Page 151 of Wrath

I reached for the dagger I’d grabbed earlier—the hell dagger. The same one I’d used on the kings after Aaliyah tricked me.

“What are you doing?” Aaliyah’s eyes blackened and flashed with fury.

“Saving you,” I answered simply.

Then I stabbed the dagger into her chest.

FIFTY-FIVE

KILLIAN

My tail whipped out and caught the nearest monster in the stomach, throwing him backwards.

I would like to say that it was a totally conscious decision on my part, but that would be a lie. I just got really fucking lucky.

More and more monsters converged on me and my brothers, all determined to keep us from our mate. Who knew what the fuck Aaliyah was doing to her? I just had to have hope that Z was strong enough to survive whatever that evil bitch threw her way.

Even still, fear strangled my airways, making it hard to draw in a full breath.

Jax lunged at the monster approaching me—one I hadn’t even seen coming—and dug his fangs into the creature’s neck. He tugged savagely, and blood spurted in all directions, a few drops hitting my cheek.

“Disgusting,” I muttered, frowning.

Jax snorted. “A thank-you would suffice.”

“You know, now that you’re not completely insane, you’re beginning to sound like Bash.”

The vampire grinned. “And now that you have confidence, you’re beginning to sound like…well…yourself. Just with more confidence.”

A wraith raced at Jax from behind, and instinctively, I jumped forward and bitch-slapped the creature with my tail. It fell to the ground in an unconscious heap.

I winced. “Sorry.”

“Did you just apologize to the monster?” Jax stared at me incredulously.

“Um…yes?” Was that a bad thing?

“You just proved my point from before. Never change, Kill. Never change.” He lowered his head like a battering ram and caught a gargoyle with his shoulder, flinging the creature over him.

“Are you complimenting or insulting me?” I demanded.

Jax didn’t answer as he continued fighting his way through the beasts.

Devlin was closest to the window, violet magic saturating the air around him as he hit monster after monster. Genie magic was different from that of a mage. Usually, their magic required deals—a soul for a wish. All genies could perform lesser magic, but only a select few could blast magic the way Devlin was currently doing. It was a testament to his power that he didn’t even seem to break a sweat.

I stabbed at the nearest faerie—muttering a quick apology—and finally reached the broken window. Outside, a deafening boom shook the foundation of the building, and lightning illuminated the sky. However, there didn’t appear to be any rain.

I searched the grounds below me, eager to set eyes on my mate. To know for sure she was okay and unharmed.

At first, I didn’t see her. The flaming tree in the distance, a patchwork of deepest orange and red, consumed my attention.

Then, I saw her and Aaliyah—two figures bathed in moonlight and the intermittent flashes of lightning. They stood upright, close enough I thought they might be chatting or even hugging.

But then I spotted Z’s hand holding the hilt of a dagger.

A very familiar dagger.

“N-no,” I stuttered out, belatedly aware of the battle still raging all around me.

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