And the snap backward as the darkness reclaimed me.
No matter how hard he pulled me toward the light, the rebound happened time and time again. Alex was failing.
“No, no, no,” I heard him murmur as the blackness closed in around me once again. “How can this be happening?”
Somewhere in the surrounding battle, Ishtar released a scream of fury, and a dozen cries of pain flew up.
My heart rate reacted, beginning to race for those who had come to help.
You can do it,I cheered them on weakly.
So can you! Don’t give up!Tabitha screamed, though even her tone sounded lame—injured, like she was dying again, right alongside me.
But I’m so . . . just so tired.
And I was. I’d spent years fighting Ishtar, a much more powerful being. Who was I to survive when she’d so clearly bested me?
A mother effing godling! That’s who!Tabitha argued.
I don’t even know what she means by that.I was already exhausted by the conversation.It means nothing if I don’t know how to use it.
Aether, it must have something to do with aether,Tabitha replied coolly.The old gods were made of it. Get a fae—those twins!
When I didn’t move, I felt a sensation like she was kicking something inside my head.GET THEM!
“Ow,” I mumbled.
Alex ceased trying to pour magic into me. “I’m so sorry, sweets.” His voice was thick with anger and worry. “I don’t know why it isn’t working. I—”
“The Tornas,” I gasped. “I need them. Aether-blessed fae.”
“But why?”
“Please . . .” I coughed up blood, and Alex’s eyes widened as he cast a wild glance around.
“Hunter!” he bellowed.
His cousin was at his side in a second, his ifrit-possessed sword glowing red with fire. Even through the haze of death coming for me, I could still register that my friend looked terrible, covered in blood and black ash.
“What’s up?” Hunter’s green eyes flashed down to me, and he swore. “Dude. Why haven’t you healed her yet?!”
“Something has changed inside her—maybe the release of her black magic is affecting her physiology.” Alex sounded frantic, as if he were seconds from breaking down. “Or Ishtar is blocking my ability. My magic isn’t working like it did before. She requested aether-blessed fae. Get the Tornas for me. Or Halad’s cousins. Both if you can.”
Hunter dashed off.
Why was the fight still happening? My friends outnumbered the demons. But even through my dulled senses, I heard cries coming from not only the monsters of Hell, but people.
Ishtar had to be pulling out all the stops.
As if in confirmation, a rampage of fire flooded the ceiling like before, and a dozen cries of pain filled the air.
When will it end? Someone has to get a kill shot in soon . . .
“Odie. Open your eyes, sweets. Please, open your eyes,” Alex urged. “Stay with me.”
Open them?With significant effort, I lifted my eyelids. I hadn’t even known that they’d closed.
“I love—”
