Page 73 of Reign

Chapter 29

Ember

The glowing hotchains wound around me, tethering me to my fate. Fire’s voice was loud in her rage. But beneath all that anger was fear, a fear so cold it nearly severed my connection to her.

Satan could trap us, but he wouldn’t end us. None of that really mattered much, though, since, in my heart, I knew I did not want to live without my soul-mate and our family. What would be the point? How could I exist, knowing that I caused the downfall of our world and every other, including the kingdom of Heaven, if Satan found his Halo again?

It had to be destroyed—as, I feared, did I.

Below me, Connor tried to climb the gates, his desperation to reach me heartbreaking. I squawked, trying to get him to leave me. But where would he go? He fell backwards.

“Do not worry about them, little firebird. They can go nowhere. I will kill his brothers, of course. But I think an eternity of staring up at the mate he can never touch, knowing she still carries the child he can never hold, will be a delightful punishment for the King of Hell-beasts, the traitor who stole my creations and gifted them to another world.”

Fire burned hotter, keeping me locked in the safety of her embrace. The one thing Satan couldn't do, even with all his power, was force our spirits to part. Not now that I was pregnant. I felt the strength of my connection to Fire, now more than ever.

Chained to the side of the gates, I felt the moment they started to vibrate. Satan laughed. “This is your purpose. These gates feel your power.” He touched a finger to my wings, and when he pulled it back, it was blistered. “Interesting.” He cocked his head. “The goddesses who made you and these gates wanted you to be a weapon against me, too. Maybe once I have conquered your world, and my creatures are free, I will return and destroy you. Keeping these gates open will not be important to me then.” And he dove elegantly backwards off the gate, spiralling down and swooping over Connor’s head before he rose skyward. His winged troops gathered behind him, the stormy sky turning black from the swarm about to invade the world I loved.

Unbidden, flames spread from my wings. I fought and sobbed, but there was nothing I could do as the massive gates absorbed my power. They shuddered and burst into flames, Fire turning them to ash within what felt like seconds. Chained and captive, I was forced to watch as I unleashed Hell on Earth. Horror filled me. This was my fault. I should have let Walker end me. A rush of wind hit me as thousands upon thousands of demons flew through the gaping expanse, Satan bellowing his war cry as he watched his army invade Earth.

I sobbed. Fire couldn’t cry, but her pain at what we had done tore at my soul. Mea growled at us both, but her nudge to fight for our freedom, although well-meaning, was useless. Every time we thrashed against the chains, they tightened further. I screamed my frustration and agony. Slowly, darkness and lethargy invaded me. I looked down, needing to see my mate whole.

Don’t you ever give up!

His voice was in my head. I swallowed my tears. Even Hell couldn’t break our bond.

Far, far below me, he began to climb.

ChapterTwenty nine

Owen

“Ember!Don’t you fucking do it!” I bellowed. But she didn’t hear me or chose not to. The stunning bird of fire somersaulted in the air and dove into the Rift with a screech that tore at my heart. “Godsdammit!”

I swooped down and picked up a fae weapon off the ground, hoping against hope that my King and Queen would be successful, but the chances were slim.

I met Sophie’s gaze before searching out my brothers. All in wolf form, they howled loudly. Rawson’s bear lumbered towards Jed, who was fighting a pocket of demons alone. We were winning, but if we couldn’t close this Rift, they would keep coming.

The ground beneath our feet pulsed and vibrated. Loud buzzing, like a swarm of locusts, echoed from the Rift, accompanied by a roar that froze the blood in my veins.

Shit, Connor had been right.Hewas coming. “Sophie! Close it! Now!” I bellowed.

Sophie had long since shed her gothic, fighter girl look. I’d been there when Balthazar had caught her trying to run from him at the Gambit, so I knew that she was part angel. I blinked, almost blinded as she began to glow. Her wings burned brightly, and her golden hair shone, her whole body so bright it was as if she’d been injected with sunlight. She might only be half-angel, but her angel side definitely outgunned her shifter. She moved her wings with a beauty and grace that was breathtaking.

I cracked my neck, ready for our final battle. Connor, the stupid bastard, had known he was going into Hell. I had no idea why he’d just let himself fall into the Rift, but he sure as fuck could have gotten himself out if he’d wanted. He was extra powerful there, and Hell hadn’t kept him contained before. I just hoped it wouldn’t now. We needed him.Ineeded him.

Pushing those weak thoughts from my mind, I concentrated on Sophie.

She held the Halo above her and lifted it towards the heavens. I had no idea what she would do, but I prayed to the Mother Wolf it would work.

Her sweet, melodious voice carried through the air even above the clatter of the fight. The Halo flashed into life, the runes upon it burning brightly, sending a signal into the night. Around Sophie, the air exploded with light, the night sky so lit up I had to cringe away from it. The fight zone suddenly went quiet. The only voices were those of my brothers and allies. When I looked aloft again, an army of angels floated above us. A magnificent woman touched Sophie’s cheek. I swallowed hard. Her beauty hurt my eyes. I had no idea who she was or where these beautiful supernatural beings had come from, but I wasn’t going to question it. Not when the ground shook enough to knock us from our feet and send the unsupported aluminium walls of the building tumbling outwards.

Drake howled up at Sophie. A warning. He couldn’t protect her when she was up there. She ignored him.

“They are here!” she yelled. “Get back!” We all heard her. Every single one of our supernatural armies as we fought side by side.

Ice covered my skin. This was it. Judgement day. For our world and all others.

“Look!” B’nar bellowed. He pointed at something behind me. I turned as the wind whipped dust into my eyes and mouth. The portal was huge, and pouring from it was an army like none I’d ever seen. Fae warriors dressed in gleaming armour and wielding weapons alight with fae magic sprinted through, Walker at their head.

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