“Everything okay?” Týr burst inside. “The place was locked as tight as a bloodyfortress!”
Aethan, Blaéz, and Nik followed him inside secondslater.
“Kaerys aligned with Aza. She had a concealment spell over them and the warehouse,” he said absently, his focus on Shae’s still and utterly pale face. But the new power rolling inside her lashed at his psyche, her skin the only thing probably keeping itcontained.
“And those frozen assholes?” Nikgrunted.
“What?” Dagan dragged his gaze off Shae, only then remembering the dozen or so demons he’d immobilized with his mind. “They’re all yours.” He released them. Grunts and snarlserupted.
Týr and Nik flashed, their obsidian swords taking form in their hands as the demons rushed them. Blaéz and Aethan spread out, waiting.Watching.
“Is she okay?” Aethan asked over hisshoulder.
Dagan nodded. These warriors truly were his brothers. “Thanks for having myback.”
“Hell, we couldn’t do much here, you both seemed to have it all in hand. Besides, your surly ass is always there for us.” Aethan smirked. The cacophony of noise soon quieted down as the last guttural growl diedaway.
“What about this one?” Blaéz drawled, walking around an impaled Aza, studying the embeddedpole.
“Mine-mine,” Aza whimpered, his blood-drenched hands sliding over the post, eyes glued to Shae. “She’smine.”
Dagan barely glanced at him. With his mind, he picked up the fallen sword and let it fly. The weapon winged in a deadly arc, millimeters from Blaéz’s head. As he leaped back, the blade decapitated Aza. The Fallen’s head rolled across the debris-coveredfloor.
“Damn! Your shit’s fucking scary,” Blaéz muttered. “Quite forgottenthat—”
The concrete floor split open, stopping him short. An obscure dark mist flowed out. Greedy fingers took form, slithering out of the orifice. And in smoky agitation, they grabbed Aza’s body and head, pulling him into the dark hole. Seconds later, it hissedshut.
A year late, but Purgatory was a fitting end for him. Dagan stroked Shae’s brighthair.
“Okay, then.” Nik strode over. “I’m gonna do a quick recon of the area, a few of them lit outta here like their asses were onfire.”
“Indeed. Let’s go kick some demon backside,” Blaéz said, then glanced at Týr. “It’s time you got your hard arse on track and claimed yourrainbow.”
“Celt, you’re a damn pain in my ass. And keep your precog crap away from me.” Týr glared at him. “The only reason you’re still in one piece is because I like Darci. It baffles the hell outta me how she remains so good while sharing your blacksoul.”
Laughing, Blaéz followed him out. “She adoresme.”
“Yeah, about that? I worry about her state of mind being mated toyou.”
“What rainbow?” Nik askedthem.
“Nothing,” Týr muttered. “The Celt’s a demented fucker, that’sall…”
As their voices faded, Shae stirred. Her eyes snapped open, and she pushed up, her gaze darting around the empty warehouse. “What happened? Aza?Kaerys?”
“He’s dead. She’s gone. You did a helluva job on Kaerys. Never seen anything likeit.”
He shifted so she could lie more comfortably against him. But the new influx of powers roiling within her abraded his psyche like sharp pinpricks. “You okay?” he askedquietly.
She nodded, then whispered, “They’re all finally gone—thank God. Mom’s safenow.”
“As are you, my wildcat, but you’re not okay, Shae. I feel it.” He tenderly stroked the arch of her spread wing, so grateful to have her in his arms again. She may be strong and possess incredible powers, but she was his entire life. “Those pilfered abilities consume you oncemore.”
She inhaled sharply as he caressed the appendage’s curve. He could hear her heart drum faster, and it had nothing to do with the battle she’d fought minutesago.
“I didn’t want to worryyou.”
“When it comes to you,” he murmured, deliberately running his finger down her wing’s arch again. “I’ll always worry.” A husky purr of need rolled out of her, and he couldn’t wait to be the one to satisfy it. He slid his mouth along herjaw.
