Chapter 28
What the hell?The power ensnaring Dagan in the alley finally released him, dumping him in a…warzone?
Grunts and screeches filled the night air. He spun around in the chaos. The looming mountains were a short distance off, so somewhere in the Catskills—there was a farmhouse on the other side of theriot.
His mystical tattoo shifted on his bicep, demanding release at the absolute evil surrounding him, but a hilt already rested in hisfingers.
His obsidian?What the fuck?He could no longer summon the weapon, whichmeant…
His heart careened to his throat. Only when she was in absolute danger would the dagger summon him. She washere!
Frantically, he searched the crowd, feeling as if a huge hand were crushing his chest.Shae,he telepathed in a yell,answer me,dammit!
A demon charged him, and he stumbled. Several more circled him, closing in. They lunged, swords arching down as if he were that easy to defeat. Damnfuckers!
A scream tore through the chaos, wrenching his heart. Power slammed him in the sternum, sending him flying back, crashing into several demons. His breath rattled in his chest. And heknew.
Samael. The bastard was somehow controllingShae.
Mindless with terror, he leaped to his feet. Inhaling harshly, his bruised lungs protesting violently at the action, he flung the demons out of his way with his mind. A path cleared, and he sprinted to the echo of Shae’s scream. There, in the center of the lawn, a fiery glow surrounded her and Samael, who had her in a deadlock. The rogue flung a bolt, and a sizzle of energy thrust Dagan back severalsteps.
Resist him—lock your mind, Shae, he telepathed to her, praying she could hear him now that he was here.Shut yourself off fromhim!
A moment passed, then her thin, agonized voice seeped into him.I’m so sorry…She shut hereyes.
“Let her go, Samael!” Michael wrestled through the power storm, trying to get tothem.
Dagan cleaved his way to her, feeling as if he were wading through molasses, desperation eating at him.Hold on, baby, I’m going to get you out ofthis.
Her eyelids snapped open, an eerie, swirling gold eclipsing her gray irises.No, stay back, I don’t want to hurt you again.Her words echoed faintly inside hishead.
You think I’m just gonna let you fuckingdie?
I-I can’t break free of him. Somehow, he bound us together… I’msorry…
Fear corroding his gut, his heart in his mouth, he pushed through the storm. A strange surge of power shot out of him, startling Dagan, and like lightning, it rammed through the barrier surrounding Shae and the rogue, splintering itapart.
Dagan lunged forward into the thickened haze. Blistering heat scorched his clothes and his skin as he fought to free her from Samael, who smiled like a maniac. A white eddy of light swirled, coalescing into him—as if the bastard was depleting Shae of her veryessence.
Did he think he could reap her powers?Shewould to drain himdry!
Suddenly, Samael’s eyes widened inconfusion.
Yeah, the fucker got the message. Only his girl could steal another’sabilities.
Samael started grappling with Shae, trying frantically to free himself. His wings fluttered furiously, his entire being pitching like a flaming wave. The force of energy flung Dagan several metersaway.
Pain didn’t deter him, he dashed forward, but Michael grabbed his arm. “Wait—”
“Fucking let go, Arc!” Dagan bared his fangs, close to ripping his leader’s throat out. But the bloody angel didn’t budge. Arms like bulldozers kept him nailed in place. His gaze shot back to Shae and the rogue, then all he could do waswatch.
Samael’s feathers caught on fire, flames soaring in a hiss. His roar of pain reverberated like fragmenting glass. Shae held onto him as if in an embrace as his essence flowed into her in a stream of firefly sparks, encompassing them both in a brightlight.
Michael let Dagan go, a small ebony disc appearing in his hand. He threw the ring up, and the thing broke apart over Shae and Samael. A net flew out, and as it fell over Samael, a golden light glimmered through the links as if securinghim.
“What the hell isthat?”
“An angelsnare.”
