The knowledge slammed into me. We were going to lose. We were all going to die.
* * *
SAMAEL
Ag was dead.
Dead.
Vas was still on his knees, seemingly incapable of moving. Our people surrounded him, keeping him in the center of a rough circle as they killed with cold fury. I had to get to him. Had to get him up.
My fault.
I’d turned, stepping too far away, unable to resist slaughtering one of Lucifer’s top commanders. I should have known Daimonion was waiting for his chance to kill Vas.
I buried my sword in the chest of the closest soldier, beheading another. Then I whirled, making my way toward Vas. My hand found his armor, and I pulled him to his feet.
“Get up,” I roared down at him.
He stared up at me, unblinking.
And the back of my neck burned with awareness.
I turned, and dread unraveled in my gut. Taraghlan’s army marched toward us. Not all of his people. No, he was smarter than that, would never risk all of them. He’d brought just enough to cement his alliance with Lucifer.
More than enough.
I shot into the air, sliding in front of one of my demons, who’d taken a heavy hit to one arm and could barely hold his sword. He slashed out at Lucifer’s soldier with his power, but like all my people, it was weakened just as his body was weakened.
I sliced through his opponent, and he fell to the ground, choking on his blood. But I was already watching Taraghlan’s people. They were fresh. Powerful.
Lucifer must have promised to immediately war with Finvarra in exchange for a pact with the seelie king.
And we were now sandwiched between Lucifer’s army in front of us and Taraghlan’s behind us.
Bael had turned his ranks to face Taraghlan’s, and Bael’s front line shot into the air, providing a distraction for the seelie, who would be forced to watch for attacks from both the air and on the ground.
But it wasn’t enough.
I burned for my power, could practically feel it, just beyond my fingertips. A few feet away, Lilith launched into the air, slitting a throat with one hand and turning one of Lucifer’s soldiers to ash with the other. She still fought with a cold fury, but even she was tiring, her face covered in blood from a cut to the eye. The cut had healed, but her face was black and blue beneath her helmet, her body too depleted to heal her as fast as it should.
Our eyes met. She knew. Knew it was hopeless.
I only wished I could have seen my little witch one last time.
I could feel her, down the other end of the bond. Could feel her horror and terror. She knew. Somehow, she knew what was happening here.
Frustration shot through me as I slashed at another soldier. One of Lucifer’s. Except they were all mine.
Several thousand of his soldiers had fled once they realized I was fighting within the ranks. Several thousand more had turned to our side, just a couple of hours ago when they’d thought we were here to save them. When they thought I would take back my throne.
I dodged around a group of demons fighting in the air, drops of blood spraying over those fighting below. And I aimed at Taraghlan himself, leading his army.
My vision narrowed until all I could see was his face.
“No,” Lilith screamed at me. She’d dropped down and managed to rouse Vas, who was fighting once more with grim determination. “Go to Danica.”
She was right. Here, while I was powerless, Taraghlan could kill me with a thought, and I would likely take my witchling with me. But if I could get to the palace, could ensure the black books got close enough…
