The demon moved blindingly fast, turning and flinging a knife in her direction. The flash of light warned her a split-second before he’d shifted, and she hardly had time to register the murky orange shade before the sharp end of the blade was hurling in her direction.
Luc charged forward, but he was too late to stop the threat.
25
Luc’s heart was in his throat, hammering so fiercely, making his warning shout hoarse.
Salvokos’s throwing skills were unrivaled, and the instant he released a knife, his target was as good as dead.
“No!” Luc cried. “Nadia!”
She threw up a hand, pivoting out of the trajectory. The blade pierced her palm with such force that her arm bent backward and her wrist smacked the stone altar’s edge. The resounding crack echoed through the chamber. Her cry was followed by a popping hiss as her blood splattered on the book’s cover, where it sizzled and balled up before running toward the center. The upper-left quadrant of the design flared brilliant white, then dulled to a soft, pulsing glow.
Her shocked gaze skittered past him and widened when it landed. Luc spun, but was once again too late. Salvokos had a firm grip on the hilt of a sword and was poised to strike.
A concentrated blast of energy swept past from the chamber, so pure it burned silver at its core. Edged in the palest amethyst, it could sear a human’s retinas. The force hit the demon, driving him back a step and, at the same time, obliterating his physical self. But it didn’t stop until it annihilated what was left of the man’s essence.
Stunned, Luc swung his head toward the source.
Nadia.
Expression as fierce as he’d ever seen, with chest heaving, she shook out her arm and flexed her fingers.
When their eyes met, she shrugged. “I guess I really am your triscelene.”
Her voice was shaky, whether with rage at the attack or from the knowledge of what she could do, he wasn’t certain, since both were waging their own battle within her.
Luc’s bark of laughter was born of pure shock. Other than the Creator, he didn’t know anyone able to do what she had. Sure, the archangels possessed the ability to spark angel fire at will, but it didn’t eradicate in a single strike as hers had.
“Don’t let anyone else know you can do that,” he said roughly. “Not even Gabriel.”
Her attention was caught by someone behind him, and she grimaced.
Thamiel.
In all the madness, Luc had forgotten the other man’s presence.
“I vow the knowledge remains locked within, my liege,” Thamiel promised with an added nod to Nadia. “My lady.”
“If this gets out…”
Thamiel knelt before him and bent his head as he held up his personal blade. “Do what you must.”
“I’m not going to kill you. For the love of all creation! What do you take me for?” Luc helped him to his feet. “You are my most loyal friend. I would just as soon take my own life as I would yours.”
Nadia crossed to them. The lines bracketing her mouth were tight with pain, and her violet eyes were dulled.
“Now that’s settled… How do I extract this and not bleed out?”
The blade was embedded mid-palm, likely severing flexor tendons and damaging the median nerve. Blood dripped from useless fingertips held horizontal from the support of her other hand. Luc had witnessed this sort of damage before, and it didn’t bode well for the injured party. He doubted a skilled surgeon could piece it all together again. But he might be able to, using divine grace as he had after the war.
“Sir, if you would allow me,” Thamiel said. “As I slowly draw the knife out to minimize tearing, you can repair the tissue from within.”
It was the best course of action, and exactly what Luc had planned, but the agony she faced would be great.
“Do what you have to, fellas.” She gave him a brave, encouraging smile.
With a deep breath, as if not wishing to hurt her, Thamiel began to ease the knife free. The edge dragged through muscle and tendon while Nadia screamed, causing him to stop. Blood spilled over Luc’s fingers the instant the steel shifted, and his red-gold angel fire erupted around the opening. It was hot enough to blister a crocodile’s hide, but intense heat was required to cauterize the wound.
