Page 138 of The Star's Sword

“Tricky celestials,” Simon muttered. “Of course they would try and influence the trial. Keep the vampires on their side and try to kill the real Morningstar.”

“They think Samael is the Morningstar,” I said blankly, fear for him making it hard to think straight.

“They’re going to kill him,” Cayne said, putting his hands to his head. “That stupid—Vasara, you bitch.”

“If she brought him back for them, they would have given her a dispensation,” Simon said. “That’s my guess. I’m sorry, I never foresaw this.”

“It doesn’t matter,” I said. “I need to get him. Now.”

“Well, then that means ascension,” Simon said softly. “Are you ready?”

“It’s not how I thought it would happen,” I said, sword hanging at my side limply. I thought we’d have time to prepare.

“I don’t know if you ever could have been ready, Cleo,” Simon said. “But we all know you were born for this.”

I swallowed. “But the security. Will I make it through in time?” My heart felt like it was going to split open, as my other friends filed into the arena.

Some of the vampires were running to the keep, while others were watching with interest.

“Mark!” Simon called, as Mark came forward from where he’d been watching. I hadn’t even seen him among the crowd. “You good to join us for ascension?”

“Always!” Mark nodded, wings extended, cracking his knuckles.

A portal appeared inside the arena, and I was shocked to see Ara walk out, followed by Luren and a void walker, who saluted Ara and then went back through the portal, closing it behind them.

“I saw the flash,” Ara said, looking at the sky. She was wearing purple armor and carrying her lance. “Light and then darkness. A ninth-realmer was here. I thought you could use help.”

“Sam’s father,” Cayne said, still paler than I’d ever seen him. “Vasara brought him here. It was a trap, from the start.”

“I thought she just wanted attention,” I said blankly. “Can we really ascend right now?” I looked at myself. “I don’t have wings.”

“Isn’t that up to you?” Ara asked mildly. “You are a celestial, aren’t you?”

“Not a powerful one,” I said.

“You’re the Morningstar,” she said impatiently. “Hurry and give us all wings, so we can rise.”

“You’ve got this, Cleo,” Zadis said. “We’ll save him.”

I closed my eyes, too much worry for Sam in me to make me question anything Ara said.

I focused, and felt warmth bud at my shoulder blades, feathers growing and spreading. I put all my strength into focusing on my friends also. Zadis, Mor, Os, and Griffin could all fly, but Cayne, Ara and me would need help.

When I opened my eyes, Ara had purple wings, huge like Samael’s. There was a twinkle in her eye, despite the stress there.

“Well, I don’t like looking like a celestial, but they’ll do.” She flapped them, lifting off the ground.

Cayne did the same, muttering. “I look like a stupid angel.”

Simon flew up next to him, shimmering black vampire wings spread. “I could turn you. Then they’d be like mine.”

“No thanks,” Cayne said.

Mor’s feathered wings were gray, and Os’s were a light purple like his hair.

Griffin had already shifted into his winged-lion form. His beautiful, golden-brown fur and fluffy white wings never failed to impress me.

“Right,” Cayne said, testing his wings and flying up unsteadily over the side of the forcefield. He landed clumsily on the other side, stumbling onto one knee before pushing up again. “This is going to be a bit awkward, but we don’t have time to waste.”

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