Page 74 of Reign

He ran to his son, embracing him. Ember’s words came back to me. I had no idea how Walker had been at the compound and in Faerie. But there was no time to figure it out. The ground beneath us surged upward then collapsed into the Rift.

“Fall back!” I yelled, sprinting for safety. Whatever was coming, it was immense; the Rift was no longer a Rift. We had failed. Ember had been caught, and she had opened the gates of Hell.

Heat surged from the ground, superheating the air we breathed until it burned my lungs, sulphur filling my nostrils.

Above us, helicopters whirred. I recognised the insignias on the pilot uniforms and the type of helicopters.

The fucking SBI is working with us?

A surge of relief hit me, along with a huge helping of surprise. How or why they were here could be answered if we survived. We might not have the numbers Hell had, but we weren’t going down without a fight.

Walker signaled the helicopters to fire on the Rift. The angels held back as the gunships pelted shells at the first surge of winged demons.

Sophie chanted, and the Halo lit up again.

I sprinted towards Walker. “Hey! Walker! Pull the ‘copters back!”

Sophie and the others needed a clear shot at this. If it didn’t work, then all the helicopters and firepower in the world wouldn’t stop what was coming. My nostrils flared. I glanced at Selina. Just like always, Ifelther. I knew exactly where she was, and even if she didn’t want me, I’d fight and die for her and Devon. An image of Devon flashed in my mind, fortifying my determination. As if she felt my attention, she glanced over. It was hard to drag my gaze away before she caught me looking. She already held far too much power over me, but she didn’t need to know that.

Walker watched me approach, his face as cold as ever.

“Walker, pull them back. Sophie knows how to use the Halo.” I pointed upwards to the army of angels with glowing wings. “They all do.”

Walker met his son’s gaze. B’nar nodded once. It was enough.

Walker motioned for the birds to move back. They did.

Sophie pointed the Halo down towards hell and then dove, driving herself forward. I gaped as the army of angels followed her into the underworld, driving the deluge of demons back with their light.

Drake howled and raced to the edge of the burning pit. Reed and Myles shifted and grabbed him, dragging the distraught wolf from the edge.

I shifted and bolted over towards Selina, ripping and fighting my way to her. Just like Drake, I had my reasons, whether I wanted them or not. Selina watched me approach. She hadn’t shifted; instead fighting with the fae weapon she had been given. It struck me as odd that she had chosen to fight in human form, but now wasn’t the time to question her decision. Blood covered and magnificent, her chest rose and fell, a fierce glint in her eyes. I drank in the sight of her, snarling at the lacerations across her arms and face. No matter her injuries, she was a survivor. Pride warmed my heart. Her soul would burn brightly enough I would always find her, in this life or the next. She may try to push me away, but no matter what, I’d protect her. Beside her, Shannon ended another foe, and in wolf form, lay on her belly, panting heavily. She had a deep gash in her hind leg that dripped blood on the floor.

“I don’t need you to babysit me,” Selina snapped.

I ignored her. If we were going to die, like it or not, I would be by her side.

Rawson lumbered over and shifted while he walked. Shannon was too exhausted to shift. He clothed himself only to rip off his shirt. He was about to press it against Shannon’s wound when a layer of purple magic fell around Shannon. Stone snarled at Rawson, who shrugged and threw the shirt away with a shrug. “All yours, brother,” he rumbled.

Lionel and Kawan joined us, as did Jed. His silverback turned away, guarding our backs. I huffed. He deserved respect for not running when he could. He’d fought hard. B’nar and Walker joined us just before Balthazar appeared in a flurry of shadow, his razor-sharp fingernails on display and his long canines and chin covered in blood. A murderous light gleamed in his eyes as he pondered the entrance to hell.

I observed him through the eyes of my wolf, scenting his desire, the lure of the darkness and flames of Hell. His jaw clenched, but he held back from jumping, fighting the pull of the underworld.

The ground continued to vibrate, but no more demons emerged. The red fire turned to white light, the fire of Hell drowned by the light of the angels.

Side by side with my brothers, both old and new, we waited.

Armageddon.

Or redemption.

Only destiny knew the answer.

Chapter 30

Ember

The gaping voidstretched out as far as my eyes could see. Hot sulphurous wind howled, dragging at my fire which burned and burned, keeping the gates from reforming.

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