go fuck yourself,” I said.

Levi scoffed and Sariel’s face turned red.

Someone moved behind Sariel.

Rhodes.

He was flying to where Ylena was imprisoned. A swell of rage and panic flooded my veins.

I tried sidestepping Sariel, but she moved with me. “Where do you think you’re going?”

Levi sent a bolt of darkfire at Sariel’s face. She barely had time to step back and avoid it. She stared at him with wide eyes.

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