Just as I was ready to go barging past Azazel and claw at Talon’s face, someone wrapped their hands around my waist. I yelped, my legs leaving the ground as whoever it was lifted me. Az was turning in a second, his hand soaring towards whoever it was, but then I was gone, appearing on the opposite end of the alleyway behind Talon.
“Oh, Son, what a piss-poor attempt. I taught you better than that.”
That was when I realized who had me in their grasp.
Iblis Altair.
Az stood straight, slowly turning in a half circle. Talon backed away, pushing towards the wooden building to our left. All the while, he let his stare flick between Az and I, his head moving so quickly from left to right that it was beginning to irritate me. Impressive how he could aggravate me even when I was facing sudden death.
“Father,” Azazel said, his voice cold and dark. Like a living shadow.
General Altair’s hold on me grew tighter, one of his hands moving up to grip my throat while the other remained around my waist. His touch was vile, his skin so cold I could have sworn blood didn’t flow through it.
“You know, when I received the anonymous tip that a protest would occur today and my general in training would be in attendance, I almost didn’t believe it. After all, who would have the knowledge and be willing to offer it up?” Someone had tipped off the general? But who? “But, Talon here believed it. He said it was worth the risk to potentially bringhisNova home. What a surprise it is to see her hiding behind you of all people.”
As if the words hadn’t come at any surprise, Az only shrugged, his feet bringing him closer to us one breath at a time.If he felt fear in that moment—which I was nearly positive he did—he didn’t show it. Rather, he looked as if he felt nothing at all. Every feature on his face seemed relaxed, almost bored as he stalked forward, the screams in the square growing louder.
“Sounds to me like your luck has run out, Father. Maybe if I hadn’t been here, you’d have walked away with the stars’ essence once more in your grasp.” I felt Iblis Altair loosen his hold, his head pressing into the top of my skull slightly. Egging Azazel on, no doubt. “However, Iamhere. Which is why if you don’t let Nova go immediately, then I’ll fucking flay you alive.”
Before the general could respond, Talon’s voice cut through the growing tension. “I don’t understand.” Taking my eyes off Az, I looked to Talon, watching as a tear ran down his cheek. “You hate him, Supernova. You’re…you’remine…”
Gawking, I blinked, unable to form the words needed. How deranged could one man be? Was he truly so stupid?
Az let out a deep, threatening growl, his body tilting towards Talon. As if the sound snapped him out of his delusion, Talon bared his teeth, his fists clenching at his sides as he pointed at me.
“I knew it. Iknewthere was something between the two of you! You made me feel fucking crazy, but Iknew!”Spit flew out of his mouth while he spoke, his body spinning towards Az. “You wanted her the second you saw her! I fucking saw it in your eyes!” Again he faced me, Iblis Altair’s chuckles shaking me. “You left me forhim?”
“I left you because you murdered my entire family, you sick son of a bitch!” I screamed, trying to wrestle out of General Altair’s hold. He only squeezed me tighter, making my ribs ache. I’d kill him too, the slimy bastard.
“Let me take the akhata,” General Altair said, cutting off whatever bullshit Talon was about to spew. His words were honey coated, soft and enticing. “You can come home. Be at myside while we finally do what the stars have been asking of us for millennia.”
Azazel paused, his head tilting to the side. It was at that moment that I realized the screams had died down, only faint shouts and pounding feet left.
“You’d let me come back?” Azazel asked, his arms going limp at his sides.
“Of course, Son,” the general said, his voice bordering on a hum.
Talon stepped forward, clearly not interested in Az’s return. But neither General Altair or Talon Zade mattered in that moment. Every ounce of my focus remained on Az as he stared at his father behind me.
“Wow…” Az’s voice was awe-struck, absent of the normal rasp. His face was slack, grey eyes wide and jaw round as he popped his mouth open. “And maybe after, we can have a tea party and gossip about boys? Or we can take a bubble bath and share chocolate? Or, even better, maybe we can throw around a ball and you can tell me you love me?”
Iblis Altair tightened his hand around my neck, my already sore throat burning. “Watch yourself, Azazel.”
“No, you watchyourself.Don’t you ever,evercall her an akhata again.”
Talon took a step in Az’s direction, his eyes widening and his brown skin flushing. He looked…scared. As if he was worried about the friend he’d thrown away. And maybe he did. Perhaps it took a life or death moment to finally realize what he had. “Az…”
“The only mistake here isyou,”Az spit, his steps forcing his father to retreat, dragging me backwards. “The stars deemed you such the day they took their essence from you.”
“You little—“
Furious beyond belief, I slid one of my knives out of the sheath and jammed it into Iblis Altair’s side, earning a violentgrunt. Capitalizing on his pain, I shoved back my elbow, digging it into his wound and forcing him to release me. When he loosened his hold, I leapt out of his grasp, shadow walking the second our skin lost contact. By the time I was at Az’s side once more, both the general and Talon were readying themselves for a real fight, taking on a sort of crouched stance.
To run with Az or kill them both? That was the question that raced through my mind. If I left now, I might never get the chance to face off with the two of them again. But was this fight worth the risk of Az’s life? Of mine? Of ours?
Az reached for my hand, his fingers just grazing mine when a burst of blazing darkness shot between us. We were both forced to side step the magic, pushing us apart. In my mind, I pictured leaving, only to never see Az again.
Together was the only option.
