“Sentient suits?” Play dumb. Let the arrogant prick take the bait.
Smoke continued to rattle on. He stepped forward, driving his heel into my sternum, but I hardly noticed. It was time to have a long-overdue conversation.
Hey, suit, we need to talk.
Would it respond? Was it a living object with its own ability to form words? Could it speak English? This was almost?—
The suit rippled. It wasn’t a word, but a sensation warming my body. I had felt a similar sensation when I first shook William’s hand. The suitwasalive.
I don’t know what I’m doing here. This guy is about to destroy the world. We’re the last line of defense.I swallowed mypride and finally admitted the scariest thing.I need your help.
Smoke ground in his heel as he let loose maniacal laughter. If the suit didn’t respond, I was prepared to summon the fire, all of it. If I went supernova, perhaps I could break through his shields and kill?—
A hand grabbed Smoke’s ankle. I raised my hands, glancing at between them and the additional appendage. Another arm emerged from the suit, pushing off the ground. Like Prometheus, the suit transformed me into a Tetrabrachius. Whoa, how did I even know that word?
The extra arm pushed off the ground, while the other yanked at his leg. It was Smoke’s turn to slam into a jersey barrier. I hope it hurt, a lot.
The fire returned without me summoning. I might not understand the suit, at least not yet, but I officially had a partner. It was amusing that watching Smoke fight, fists in conjunction with his powers was my teachable moment. Now it was time to school the villain.
The fire siphoned from my body, pooling in at my chest before shooting forward. It slammed into Smoke, forcing him to hold up his hands. Try as he might, the shield of darkness was pulverized and he couldn’t summon his abilities quick enough to stop me.
“You’re done, William.”
A tendril of smoke shot forward. The pointy tip would have skewered my skull if the suit’s hands hadn’t caught it.It was my turn to laugh. Yes, laugh and make it as condescending as possible.
“You pitiful fool.” Damn, I see why he enjoyed it. But I didn’t need to stand superior to the villain. I just needed to snatch the necklace off his body and destroy it. A superpowered Smoke would break free from jail in no time. I wanted a weak and helpless William behind bars.
A plume of smoke clouded the area around William. As I let loose another burst of fire, he was already flying over the hole in the bridge, returning to his coven of shadow creatures.
“Dammit,” I followed. He was faster, reaching the circle before me.
“Your boyfriend isn’t essential. He was to serve as icing for Beleth, a blood sacrifice for the hungry.”
He lifted Aiden by the neck, holding him out as a human shield. I could have attempted for a precision shot of fire into Smoke’s skull, but I couldn’t risk Aiden. I’d never forgive myself if I hurt him.
“You have a decision, hero. Save Aiden or stop the end of the world.” He moved until he stood at the end of the gaping hole in the bridge. It was ironic. He stood in almost the same spot where Aiden had first saved me. The hand reaching over the ledge rested on the back of my head.
“Save your man, or stop me. You can’t do both.”
He dangled Aiden over the edge of the hole. He struggled, but the ropes held fast. Letting his face go limp, hestared at me. His eyes went from narrow to wide. Even from here, I could see the sadness filling them.
“Which will it be, hero?”
“If you hurt him?—“
“You’ll what? Stop me? That hasn’t worked for you yet.”
Aiden tilted his head back, trying to throw a look at Smoke. He wasn’t giving up. He was granting me permission. Aiden was willing to sacrifice himself so that I could save the world. My heart nearly burst as I realized the man was giving me the okay to let him die.
“Time to choose, Blaze.”
Smoke thrust Aiden downward through the hole.
23
There was onlya split second to decide. Did I rescue Aiden or did I stop Smoke from summoning a demon to destroy mankind? I didn’t want to live in a world without Aiden.
There was no decision. The suit agreed.
