Page 90 of Wings of Valor
Despite what’s just happened, we still have more work to do before this battle is won. “Let’s get back to the ballista,” I say without thinking.
But I can’t go back without both wings. I can’t flyanywherewith only one wing.
Dad’s whispered voice has me looking up. “By the grace of God.”
I follow his line of sight, my heart sinking as I find a swarm of creatures flying through the sky, all zeroed in on one particular area.
It’s surreal how familiar this feels. Just like that day on campus when Hayliel was in danger.
“Change of plans.”
37
Watching the horde of enemies land is like watching the waves crash against the shore, except the water is toxic waste filled with mutant sharks.
They land in a circle, trapping us in a way that reminds me far too much of the well on campus. I got out of that pinch because of a fluke. My transformation. That won’t happen today.
How the fuck are Remiel and I supposed to get out of this alive and do what we came here to do?
We stand near the stump. The demons and few angels—both Fallen and Pure—accompanying them are antsy, desperate to make a move.
One of the Pure angels rushes toward me, and in a flash, Auriel is there, stabbing him with an angel blade. He pulls it out aseasily as one would a splinter. Except, unlike a splinter, the angel doesn’t survive extraction.
Auriel just killed his own follower.
The circle closes in, stepping over the dying angel as if he were nothing more than a branch discarded on the forest floor. Auriel’s nonchalance doesn’t go unnoticed by the other angels, and for a moment, they seem to realize just how dispensable they are to him. But with two taps of his scepter, it’s as if a fog descends. The flicker of realization vanishes, and their anger turns back toward me.
Remiel mutters low under his breath, tracing the pages of his book in a pattern that appears random, but I sense to be intentional. Whatever he’s doing, he doesn’t fill me in.
Whether Auriel notices what Remiel is up to, I can’t tell. That stupid, gleeful look remains on his face, and I want nothing more than to wipe it off.
“Last chance, little seraph. Side with me and my new world by choice, or face the consequences.”
“Bring it.” I draw my imbued short sword and brace for the fight of my life.
No one attacks us, but they do move. The circle grows smaller and smaller as the demons and angels take step after step forward, and just as half of them surge forward, I hear something.
It’s rhythmic, this pounding of footfalls or wings. I can’t tell which.
But are they friends or foes?
I have my answer when Auriel turns toward the sound, but he quickly realizes it’s not just coming from one direction. It’s coming from everywhere.
My mental connections light up and I smile, knowing who it is.
Backup.
They crash into the outer circle like a battering ram, but I can’t focus onwhoorwhereor evenwhatbecause the demons and angels who surged toward me and Remiel are swiping and stabbing, trying to take us out. I fight with everything I have, doing my best to keep Auriel in my sights. He’s like a slippery fucking snake though, because he blips in and out of existence, moving around the battlefield with every blink.
I back up into someone and turn, ready to defend myself, only to find Castiel and Isadora instead. They’re battle-worn, covered in blood and ash, but otherwise unharmed. Something must have happened at the guild, as we expected, but what are they doing here? There’s no time to ask. “I need to get to Auriel,” I tell Castiel before a Fallen angel barrels toward me with an angel blade in hand. Fuck!
Fighting demons is one thing, but fighting angels? It makes me queasy. Even though I know they’ve betrayed us, it doesn’t make hurting them any easier.
Going up against the angel when I’ve been attacked by demons is almost a walk in the park. It helps that he’s behaving strangely. One second he’s ready to strike, and the next he looks almost confused. Second thoughts, maybe? I take advantage of his next hesitation and knock him out, then Isadora quickly restrains him.
Maybe it isn’t smart to subdue instead of kill, but it’s a choice. One we can live with.
“We’ll take it from here,” Castiel says, his eyes filled with pride. “Go end this.”
