“Strike, Willow!” Hannah shouts, her will wiping away my memories of Gabriel one by one. “Now!”
I raise the Blade high above my head. I can’t take this man’s life. But maybe I can take my own.
Gritting my teeth, I screw my eyes shut and focus on keeping Hannah out of my head. But she pushes back even harder. The hand on my neck tightens. The chain sends raw agony shooting through my entire body.
I can’t fight any longer. I failed. Like all the Whisper Keepers who came before me. Has the grimoire already recorded my last words? Or will they come next?
I’m sorry. So sorry.
My arm swings down, the Blade arcing through the air.
A split second before the Blade pierces the werewolf’s heart, a blast of power knocks me back ten feet. I land on top of Hannah.
Metal hits metal. Once. Twice. “Get the fuck out of here!” Gabriel shouts. The collar clatters to the floor. The man scrambles up and takes off at a run.
He came.
Hannah flips me onto my stomach, pinning me with her knee at the small of my back. “Calista!”
The witch flings her arms in a circle. Gabriel rises into the air, his limbs straining. The Devil’s axe is still clutched in his hand. His muscles twitch, but Calista has him completely under her spell. His amber eyes tighten with pain. “Willow! Fight her,deliciae. You are the only one who can!”
“You hold the true power.”
“Use her!”
A blast of magic explodes across the building. One of the walls starts to crumble. Isaac yells for the others to get their guns.
Shots ring out—so much louder than I thought they’d be. Hannah grabs the chain at my neck, and the void races closer.
“What will you do to stay out of the void, Willow dear?” Hannah asks.
“Anything!” As the word leaves my lips, I know it was the wrong thing to say. But she’s so strong. And Gabriel…I can feel his fear. His pain.
Hannah laughs. It’s not beautiful anymore. It’s as ugly as she is. A shrill, cackling howl that makes my ears bleed. “I don’t know whatheis, Willow dear. But teleportation? Nowthat’sa power unlike any I’ve ever seen.”
Calista sends Gabriel flying into the wall of cages. My angel groans and starts to get up, but Isaac jabs him with a shock stick. His arms and legs flop helplessly, and his eyes roll back in his head.
With another wave of her hand, the witch slides my angel across the floor until he’s lying in front of me.
Hannah digs her fingers around my left collarbone. The bone shatters. My vision goes white. I can’t keep her out of my head.
I’m hers. I always will be.
With one final sob, I drive the Blade deep into Gabriel’s chest.
Gabriel
I thought dying would hurt more. I feel only peace. Also…cold. Very cold.
Such an odd thing, knowing five inches of metal have run me through. Even odder to see the Blade sticking out of my chest, with Willow’s hand still wrapped around the hilt.
“Gabriel. God, Gabriel. Why?” she sobs. Her tears fall, mixing with my blood. So much blood.
“I sensed your…despair, my love. I could not let you…lose your soul. My plan…was to destroy the Blade… Not…this.” I struggle for each breath. My lungs rattle, and I taste blood.
The entire building rumbles. Another section of the wall collapses, this one closer. Killian’s spells chip away at the wards protecting this place. The vampires should be close now. But not close enough. They were supposed to subdue the witch.
“What are you,Gabriel?” Hannah peers down at me. Her nostrils flare. “Your blood…it’s intoxicating.” With her hand tight around the back of Willow’s neck, she leans closer. “Tell me, Willow. What is he?”
