Page 96 of Shadows of the Soul

“Thank you,” I told him as I let the magic leave me and reinforce the net. It was the only thing standing between us and Hell’s army of nasties. Keverin stood and nuzzled my side.

“I’m glad you’re okay too, buddy,” I said, giving him a scratch behind one of his enormous ears. A rumble echoed deep within him. Was that a purr?

“Hate to break up your snuggle fest, but we still have an apocalypse to avert,” Hudson stated.

I rolled my eyes as I stalked to the living room and glanced out of the window. “Don’t be so dramatic, it’s not the end of the world.” The real villains hadn’t shown up yet—then it would be an apocalypse. The horde had set up a perimeter around the main house, and Lucifer was making his way up the steps. Oh no. That couldn’t happen. I ran back to the front door. Hudson’s arm wrapped about my waist and halted me. “Let me go.”

“What is the plan, Cora?”

“To prevent Lucifer from entering Heaven.”

A pulse of power ricocheted through the atmosphere. Hudson fell back with me on top of him. The horde dug their claws into the ground to avoid being pushed back into the crater, while Lucifer held on to the porch railing and rode out the storm.

“What was that?” Hudson asked as I scrambled to my feet. I swept my hand through the net and created a hole before diving through and closing it behind me. Hudson rushed forward and slammed his hands against it. He hissed but didn’t retreat. Idiot man.

“Cora,” he growled. “Don’t you dare go sacrificing yourself for this fight.”

I smiled. “I’ll be lucky if there is a fight.”

His eyes tightened. “Let me out.”

I shook my head and ghosted my hand over his. “You are exceptional.”

I turned and stalked toward the house. Hudson’s protests remained loud and appealing. I could hide with him, but I wasn’t a coward.

Lucifer cast a glance my way. “Let her through,” he commanded the horde. They parted and allowed me entry.

“You’ve garnered the attention of Heaven’s army, now what?” I asked as I joined him on the porch.

“Now I fight,” he answered. “The question is, which side are you on?”

In truth, I was on my side. I fought for my family, for my friends. I cast a glance at the stables. I was on the side of my heart and neither Hell nor Heaven held it.

“Certainly not Heaven’s,” I answered honestly. The Devil dealt in lies, deceit, and sin and was clever enough to see through any untruths, so I avoided them.

“Good enough,” he answered.

The floorboards beneath our feet trembled with pressure, and I glanced up. The swell of light and power expanded. I backed off the porch onto the lawn, Lucifer following. My roof gave up trying to contain anything and collapsed as the portal expanded. Tiles scattered to the floor and the rumble of Heaven’s army droned in my head.

“Here they come,” Lucifer muttered as we sunk behind the horde of demons.

The orb pulsed and spat out the first angel. Both terrifying and awe inspiring, angels weren’t the peaceful creatures that humans prayed to. They were ruthless, cutthroat, and while they had the moral high ground of the pope, they used it to fuel their agenda. I didn’t recognize her, but her golden wings shone with the light of the divine, and her armor glowed despite the shroud of night. Her blonde hair flowed in an unseen breeze and she brandished a heavy sword at the horde.Yes, yes, you are very pretty.The next angel came through, and the portal hummed and seemed to press against an invisible barrier.

I stepped even further back. “It’s going to blow,” I muttered.

Lucifer scowled. “Not before I gain entry.”

I shrugged. “If I could control it, I’d have shut it down already.”

The orb shivered, and the glow became unbearable. I shielded my eyes with my arm and sank to my knees. The air became charged and my gut clenched. He was here.

The final blast lifted my hair. They’d shut the portal. Was it too much to hope that everyone returned to their respective realms and left me in peace?

“Cora,” a masculine voice rang out. I guess it was a long shot.

I dropped my arm and climbed to my feet. I raised my head and zeroed in on the angel closest to me. Familiar green eyes shone with recognition from a face made in the heavens and chiseled by the divine. His shoulder-length, thick flaming hair lifted as his wings swooped to keep him high above me. He didn’t hold any weapons; he didn’t need to. His touch was deadly and his power unrivaled amongst his kind. He wasn’t even dressed in armor, he’d shown up in black pants and nothing else.

“Oh goodie, a family reunion,” Lucifer drawled.

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