Page 83 of Wings of Valor
We walk for what feels like ages, and although I can’t really see the battle, I hear it. Distant booms have me worried about those specially made bombs, and snarls that sound far too close—even though I know they aren’t. The wind is carrying them to us.
Worry gnaws at the edges of my mind. Did the army merge in time? Do we even have a chance at our plan still working? The questions are pointless. All they do is fuel more fear and unease, so I do my best to shake it off.
Someone would tell me if things took a turn we couldn’t survive. I need to trust that.
At the halfway point, we find the small section of land without cover. Aside from our descent from the cliff side, this is the part I’m most worried about. Images flash through my mind of the last time I was here. It might not be the exact coordinates, but this is close to where that scarred asshole stabbed me with an angel blade.
Even though I survived, it hurts to think about. I swear I can still feel the blades as they stabbed into me. If only we’d known about Lieutenant Atlas then, instead of thinking he was some savior. He probably never even tracked down the demons who survived.
“We move quickly,” Remiel says to no one in particular before swinging his gaze to Raphael and Theo. “And remember what we decided. The goal is to get Hayliel to the lure point, with me at her side to help incapacitate Auriel. Ideally, we do this as a group, but if we need to split up, we split up. Is everyone still in agreement?”
“Yes,” I tell him, nodding. The Archangels explained that my sunfire is the weapon that will end Auriel for good, but not just imbued into a weapon. I need to hit him with pure sunfire, something I haven’t managed to do on command yet. Of course, Remiel couldn’t give me the exact specifics without it “affecting the outcome.” He said I’ll know it when I feel it though, like that’s helpful. Guess I’ve got to figure it out myself. No pressure.
The guys exchange a look, but it’s Raphael who says, “She’s the only one who can end this. We’ll do whatever we can do to support that, even if we don’t much like it.”
“Her chances are higher with you three,” Remiel says to them, and I know right away he’s referring to Zeke as the third. “Let’s go.”
We move quickly and quietly, doing our best not to draw attention to ourselves. Except even our best isn’t enough to get through undetected. In a flash, two demons and an angel drop from the sky and attack. I’d been so focused on the path ahead, worried we’d be running directly into a group of them that I never even thought to look in the sky. It was empty before we came out here.
The demons are no match for our imbued weapons, but the angel is another story. No one wants to fight one of their own, and that hesitation allows him to kill one of our guards before Remiel uses the angel’s own blade to end his life.
The sight is something I don’t think I’ll ever be able to clear from my mind.
“You didn’t have to do that!” Theo says the very words I’d just been thinking.
“I did,” Remiel replies, brooking no argument. “If I let him live, he’d have killed him later.” He points to Raphael, and the breath in my lungs turns cold. I hate everything about the scenario we’re in, but no one threatens my men. No one.
“Well, in that case,” Raphael says, forcing a laugh.
The longer we stand here, the more likely it is someone will spot us. “We need to move.”
“More are coming,” the Archangel adds almost cryptically.
“Then we fight,” I say, pulling the short sword from its sheath.
“No.” Remiel stares off in the distance. I follow his gaze but see nothing of interest. When he continues, I understand. “Hayliel, Theo, and I must forge ahead. The rest should stay here.”
What he saw hasn’t happened yet. As much as I want to deny it, this is the exact scenario we’d discussed earlier. I might hate separating, but the mission depends on it.
“Be safe,” I say to Raph before pulling him in for a quick kiss.
“I love you. Go save the city.”
Theo grips Raphael’s forearm in this cute bromance handshake that would have me melting under different circumstances. Now though, all I can do is leave one of the men I love behind and head toward what might just be the biggest fight of my life.
The sooner I defeat Auriel, the sooner everyone, not just those I love, are safe. We’ll still have the demons to contend with, but is it too hopeful of me to think they’ll back off if they no longer have a powerful ally?
Remiel, Theo, and I take off toward the forest. The same forest we found Roderick in all those months ago. From what I can tell, no one has seen or heard from him since.
I didn’t know it at the time, but I teleported in that forest.
We’re almost to the edge of the tree line when I see a dark figure off to the right. Theo notices too, his spine stiffening as we get a better look at the creature’s face. It’s only when I see the scar that it clicks.
This must be the demon who killed Serah. Why else would Theo go so still?
The thought has barely registered in my mind before something strange passes between Remiel and Theo. Then he gives me one pleading look and takes off toward the demon.
I want to go with him, but Remiel stops me, guiding me back in the direction of the lure point. “He has to do this, and we need to let him.”
