The evidence of my rage was a sticky mess of white and black at my feet.
I glanced back with feral eyes to find everyone staring at me in shock… Well, everyone except for the two demons, who were watching me with matching looks of pride.
“That was hot,” Shem purred, and Gabe nodded, sliding his arm around Shem’s waist.
“Agreed.”
The small flicker of amusement their words drew from me was extinguished as a tiny whimper rolled through the air, tugging my attention back to the center of the circle.
“Willow…” I breathed as my attention fell to the broken body of my friend.
She lay in the center of the witchwood ring, next to the mashed-up corpse of the angel I’d slain, her soft brown eyes filled with tears.
“Harper…” she croaked, and I dropped the scepter, rushing to her side.
“Willow, baby girl…” I choked, drawing her head into my lap.
“I’m sorry… I tried to fight it… It was too strong…” she whispered, and I brushed my fingers through her damp curls.
“You don’t have to apologize, sweetie… It’s not your fault.”
Willow’s lip trembled, and I tried not to look too hard at her body.
Her legs were twisted at an unnatural angle, and both her arms were clearly broken.
Our friendship chain rattled between us, some of the links disintegrating into dust before my third eye.
No… no, no, no.
“It hurts…” she whimpered.
“I know, sweet girl, I know,” I whispered, stroking her cheek gently.
I felt Luna open the circle and step inside. She came to crouch on Willow’s other side. She reached forward with trembling fingers to brush her wet hair out of our friend’s eyes.
“You did so good, Willow,” Luna whispered softly. We looked at each other over our friend, both of us knowing that this wasn’t something even I could fix.
“I’m not gonna make it, am I?” Willow whispered as red, human blood gathered at the corners of her mouth.
Luna’s lips trembled as she continued to stroke her fingers through Willow’s hair.
“I don’t… I don’t know, baby girl,” I whispered softly, not wanting to lie to her but hating that the truth was such an ugly thing.
“Stay with me? I don’t want to die alone.” Her voice was so small and tiny, and she sounded so scared.
Grief and rage warred through me. I wasfuriouswith myself.
I hadfailedher.
Shemhazai entered the circle, and he crouched down next to me, his expression grim.
He met Willow’s eyes, and she frowned at him, but he reached out and touched her chin gently.
“You don’t need to fear death, little witch. Death is a friend of mine,” he purred. Willow’s brow creased with confusion, but I gripped her hand tightly so she would know she wasn’t alone.
Shem’s hellcats began to manifest, and my heart sank. That was usually a sign that he was preparing to carry a lost soul to Hell so it could begin the reincarnation process.
I squeezed Willow’s hand, a hot tear sliding down my cheek.
