At the mention of Adriel, Malia’s expression grows introspective, but she rallies. “I understand, but…” She presses her lips together as her bright eyes track across the distance to me. “Angelus Lux is pure angel light.”
Her breath catches with the question I don’t want to face. “Will you survive it?”
My wolf’s growls overtake my own snarl of determination as my demon wolves press closer and Koda takes my hand, his bliss power weak but boosting mine.
“We will survive this,” I say.
Fear flickers across Malia’s face, but she conceals it quickly. “Be ready for my signal.”
Taniya stands a little taller, and despite the tension in her posture, I also feel her anticipation in my bones. She needs to see Dastian, to remember that she has a future. No matter the danger. I need to see Mom. To help her heal from her past. That is… if I’m not making the worst mistake of my life and delivering destruction to her door.
Malia takes a step back from the cage, drawing her arms wide, remaining focused on Jareth.
The flowing surface of the cage liquifies even more in appearance, like a waterfall of magic swirling outward from a central spot that slowly becomes a circular opening. The opening widens, magic and silver metal swirls around it, and it draws wider until the doorway is large enough for my father to step through it at a crouch.
For a moment, I consider if bringing him out is the best option—or if we should all crowd into the cage and use Angelus Lux within it—assuming that the cage wouldn’t interfere with its function. But the idea of being trapped in a small space with the Demon King in his current form has my instincts shrieking that it’s too dangerous. Far better to have space if a fight breaks out.
The bright glow around Malia’s claws flares and within the cage, Jareth rises slowly to his feet. His movements don’t appear voluntary. Rather, he moves at a wooden, jerky pace. The web around his legs glows brighter as it appears to manipulate his limbs, forcing him to take a step. Then another. Each one carrying him closer to the opening and then—finally—through it.
Not that he appears to be fighting it now.
A shiver runs down my spine as he continues to smile. It’s the devilish grin of someone who knows something I don’t and it’s unsettling me.
Roman is also watching him carefully, a string of runes gathering around his left wrist, and I’m aware of the stillness of Koda and my wolves, Taniya too, as we all watch Jareth step from the cage.
Now that he’s emerging, the glass doesn’t obscure his appearance, which is even more unsettling. Malia is tall at six feet, but Jareth towers over her even at a crouch. The black runes that are scattered across his skin are even darker behind the web of ivory magic. The four horns on his head are larger than they appeared behind the glass—sharp and long enough to impale a person through the chest.
Taniya’s right: Even without his power, this demon could demolish armies.
Jareth’s razor-sharp teeth gleam. His eyes are bright, his snarls increasing as the magic draws his hunched form to a stop a single step outside of the cage. “What now, witch?”
“Roman!” Malia cries. “Now!”
A rune flashes across Roman’s chest and Angelus Lux appears in his hand—just as he promised it would.
It seems that the weapon that once banished him to Hell is as bound to him as I am.
If the angels weren’t already on their way, they will be now.
“Prepare!” Roman shouts.
His hand twists the clasp, turning the runes to the aqua symbols for Earth.
I brace for the onslaught of light, the rage of an angel army, and the destruction that both could bring.
CHAPTERTWENTY-NINE
Light streams across us, but it isn’t from Angelus Lux.
In a blast of wings, a hundred angels appear around the clearing, moonlight reflecting sharply across their double-bladed swords and bright, white feathers. Haldi and Galvin fly ahead of them, their hands outstretched, blazing fire pouring from their palms—directly onto Roman.
With a roar of agony, he drops to his knees. The string of runes circling his wrist flies across his hands and arms, forming armor, but his fingers are already on fire and the armor barely makes it up his forearms before his power falters.
Flames beat around Angelus Lux and Roman is roaring with agony, trying to turn the stone with burning fingers, but there’s no way he can twist it the final click to get us out of here.
I’m screaming as I launch myself toward him, needing only to protect him, knocking him out of the line of flames and back into the shade.
Haldi’s fire burns across my back as I hurl myself into it. It sears my shoulders, and I arch against the pain. My scream changes from rage to agony as I turn my body into a shield.
