“So you’re better than me?”
Malachi growled. “I do not answer to you. This is the way of the universe. If you are displeased, send your complaints to Lucifer. He created you.”
Rowan stepped forward, his three coven members at hisside, all four unmasked from illusion. “The universe is only this way because you decreed it. The Realm of the Damned is your creation, and we’re asking for change.”
“More witches?” Malachi’s lip curled. “No… Vampires.Demon slayers. Destroyers of eternal life. How dare you show your faces here after breaking the ultimate rule?”
“Are you kidding?” Onyx snarled. “Ultimate rule, my ass. You didn’t care when Andras was killed. Those murderous witches escaped punishment and walked away with eternal life. Don’t pretend you’re outraged now.”
“Exactly. Thank you, Onyx.” Rowan clapped him on the shoulder. “I am not a demon slayer, and have broken no Eternal rules, ultimate or otherwise. Are you going to punish me for the sins of my father—not even that—my great-etcetera grandfather? I didn’t create the vampire species any more than I created witches or the Realm of the Damned.”
“No. I didn’t say you’d be punished for another’s crimes.” Malachi glared, eyes burning with red fire.
“So, it’s wrong to punish one person for someone else’s crime?” Catalina cut in. “If you believe that, let witches enter the rightful afterlife or be a hypocrite.”
“I am not a hypocrite. The council does not indulge baseless demands or bow to pressure. The state of the realms was broken when magic infected Earth. Nothing more can be done.” Mist gathered around Malachi, obscuring him from view and swallowing Hollis along with him. “This conversation is over.”
27
LUCIFER
“You can’t walk away from this!” Luc shouted into the mist. “We aren’t done!”
No response came.
“The Fallen didn’t bring magic to Earth!” Luc screamed into the void. Malachi wouldn’t have left. He’d hear. He had to. “Mortal souls are magic. Humans have magic at their core, the same as Eternals. The sacred balance is a lie!”
Heavy silence followed.
Luc heaved a breath, his fire raging. He surged forward, pounding on the magic barrier sealing the gate shut. Sparks flew as he pummeled the invisible force, sending red-hot pain up his arms.
“Face us!” Rowan yelled.
Ash snarled, and the demons around him joined in, their voices raising to a deafening level.
The magical barrier vibrated and pulsed. There was an ear-popping sonic boom, and a force hit Luc in the chest, throwing him backward.
Luc’s ears rang as he soared through the air and crashed intothe ground. His vision blurred, head heavy, as a high-pitched ringing drowned everything out.
He struggled to his feet. Onyx lay beside him, one wing crumpled at an odd angle. Luc lunged for him. He screamed, but couldn’t hear his own voice. Nothing penetrated the ringing in his ears.
He rolled Onyx over. His lips moved, but Luc couldn’t hear him. He pulled his brother to his feet and helped set his wing. It would heal, but he couldn’t fly until then. Fuck.
Luc snarled. He gripped Onyx’s hand tight, refusing to let go even when his brother tugged on him.
Beside him, Ash helped Dante to his feet, and Isaac was bent over Catalina, limp on the ground.
Shit.
A witch’s body wasn’t much stronger than a human’s. They fought illness better, but didn’t heal as rapidly as vampires and certainly not like demons.
Luc raced over, pulling Onyx with him.
“You heal her organs, and I’ll get her spine!” Isaac shouted to Lillian as she kneeled on Catalina’s other side, but his words sounded faint and far away.
Luc and Onyx stooped to help, Valac joining in. Soon, every demon was pouring magic into Catalina, healing each broken piece inside her.
Her heart fluttered, but didn’t stop. At last, Catalina’s eyes flew open and she drew a shuddering breath.
