“You will never hurt my love again,” Drew gritted out and forced all of his power, all the love he felt for his angel into the gem, overwhelming it, filling it up until it was brimming with magic. His own power worked to smother, to block the magic of the gem from entering Zach’s body, stopping the pain, soothing the sting, a magical kiss to make it better. Zach slumped in relief as the pain ceased, and his eyes fell closed. Drew turned his attention deeper into the centre of the gem, finding the sourceof its power—the spell Oberon had used to create the gem in the first place. It was strong, but Drew was stronger, and he concentrated with all of his might, sending everything he had to the core, willing it to break. The gem absorbed the magic Drew channelled into it and so he reached even deeper within himself and fed it even more. He could tell it was reaching its limit, he just had to keep going. He was beginning to flag, his reserves used up, but he pushed himself just a little more.
This was for Zach. He would do this for Zach.
Feeling completely drained but digging even deeper, he found one last reserve of power and pushed it into the gem. A sound like a bell rang out, and the glow of the gem began to fade. Once the light had dimmed completely, it cracked in half and fell from Zach’s chest, leaving the indent of a scar in its place.
Zach heaved in a deep breath and his eyes snapped open. He sat up and threw himself into Drew’s arms, and Drew cradled him close, providing him with a measure of privacy as he processed the fact his shackles had finally been broken.
From across the quad came a scream of anger, and Drew looked over to see Oberon glaring at him with hate in his eyes. “You took him from me!” he raged, and then he threw Kensington to one side and lunged towards Drew.
Drew had absolutely nothing left. He reached for his magic but his well of power had run dry. He hunched over Zach, knowing his feeble human body would provide little protection, but it was the only thing he had left.
Then the three angels were there, landing in front of him, their wings flaring. Oberon came to a halt as his path was blocked.
“It’s over,” Daniel told him. “Your hold on Zachariel is broken. Youwillreturn to the depths of Hell from whence you came.”
“You have no power over me, angel,” Oberon spat, and he raised his arms to blast them with a spell.
A tiny flicker of light left his hands and fizzled out in the pouring rain.
“What the fuck?” Oberon growled, staring at his hands like he’d never seen them before. It appeared his words were simply that—words. Whatever power he’d had seemed to have diminished with the destruction of the gem.
“Move in,” Daniel barked and the three angels rushed in, easily overpowering Oberon. He screamed and cursed, fighting for all his worth, but he was no match for the angels. Daniel tackled him to the ground, and Hashmal pulled out a simple-looking rope and used it to bind his wrists. It must have been magically enhanced because no matter how fiercely Oberon fought its bonds as Adriel pulled him to his feet, the rope did not loosen.
“Give it up,” Adriel snapped at him, shoving him forward until Oberon walked towards the others. Her pale hair was plastered to her face from the rain but she still managed to look regal and powerful as she guarded her prisoner.
Daniel turned to Zach and held out a hand. Zach clasped it warmly, pulling the other angel into a hug. “Thank you,” he said, his voice hoarse from his screams of pain.
“It’s the least we could do,” Daniel told him. He then paused as the hug finished and he grasped Zach by both shoulders. “You can come home, Zachariel, now you’re free.” He smiled. “Come with us?”
Zach smiled but shook his head. “The years down below have changed me, Daniel. I’m not an angel anymore.”
“We disagree. You may have scars, but you’re still worthy of your wings.”
Drew could see that Zach was tempted but let out a sigh of relief when he stepped away from Daniel and twined his fingers with Drew’s. “Thank you, but my place is here.”
“You’re sure?” Daniel asked.
“Let it be, Daniel,” Hashmal said. “It’s clear to anyone that he’s in love with the human. Let him have his happy ending—he deserves it.”
Zach beamed at Hashmal and then winked. “And a happy one it willbe.”
Hashmal laughed and then tilted his head at Daniel. “Come on, let’s get going. We have this piece of trash to drop off down below before we go home, and it’s a long journey to the borderlands.”
Daniel clapped Zach on the back one last time. “Be good, man.”
“I make no promises,” Zach teased. “I’m living with humans now and they’re all about the grey.”
Daniel laughed and then Drew blinked and the three angels and their prisoner were gone.
Silence fell over the quad—except for the rain that was starting to ease—as everyone caught their breaths. The clouds above were still dark, but slightly less black than they’d been earlier, the magic in them slowly dissipating.
Drew wrapped his arm around Zach’s waist and supported them both as they stood together, processing the events that had just unfolded.
It was over. They’d won and Zach was free.
“What the fuck just happened?” Edward demanded, shoving his way towards them.
Drew shook his head and chuckled. “Something much bigger than were-animals,” he said.
