Hands gripped me protectively—Eva’s. I was about to turn and tell Francis where to set Alex when a boom rang out and a stone’s throw away the Thames split open.
Chapter Forty-Eight
The roar of demons spewing out of the Hellgate was so loud that my knees began to quake. Tears pricked in my eyes as winged beasts zoomed out one after the other.
The fae and shifters stood a ways away, their mouths hanging open, and bodies stiff with horror.
Andre wasn’t there. Perhaps he’d never made it all the way to Spellcasters. At this point, it hardly mattered.
We could never fight and conquer this many demons.
A groan sounded behind me, followed closely by Alex murmuring my name. My heart leapt, and I spun to face him.
Still cradled in Francis’ arms, his eyes were fluttering open. He was waking.Thank the universe, I’ll get to say goodbye.
“Put him down,” I said, not wanting a vampire hovering over us during such a private moment.
Francis complied, his gaze locked on the swarm of demons circling the night sky. They swooped above the Thames, waiting for someone—or multiple someones—to join them.
“Everyone should leave,” I said, kneeling and taking Alex’s hand in mine to assure him that I was there. “Vampires, take the witches on your backs, if you can. Alert all the magicals you know about what happened.” I gestured to the cloud of devils growing ever larger. “We can’t beat this.”
Simone’s gaze snapped to me. “And what of you? I thought you two were supposed to save the world?” Her eyes were narrowed, as if I’d tricked her into coming here.
“I’mstaying here to try to do just that,” I retorted.
“You’renotstaying, Odie,” Hunter interceded, his brows pulled tightly together.
A roar cut through the air, and my demon scar burned, making me gnash my teeth together. Of course, I didn’twantto stay here, but I knew my role in all this. The time had come for me to fulfill a destiny started by Morgan and Merlin, and I had to face it.I kissed Alex’s forehead before standing and turning to face the river.
Small stone platforms were rising from the churning waters. Demons who couldn’t fly were positioned on them, snarling and growling and howling excitedly. In the center, on the largest stone platform circled by fire, six devils rose. Three were the Furies. On the other side of the dais, another figure hyped up the demons around him. His black wings were spread and glimmered in the moonlight. That had to be Xaphan, prince of Hell.
Lucifer and Ishtar stood in the middle, their hands twined together, and smiles on their faces. Ishtar wasn’t as large as she had been when I met her in New York. But with curled horns, black-blue wings, and blue skin, she was just as terrifying as I remembered. Lucifer looked much like Ishtar, except red and larger.
“Everyone,go,” I choked out. “There’s no fighting this.”
The demons hadn’t seemed to notice us yet, which meant the others could still escape. But Alex and I never would—perhaps not Eva, either. She would always be bound to Lucifer.
My heart clenched for my friend, and I hoped that for tonight, at least, she could remain free.
Only Alex and I had to stay. We . . . or I, seeing as he still wasn’t completely conscious yet, had to try and finish the job meant for us. I hoped I was strong enough.
Francis eyed me thoughtfully before giving a single nod. “Good luck to you, witch. And believe me, we won’t stop fighting the devils.”
“Never,” Simone added.
“Take them with you,” I gestured to Amethyst, Diana, Hunter, and Eva.
Francis reached for Eva, but she batted his hand away.
“I’m sticking with Odie. Take Amethyst.” She pointed to the spirit talker, who was trembling so hard that I doubted she’d even heard Eva.
This time, the vampire didn’t hesitate. Francis scooped up the spirit talker before she could protest and dashed off.
“I’m staying, too,” Hunter said before either vampire could move toward him.
Simone took a step in Diana’s direction, but the headmistress’ daughter shook her head.
“Get Sam.”
