Serenity flew down from the vaulted ceiling, her white wings spread wide. But something was wrong—horribly wrong. There was no white glowing aura. No warmth. No light radiating from her like there always was. Her movements were too smooth, too calculated.
My blood went cold.
Fuck. That wasn't Serenity.
Gunnar flew in first, his black wings flapping hard. He landed a few feet away, looking at an empty jail cell. “Where’s Ebony? She was here.”
That shapeshifting bastard was coming straight for Joy and me. My fangs extended fully, and I dropped into a crouch, every tense muscle ready to strike if he got near Joy.
Dark shadows erupted around me, Joy's power lashing out like whips toward the false Serenity. She'd figured it out.
Then I caught movement from the corner of my eye—Angelo stumbling through the doorway, his shirt drenched in blood. And beside him, Serenity. The real Serenity, staring in horror at her own twisted reflection.
Thank God. Thank fucking God. They were alive.
The imposter touched down a few feet away. The transformation was grotesque—features rippling like water. Long hair retracted into short blond locks. Feminine curves hardened into masculine angles. White wings bled to black. Green eyes froze into cold blue.
Ari's smirking face emerged from Serenity's stolen form. "How easy it was to draw you away from the queen.”
Gunnar kicked the door shut behind him with explosive force. "Ari, you bastard! Where's Ebony? What have you done with her?"
"Hidden." Ari's smile widened, cruel and satisfied. "Somewhere you'll never find her. You should have remained our obedient weapon, Gunnar. Now your beloved wife pays the price for your rebellion."
"No!" The word came out as an anguished roar. Gunnar's fist slammed into the stone wall, and the impact sent cracks spider-webbing through the ancient masonry. Plaster rained down.
This bastard needed to pay. "Maybe the queen escaped, but you won’t,” I snarled.
"Try it, lover boy." Ari raised his hands, fingernails extending into razor-sharp claws.
"Enzo, no!" Joy's warning came too late.
I didn't care—didn't think. I just wanted him dead. My hands locked around his wrists, and I lunged for his throat, fangs fully extended.
Dark Demons converged from both sides. Their swords bit deep—shoulders, ribs, back. White-hot pain blazed through me, but adrenaline did as well, and I refused to let go of Ari.
Then a golden-brown-and-crimson blur shot past me—Hades—slamming into Ari with devastating force and ripping him out of my hands.
Ari smashed into a wall and slid down, leaving a blood smear on the stone. He held up his shaking hand as Hades stalked toward him, murder in his eyes. “You kill me, you’ll never find your fucking queen.”
“Enzo! Angelo!” Dimitri’s shout cut through the chaos. “Not to interrupt your revenge fantasy, but I could use a hand before I become demon chow!”
I looked through the chaos and spotted Dimitri and Rose.
He stood over Valentin's beaten form, absolutely drenched in blood. Rose had blood running down her chin and she was next to Valentin. Zoe hung limply against the pillar, still unconscious. Dark Demon corpses surrounded them—evidence of the brutal fight he'd been waging alone. But Dimitri was swaying on his feet, clearly at his limit. And Valentin... Christ, his face was so swollen and battered I barely recognized him.
Anguish tore through me. Dimitri was dying on his feet, and Valentin was barely conscious. I had to reach them.
I pushed my vampire speed to the limit.
Shadows exploded past me, flowing like dark water toward Dimitri and Valentin. Joy's power wrapped around them both, creating a protective cocoon of darkness. The Dark Demonsslashed their swords at the shadows, trying to break through to finish what they'd started, but the shadows held firm.
Thank god. She was keeping them alive.
Angelo appeared at my side like an avenging angel, rage etched into every line of his face. We became a two-man army, cutting through the Dark Demons standing between us and our wounded brothers.
The first demon came at me with a sword. I batted it aside and seized him by the throat, fangs extending fully. I bit down hard, tearing through flesh and artery. His blood poured into me—hot, coppery, powerful. Energy surged through my body, knitting torn muscle, closing sword wounds. The demon went limp in my grasp. I threw him aside and grabbed the next one.
Screams filled the cathedral—the dying, the desperate, the doomed. I drained another Dark Demon, feeling his life force fuel my rage, then broke his neck and let him drop. Angelo moved beside me like a shadow, his ancient sword singing through the air. Every strike was fatal. Every movement was efficient. We'd fought together for too long to need words.
