It took a moment before one of the generals on the front lines cocked his head, a dull realization filling his eyes as the man they’d fought beside betrayed them to their enemies.
To us.
One of the soldiers lunged at Garadiel, swinging his sword, but Samael was there, burying his knife in his throat.
I hiccupped, tears flowing down my face.
My brutal, vicious bondmate. Of course he’d been the first to leave the pocket realm. The first to step into the unknown. But our people flooded out behind him, popping out of the artifact as if they’d appeared out of the ether. Demons immediately took to the skies, followed by the dragons. On the ground, light fae were dotted amongst the demons. A few thousand maybe, all of them wearing gleaming green helmets.
Together with Finvarra’s unseelie army, the seelie swung enchanted swords and fought like they were possessed, protecting each and every gnome on the battlefield. Gnomes who were constantly ignored, continually underestimated. And who had just saved the lives of over forty thousand high demons, high fae, werewolves, and dragons.
My head snapped to the side, and the underworld receded, leaving me staring up at Lucifer as my cheek burned.
He’d taken a risk, planning to use our strategy against us. Worked with the seelie king who’d told him all about the pocket realm attached to the artifact disguised as a candlestick holder.
Samael had known Taraghlan betrayed him, but he’d been out of time. And he’d somehow arranged for an exact match of the artifact to be snuck toward the palace. One that would fool the demons who were expecting it.
If not for the duplicate candlestick, Lucifer would have won this war with one fell swoop.
And the only reason he hadn’t, the only reason his people were now dying in droves, was because he’d been outplayed.
I choked out a laugh. “There’s only room for one vengeful, overpowered demon in this realm, grandfather. And that’s Samael.”
Lucifer hit me again. He was really losing it now if he was lowering himself to physical violence. He seemed to realize the same, because he took a deep breath, and his expression turned blank. Then he grabbed me by my shirt and began to drag me back toward the table.
“You’re terrified. I can feel it. Stay alive for me, little witch.”Samael’s voice in my head. I attempted to calm down, knowing that for him to be distracted while powerless, while he could only fight with a sword and shield…
Outside, the sun was setting. Soon, the meteor shower would be at its peak.
Lucifer began to chant, and my whole body went cold as icy fingers slid up my spine and traveled along each of my limbs.
The power drain felt like death.
My power was depleted, most of it still buried far beneath my shields thanks to the cuff that had been on my wrist for so long. But according to the prophecy, it would be enough.
Enough for Lucifer to kill Samael.
Enough for him to slaughter our armies.
Enough for him to stroll through a portal and lay waste to my world.
I threw up a shield. Lucifer knocked it down as if it was paper. My wards were far too weak.Iwas far too weak. I’d been foolish to think I could go up against Lucifer. Blind to think I’d be able to hold him off long enough for our people to get into the palace.
“I’m sorry, Samael.”
“I’m coming, little witch. I’m almost there. Just hold on.”
“Don’t come. You need to retreat. He’llkillyou.”
The only hope we’d had was for Lucifer’s death to give Samael back his powers. And that hope was gone, because he’d known about the rowan arrow the whole time.
“Please show me them again,”I begged the underworld. I wanted my last sight to be of my friends, my family, still furiously alive and fighting.
I blinked, and I was once again looking down at the battle. I could feel my powers, my life, draining away, but I watched as Samael fought at the front lines, cutting his way through Lucifer’s army. He moved like a nightmare, like his bones were fluid. It was as if he had an extra sense, one that told him exactly where his enemy would attack, and the maneuver they would use.
Next to him, Ag fought with grim determination, moving with centuries of experience. Vas barreled through soldiers next to Ag, his expression hard, and something cracked in my chest. He was okay. Okay, and surrounded by our people.
On Samael’s other side, Sathanas and Sitri swung their own swords, sending out blasts of their demon fire when necessary. And Lilith… my mouth went dry.
