My arms flailed desperately, searching for anything to latch on to. Cold rushed through my veins and I became light-headed. As the thick white fog darkened, all I could think about was how I’d failed Lucy, and how I hoped Calder would help Jo after I was gone.
“Lucy,” I whispered just before the dark took me under.
Suddenly, there was pressure on my back, and I felt myself being lifted.
“I’ve got you,” Tristan said, grunting as my body hit against his arms.
“Tristan?” My head lolled as I fought to stay conscious.
“You’re okay,” he said, patting my cheeks.
I opened my eyes. Panicked-blue eyes met mine. “What happened? Where’s Zac?” he asked.
“Something hit us. I-I . . . ” I burst into tears when the realization of what had almost happened finally hit me.
“Shh, it’s okay. You’re safe.” His long fingers brushed over my cheeks, wiping away my tears. “I’m not letting go. Ever. I promise.”
His beautiful wings flapped slowly, stirring the mist. His handsome face softened as he continued to tenderly stroke my cheek. We were suspended in time. Alone. His strong arms pulled me closer, tucking me into his chest. He cared, perhaps more than he should. And for the briefest of moments, I believed every word he said.
“Karenna!” Jo’s frantic voice broke the spell surrounding us.
I peered through the fog, searching. “I’m—”
“Don’t. Someone’s there.” Tristan pressed a finger against my lips, cutting me off.
Dark shadows flashed over us. The same eerie laughter echoed in the white void.
“No!” In an instant, Tristan snapped his wings close to his body and dived. We cut through the fog like a bullet. He didn’t stop until we were out of the clouds and the pavement appeared. Just when I thought we were going to crash, he let out his wings and landed in what looked like a strip mall parking lot.
“Stay close,” he said, looking worried as he scanned the sky.
Calder emerged from the clouds with Jo. As soon as they landed, she ran to me and hugged me tightly.
“What happened? I heard you screaming?”
“I fell,” I said, taking off my backpack.
“What? How?”
“Something hit us, and I slipped.” My hands shook as I fumbled with the zipper. When I finally managed to open my pack, I took out the dagger. Something or someone was out there, and they were strong enough to take down Zac.
Jo gasped. “Zac let you fall?”
“He’d never do that. Something’s wrong,” Calder said, following Tristan’s lead, searching the sky. “I don’t see him or Val.”
“It’s them,” Tristan said.
Calder’s eyes widened. “Are you sure? Did you see them?”
“No, but I’d recognize their cackling anywhere. I’m going back up. Stay with the girls.” Tristan crouched and was about to leap into the air when Zac appeared. He was spiraling out of control toward the ground.
“Zac!” Tristan flew into the air, catching him.
“Val, they have her,” Zac wheezed, as he fell to his knees, clutching his abdomen. Blood seeped through his fingers.
“Who? What’s going on?” Jo asked, holding onto Calder, afraid to let go of him.
A strong wind blasted across the parking lot, sending empty plastic shopping bags and soda bottles whirling into the air. The chilling laughter grew louder. The clouds broke apart, giving way to the sky, and revealing two warrior angels. They held Val in their grasp.
“You know you’re on the wrong side, Caim, don’t you?” Val growled at the warrior angel on her right.
The angel’s pale green eyes studied her for a moment, then slowly his full lips curled into a wicked smile. I nervously fingered the dagger.
“What side takes weaklings like you who can’t even fight their own battles?” He slapped his hand on her forehead and yanked back her hair, revealing the circlet. He laughed, looking from her to Zac. “Or fake thrones who play make-believe and think they can lead an army. Look at you. You can’t even handle a couple of scratches.”
“Let go of her, Caim,” Tristan growled.
“And you’re barely better than a human,” he continued, ignoring Tristan as he continued to taunt Zac. “At least they’ve learned to stand upright.”
“That’s it!” Val smashed her heel into Caim’s foot. He howled, jerking back and grabbing his injured foot. Free from his grip, Val curled her wings and whirled to the other warrior, kicking him where no male, human or angel, would ever want to be kicked.
He fell to his knees, using his hands to protect his most precious jewels. Val spun back in the opposition direction, doing the same to Caim.
“Not so tough on the ground are you?” Val snapped as Caim squirmed, groaning. “Get up and let’s do this. One on one. Come on!”
Alarmed, Calder and Tristan spoke over each other as they made their way to Val.
“My lady, please, step away,” Calder pleaded.
“Knock it off, Val!” Tristan said as he struggled to get Zac to his feet. “They have swords.”
“He’s man enough to fight without one. Right, Caim? You’re not afraid of fighting a girl, are you?” Val taunted.
Behind them, Caim’s friend finally got to his feet and staggered to her, sword drawn.
“Behind you, Val!” I yelled, running to her, the dagger clutched in my hand.
It all happened so fast. Calder rushed back to Jo’s side and pulled her away from the fight. Val took one look at the dagger, and instinctively I threw it to her. In one smooth motion Val caught it, removed it from its sheath, and whipped around. The blade sliced through the air.
At the same time, Tristan stormed over to the warrior, smashing into his chest, taking him down. The dagger skimmed over the warrior’s head.
“What the hell, Tristan?” Val shouted as she rushed to retrieve the dagger.
Caim recovered and leapt to his feet. He drew his sword, charging at Tristan.
Before I could yell at Tristan, Zac was on his feet. He let out a roar, charging at Caim. His powerful arms bulged as he took hold of Caim’s wrist, squeezing it so hard Caim’s hand turned purple. Blood streamed down Zac’s chiseled abs as they struggled for possession of the sword.
“That’s enough,” a voice called out from the clouds.
I was shocked at how everyone reacted to the woman’s voice. The warriors stopped immediately, placing their swords back into their scabbards and standing at attention. Tristan shook his head, looking annoyed. Val’s lips pressed into a thin line as she tightened her grip on the dagger. Her nostrils flared as she gazed up into the sky, waiting for the voice’s arrival.
Zac swayed back, his face paling. I thought it was from the blood loss, but the bleeding had slowed, and his cuts looked almost healed. His summer-blue eyes stared at an old car in the parking lot. Its windows were all smashed in. Shards of glass were littered around it. It was as if he was fighting against himself from looking up to the voice.
He lost the fight as soon as she appeared.
She moved through the air with an awe-inspiring grace. As she descended, the clouds dissipated, revealing a clear blue sky. The sunlight glowed behind her, creating a vision of a majestic angel.
She was a dark-haired beauty words couldn’t describe. Sleek black hair blew in the breeze, lightly hitting against her porcelain face. She looked like what I thought an angel should look like with a gleaming white gown that hugged a slim figure. She floated through the air, her wings barely moving. It was as if the wind carried her to the ground.
Calder bowed his head as if by reluctant instinct when she passed. She walked toward us, her hips swaying like a runway model. A circlet glimmered across her forehead. Her unearthly beauty was almost too much to bear. There was something familiar about her cold green eyes.
Zac’s eyes were glued to her every move. She walked past him as if he didn’t even exist. Actually, it was like none of us existed. She was focused on one person.
Tristan.
Val stepped forward, the dagger facing out. She paused as if having a second thought. She bit her lip, and then, as if it took every ounce of self-control, she placed the dagger behind her back, hiding it beneath her shirt. She inched her way back to where Calder, Jo, and I stood.
“I thought you’d be done playing with the humans by now, love,” the dark-haired angel’s melodic voice sang out.
“Don’t call me that,” Tristan muttered.
“Don’t be such a grouch.” The angel ran her fingers up his arm and across the lettering on his t-shirt. “What else should I call my fiancé?”
Fiancé? My eyes flicked to Tristan.
He scowled. “What are you doing here, Ana?”
“I’m here for you. Really, Tristan, stop this nonsense and come back home. You’ve had enough playtime with your friends.”
Just as Jo took a step forward, Val moved in front of her. “Nobody wants you here. How did you find us?”
“Well, hello to you too, Val. Your parents send their love.”
Val blinked. Hurt flickered across her face. She swallowed thickly, smoothing her face. “You didn’t answer my question.”
Ana sighed. “You made it way too easy. All you had to do was fly.”
“The Dark Ways. I should’ve known,” Val spat. “That’s all you and Ari know.”
“Oh, we know much more. Just like I know you, Tristan.” She trailed her hand over his shoulders, speaking with a husky voice. “I know you don’t want any part of this battle. I know you’ll tire of your human pets soon. This is not for you. Phanuel knows it too. That’s why he is offering you another chance. Come back with me.” Her hand moved to his wings, stroking them as she continued. “We’re meant to rule. We are the chosen ones. Throne of the thrones.”
He jerked back, flicking his wings into his body. “Cut it out, Ana. Your use of Erga won’t work with me.”
She laughed. “So be it. Caim, Thalos, it’s time.”
The warrior angels hit their fists against their chests and took off into the sky.
“You’re still angry with Phanuel. I get it,” she said to Tristan. “I told him to let me ease you into the idea.”
“It’s more than that,” Tristan said, his eyes darted to Zac.
Zac looked like a broken man. He remained stoic as he continued to look at Ana as if she was the sun. Was she using the Dark Ways on Zac? It was hard to imagine someone as kind as Zac being drawn to someone like her.
Ana paused, her head turning slightly in Zac’s direction. Behind her, rain clouds formed in the distance. A strong gust of wind suddenly whipped through the air. There was a loud crack of thunder followed by lightning zigzagging across the darkening sky.
She inhaled a sharp breath as her eyes took in Zac’s injuries. She closed her eyes for a moment, then shook her head and turned back to Tristan.
“It is what’s meant for both of us . . . for all of us. You’ll see it in time,” she said.
“Never.”
“You are loyal. I’ll give you that, but you can’t save them all. And even if you can save your favorite play things”—her eyes flicked to Jo and me—“you’ll tire of them.”
“Who are you calling—” Calder slapped a hand across Jo’s mouth.
“Forgive me,” he whispered in Jo’s ear.
Ana’s eyes flicked to Calder. She arched an eyebrow, amused. “Only on Earth can an untouchable find a love match. Too bad her mouth will soon be the end of her.”
Jo struggled against Calder, obscenities muffled against his hand. If I didn’t think it would put the others in harm’s way, I would’ve marched right up to the angelic beauty and slapped her. One look at the glint in Val’s eyes and the hand behind her back, I knew to stay where I was.
Ana flapped her wings and hovered over Tristan. Lightning flashed against the sky. “This is your last chance, Tristan. I doubt Phanuel will give you another.”
“I’ve made my choice.”
“Fine,” she sighed. She lifted her wings as if to take off, but then paused. Her eyes softened a brief moment as she looked at Zac. I’d seen Zac beaten and burned in battle, but nothing topped the agony flashing over his face.