“Ansley!” Hayden screams my name, and I can feel his love as he tries to get to me.
I cower as the shots ring out, but none of them hit me. A golden light sweeps across Mr. Lumen and he begins to shift, just like my mates do. Just like I did when the Viking Warrior Princess appeared.
Wings appear on Mr. Lumen’s back, then they extend outward until one is in front of me, and the other is in front of Daisy. Bullets bounce off them and a few feathers fall, one of them landing at my feet. It’s so white it reminds me of snow.
Then Mr. Lumen gets bigger. He rises until he’s well over seven feet, muscles expanding, golden armor that doesn’t look much different from what the Crimson Templars are wearing appears, replacing his expensive suit. His hair lengthens, turning into gilded locks that hang midway down his back. A shimmering halo appears over his head and seems to be suspended there. It moves when he does.
“It’s an angel! Run! Run!” a Templar screams.
I hear a few more gunshots, then the sound of their armored boots hitting the ground as they retreat. Mr. Lumen. The angel,or whatever he is, takes flight. His wings flap and he zooms towards the Crimson Templars.
A few more gunshots ring out, but then the Crimson Templars are fleeing for their lives. The angel keeps moving, a silver sword appearing in his hand that doesn’t look much different from the one I’m holding. It erupts in flames and he cuts a Crimson Templar in half.
“He’s got a sword like yours!” Daisy says. “Also, he’s kind of hot. You recognized him?”
“I met him at work. He’s an investor…” I mutter, watching as the angel continues to tear into the Crimson Templars, shifting from one to the other as he kills them. “Or at least I thought he was.”
Screams ring out as the angel finishes off the Crimson Templars. Dead bodies are everywhere, but things are quiet again. I start to rush to Hayden’s side, because I can sense he’s weak, but then the angel starts walking back towards us, so I freeze.
“Mr. Lumen?” I ask, taking a step back.
“We need to go,” the angel rumbles, his voice both terrifying and soothing at the same time. “I caught them by surprise, but more will come. They have weapons that can kill angels. They just didn’t think there were any of us left.”
I look around, taking in all the carnage. Both of the SUVs we arrived in are smoldering husks, fires still lighting up the night. The helicopters are in ruins, thanks to the angel.
“We don’t have a car,” I say, glancing over at Hayden. “And my mates are injured. Can you help them?”
“They are as important to you as the baby you’re carrying. I can sense it,” the angel sighs, turning to the fallen wolves. “Too many to transport in one trip. Wait here.”
The angel walks over to Remy first. He picks him up with one hand, then grabs Wyatt by the nape of the neck. Wyatt yelps and I tense up, but I can tell the angel means us no harm. It’s just a feeling inside me. Fire surrounds the angel’s feet, his wings flap, and he lifts into the sky. A second later, he’s streaking across it, just like he did when he arrived.
“Really hope he comes back,” Daisy says nervously, looking around.
The angel returns, almost as quickly as he left. He lands next to Storm, the ground shaking as he does, and it makes Storm gasp, blood spewing out of his muzzle.
“Be careful with him!” I beg, watching as the angel disappears into the sky.
He returns for Hayden. Then Jaxton. I say a prayer, hoping they’re okay, then wonder who I’m actually praying to. If an angel just appeared in front of us, there probably aren’t any prayers that are going to do more than he can.
“He’s coming back,” Daisy says, looking up at the sky.
The angel lands in front of us, wings spread, a golden spark in his eyes. He extends one hand to me, and the other to Daisy.
“Thank you! I really appreciate your help, but if you’re not Mr. Lumen, who are you?” I ask cautiously as Daisy takes his hand. “Why did you come to help us?”
“I came to help because I wasn’t about to allow the Crimson Templars to kill my daughter,” he says, grabbing my hand. “My name is Lucifer.”
I don’t get a chance to ask another question. Fire spins around Lucifer’s golden, armored boots, and his wings flap, sending dirt and debris flying as he lifts off the ground. Then we’re flying, so fast, that everything zooms by below in a blur.
He’s my father? Lucifer? Like…theLucifer? From the Bible? A shudder sweeps through me as I remember all the stories I heard shouted from the pulpit at church when my grandmother used to drag me to the Sunday morning church service.
Chicago disappears rapidly behind us, too fast to comprehend. I’m not sure where we’re going, but we’re moving like a rocket, and I see a mountain on the horizon. Lucifer cuts towards it, and I squeeze his hand tighter, terrified of what would happen if I let go. I’ve always been scared of flying, but the one time I was on a plane was nothing like this.
“Not much farther,” Lucifer rumbles, then he starts to descend.
The sun is starting to come up. I can see a castle carved into the side of the mountain, like the mountain itself is part of the design. That seems to be our destination. When we get closer to the ground, I see my mates. They’re all on the ground, still bleeding, but I detect life from all five.
Lucifer hits the ground with a thud, but he gently lowers the two of us down. I immediately rush over to Hayden, kneeling at his side. Daisy takes a few steps away, then turns to look at Lucifer. The look on her face says she’s enamored, again, but I’ve got bigger problems to worry about.
