“I knew that it was a fucking angel,” Thor growled as he gathered lightning in his hand. “That bird is going to fry.”
Thor cast his lightning across the battle, but Gabriel saw it coming and dodged. Thor snarled and ran down to face his opponent on even ground.
“Thor!” Odin called after his son. “Son of a seahorse!”
We'd been trying to tone down our cussing; practice for when the baby was born.
“Gabriel can kill with a word,” Odin said as he turned to me urgently. “Stay here; I can't let Thor get within earshot of that angel.”
“But Thor's immortal,” I protested.
“Which means that Gabriel won't be able to kill him outright, but he can still cripple Thor andthengo in for the kill,” Odin said quickly before he ran after Thor.
I watched as both men made their way through the battle; uncaring that the humans could see them and any magical actions they took. I snarled in frustration and then ran after them. Flares of sunlight streaked above me and moisture gathered on my arms. God battles were always such a confusing mix of sensations; it messed with my mind a little. But I focused on my family and wound my way through the humans as I tried to come up with a way to help Thor.
“Vervain?” Tobadzistsini grabbed my arm. “What are you doing here?”
“I came with Thor.” I pointed to Thor; he was halfway to Gabriel. “He's going after the angel.”
“No,” Tobadzistsini said. “He can't; he'll be killed.”
“I know,” I said urgently. “Odin's on his way to help, but I don't think he'll make it in time.”
Tobadzistsini gauged the distance between us and Gabriel and then looked back at me. “Do you trust me, Godhunter?” He held his arms out to me.
A shiver surged through my veins, and I suddenly saw Tobadzistsini above me; his hair falling around us in a silken veil. I touched his cheek, and his eyes glowed with the strength of his love for me as he leaned down to kiss me. Then the vision vanished, and I was in Tobadzistsini's embrace for real. I wrapped my arms around his strong shoulders as water collected beneath us and lifted us above the fight. We floated on a wave over the battle; straight to the angel on the opposite side.
“Toby,” I whispered with wonder.
Tobadzistsini faltered, and so did his magic. We went tumbling down the wave; landing several feet away from Gabriel. Toby rolled so that he took the brunt of the fall, and we came to a stop with him above me.
“Vervain?” He frowned down at me. “Why do I feel as if I know you better than I do?”
“I don't know.” I laid my hand to his cheek—just as I had in my vision—but then I jerked it away in shock. “I'm sorry, I...” Then I noticed Gabriel. “He's coming!”
Toby glanced over his shoulder and then cursed as he pulled both of us to our feet. He set me behind him as he surrounded Gabriel with a wall of water. Through the wavering water, I saw Gabriel unfurl his wings; preparing to fly. But Toby domed the water above Gabriel and sealed him in.
“That won't hold him for long,” Toby said. “But, hopefully, it will give us time to stop Thor.”
I looked across the battle and saw that Thor was just a few feet away. I knew that he'd barrel through that water to get to the angel, and I couldn't let that happen. I had to use the only weapon available to me, and kill Gabriel first. I focused within the water dome, found the magic inside Gabriel, and latched onto it.
Gabriel shouted in shock and fury as I began to drain his magic. I stepped around Tobadzistsini and lifted both of my hands to the angel as he fell to his knees. Toby stared at me in wonder as I drew the Archangel's magic from him as if it had been mine all along. In a way, it was. Gabriel's power had come from humans; I was simply taking it back.
“Mercy!” Gabriel cried; his voice sounding hollow through the water. “Have mercy on me, Godhunter!”
“Don't listen to him,” Thor growled as he joined us. “That bastard is as smooth with his words as he is powerful; he's playing you.”
“Don't worry; I have no mercy for angels who hurt humans,” I snarled. “For some reason, it seems even more diabolical than when other gods do it.”
Gabriel's power rushed through me; my mind blossoming with the knowledge of new languages and god spells. I saw the magic in every word; their true meanings and the ways I could use them. I felt our connection; how words would bow to my will, and the way I could give them life. I gasped as the magic collected inside my chest and the complete power of the Archangel filled me. Then I heard the sound of horns and felt a blast of air against my cheeks. Was I flying or standing still? I couldn't tell.
And that's when the pain came.
Gabriel fell backward and ceased to move as I dropped to my knees and screamed. The wall of water splashed to earth as Toby knelt beside me. Thor and Odin joined us soon after, and I was suddenly surrounded by men. But they couldn't help me; something inside me was trying to burst free, and it was burning its way through my back.
“Give her room,” a new voice said; a voice that resonated in my soul. “Her wings are emerging.”
The men backed away and a pair of feet came into my line of sight. Horrible agony seared my flesh; burrowing up from my spine as a horrible itching bloomed beneath my skin. I cried out and clutched my stomach; trying to protect my baby even though the harm was seeking a way out, not in.
