“I am begging you, Halo,” Zenon muttered, leaning in so close that his breath touched my face. I shuddered, wishing I was any place but here. “This is your last chance.”
My blood ran cold. “Last chance for what?”
Zenon shut his eyes, his face twisting as if he was in genuine pain. “I didn’t want to do this, but if it will sever the tie between you and your mate…”
He let go of one of my hips. He wound back his arm. The hand at the end of it became a fist.
He aimed straight at Angel.
At my baby.
A scream wrenched itself from my throat. “No!”
My entire body was engulfed by flames. Zenon leapt back, momentarily stunned by the display. Fire shot out from every inch of my skin, like an inferno of armor. Both Angel and I were immune to the blaze; I only felt a comfortable warmth, and relief that it shielded us from that monster.
The displeasure on Zenon’s face twisted into fury. “Stop that!”
“Get away from me!” I yelled.
Zenon made no move to grab me. He was afraid of the flames, like every other person. A slight sense of relief settled on me, and I smirked despite the situation.
“Not so confident now, are you?”
“This is for your own good, Halo,” Zenon growled. “You must understand.”
The smirk on my face quickly transformed into a snarl of rage. “You tried to kill my baby!”
Zenon smiled and suggested, “You can always create more. You are young, and fertile.”
Nausea hit me. My gut twisted with disgust and rage.
“Leave now before I kill you!” I shouted.
That got Zenon’s attention. His arms lowered to his side, and the anger on his face retreated into a neutral frown. I hesitated, bordering on relief, expectant that he would give up and leave.
Instead, he attacked.
The sudden assault caught me off my lowered my guard. Zenon slammed into me.
I had a split second to act, and I couldn’t protect us both. As if by instinct, a translucent magical bubble surrounded Angel as she flew from my arms. She landed, stunned and afraid, but safe, a few feet away.
Zenon’s lunge knocked me to the ground. Rocky outcrops slashed my skin as I fell, and I gasped from the sudden pain.
Zenon pinned me. His body weight was too much for me to even attempt to move. I cried out angrily, twisting my body underneath him, but he was too strong. He dug his fingers into me harder, not reacting to the roaring flames that engulfed my flesh. Tears of anger and fear and frustration welled in my eyes.
“Fuck off!” I yelled.
Wild panic consumed me.
Why isn’t he on fire? Why isn’t he getting burned?
“There’s no need for that kind of language, Halo,” Zenon scolded. The words struck disquiet in my chest. It reminded me too much of something Kass would say. My heart twisted with longing and terror.
Kass, I need you!
Zenon suddenly stood. A wave of relief surged through me. I scrambled upright in time to see him walking towards Angel.
He readied his fist again. He intended to hit his target this time.
