Page 64 of A Shadow in the Reaping
Sunu liiktisuma.
May they be bound.
I grip the handle of thekaikenat my side and rise through the smoke and flame to stand with Ashen.
"The vampire is right, demon," a man says over the ripple of fire that surges across Ashen's blade. His voice shimmers like wind chimes, melodious and bright. The feathers of his wings scrape the stone as the angel takes a step closer. "You need a plan. And I have come to see it done."
Chapter 28
"This is not your territory. Get out," Ashen growls. His wings of smoke billow between us, rippling across the floor. Sparks hiss in their shadows.
"I'm sorry to say, but I come by invitation," the angel replies as the light dims in the room. I hear the edges of his feathers rake the floor like claws. "I was asked to come and check on you when the corridor to your realm was closed."
"By whom," Ashen demands. His voice cuts through the air, sharp as a blade. The angel doesn't answer. I step to Ashen's left and peer around the flow of smoke to look at our guest.
It's not the same angel as the one we saw in Saqqara. I can tell right away. This one is shorter, dressed in the same pristine white but much lessProject Runway. There's no veil to obscure his beautiful face, its proportions almost too symmetrical to be real. He has olive skin, darker than mine, but light blond hair in tones of honey and gold. He locks his shimmering blue eyes to mine and smiles.
"Hi," he says, giving me a little wave.
"...hi?" I say back as I give a tentative wave in return with the hand that isn't clasped around my dagger.
"I'm Eryx," the angel says. His smile is still bright and untroubled, as though there isn't a seething demon in the room with us.
"...that's... cool..." I say, turning my confused gaze up to Ashen. His eyes glow as hot as lava. He hasn't taken them from the angel, though I know he feels me watching. I look back to Eryx, his smile still plastered to his beautiful face. "I'm Lu-"
"Lu-" Ashen hisses.
"-and this is Ashen," I continue. Ashen lets out a groan and I can almost hear his eyes rolling. "Uh... what are you doing here?"
"I came to provide my aid," Eryx says, his voice cheery. He sounds legit excited about this prospect.
I take a step closer and Ashen's hand darts out, his palm laying hot against my stomach. It takes me right back to the fight where we met. I look up and he meets my eyes. There's worry there, and urgency. I give him a half-smile but it only sweeps away the layers that shield his innermost thoughts from view. There's desperation in his eyes. There's a deeply buried fear that shows itself when he shakes his head and presses me back a half step. I lay my hand on his and look back to the angel who watches us with interest but without judgement.
I clear my throat and try to smile. It feels more like a grimace and the angel tilts his head. "Uh, that's super nice of you to want to help, Eryx, but... why?"
"To keep the balance of the Realms, of course," he says. Eryx folds his wings back in a show of trust. Ashen does not meet him in this display. Smoke continues to fall around us, coating the floor in a thick black haze. I curl my fingers across Ashen's hand and try to loosen the tension trapped there but he doesn't budge.
"Who sent you?" Ashen asks.
"He said I shouldn't tell you," Eryx replies, a hint of discomfort in his voice.
"Was it Cole?" I ask. Eryx's face lightens in what looks like relief.
"Yes! Good guess, Lu. You're very bright."
"Hear that? The angel said I'mvery bright," I repeat to Ashen with a beaming smile. He glares down at me in reply. I crinkle my nose and turn my attention back to Eryx. "About the balance between the Realms part... care to explain?"
"There are some within the Realm of Light that believe the age of humanity has come to an end," Eryx says, his voice deepening in tone to match the weight of his words. "They believe the Living Realm should be left to the immortals to fight over. But first, they demand the Shadow Realm must be destroyed. They aided the werewolves in the formation of the first hybrids. And now we must work together before they perfect their creation and start a war." Eryx gives a sad smile and walks forward through the smoke. For every step he takes, Ashen pushes us in the opposite direction. I watch as Eryx bends and grasps the edge of my fallen stool, standing it upright next to the kitchen island.
Ashen and I exchange a glance. I feel the worry in mine. I see fury in his.
"There are some in the Shadow Realm that would see hybrids made to fight the Realm of Light instead. We cannot let that happen either. We have many souls to protect," Eryx says as he drifts around the island and picks up one of the mugs drying on the rack. He turns the water on and fills it before facing us as he takes a long sip. "Water is the best, don't you think?" he asks with a sincere smile. His feathers clink on the stone like falling knives as he sits on Ashen's barstool.
"No," Ashen says.
"Not really," I say.
Eryx shrugs but his smile remains untarnished by our lack of enthusiasm. "We need to ensure the werewolves don't have another chance to make a hybrid. Lu would be safer in the Realm of Light, out of their reach."
