“Lin Ru Yi?” Song Liming spat out, finally recognizing who she was. His murderous intent turned on his own son. “First, a mutiny from Celeste, now a betrayal from you.”
Rui’s appearance implied that Yiran had been in contact with the Exorcists and he’d been lying to his father. She glanced between Liming and Celeste, trying to gauge who she had to defend Yiran against.
Celeste was perched on her web above, watching everything with interest. “Aww, guess the family reunion isn’t going your way, is it,boss?”
Song Liming’s anger was the heat of an inferno. He pointed his saber at Yiran. But he’d seen what had happened when Rui shot her magic at his son. He would have to get closer to use the metal of his blade.
Rui moved to stop him, but a flash of white and violet darted between them.
“Move and I’ll kill you,” Yuki growled. The tips of his winged weapons were pressing against Song Liming’s neck, hissing softly against his skin.
But Song Liming did not flinch or cower. His laugh was bitter. “And you too, Yuki?”
Emotion crossed Yuki’s features, but he held firm. He stuck his hand inside Liming’s jacket and pulled something out.
The talisman.
“Good boy, Yuki,” Celeste called out. “Now finish the job, and I’ll finish mine.”
She tugged her web. Yiran grunted painfully as the ropes pulled him to her. They’d sliced through his sleeves, burning his bare arms. In one swift move, she looped a rope around his neck.
Rui stared hard at Yiran, willing him to notice her. He did. Even as hestruggled to breathe and the air filled with the scent of burning flesh, an unspoken understanding passed between them.
“You promised, Cel,” Yuki said, his eyes never leaving Yiran. The talisman shook in his hand. “I help you this time, and Yiran goes free. We had an agreement.”
Celeste kept her hold on the rope around Yiran’s neck, but she seemed genuinely apologetic. “He’s not one of us, love. He can’t protect you. Finish your job and come with us. I’ll take care of the girl.” She turned her attention to Rui, lips curling in a snarl.
Yiran blinked.Now.
Rui surged her magic through both her swords, directing them at him.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw movement.
Song Liming twisted, letting Yuki’s wings slice his flesh as he drove his saber into Yuki’s stomach. Rotating his blade with brutal precision, he pulled his weapon back out and kicked the Hybrid away.
Doubled over in pain, Yuki gasped, a hand reaching desperately toward Yiran.
Yiran screamed.
And the world exploded in crimson.
68
Zizi
“This,” Zizi panted as he stabbed a Hybrid with his sword, “would be a lot easier”—he twisted his blade, and the Hybrid shrieked—“and faster”—he dragged his sword out, slicing the Hybrid clean in half—“if I could just use my bloody Kingly powers.”
The Hybrid turned to stone and then ash, crumbling away.
Zizi flicked his sword, yelling, “Who’s next?”
It took him a moment to realize he was shouting at an empty parking lot littered with small mounds of debris. It’d taken way more time than he could afford, but he had finally dispatched every single Hybrid.
His mortal body was losing steam, and he didn’t know how long he could keep this up. Every spell he’d cast had cost him dearly; his spiritual technique was out of strikes, and he’d had to rely on close combat. He was bleeding from multiple places, and some of his bones were probably broken. It was also getting harder and harder to breathe. Was he too young to have a heart attack? Because it felt as if his chest was seizing up.
But he needed to get to Rui.
The rumble of engines turned his head.
