Brother.
Betrayer.
Enemy.
Falcon.
Chapter 54
Iwokeupclawingatmy throat attempting to breathe as another lilin joined my shadows. Kira hadn't just sucked the life out of Bay with the Sanguine. She slowly drowned my water fae friend with the very element that gave her empowerment. Bay had been chosen because she painted my scales to outshine even a queen—an act of treason Kira had called it. Even after her death, Kira's vanity knew no bounds nor did her cruelty, a life taken because of jealousy, a throne vied for because of vanity.
"Fucking bastards!"
My brows rose at the profanity sprouting from my daughter's mouth as she blurred over me, lunging with her spear through the rain. My lips twitched, the words comical with her small musical voice as she practiced her spear.
"Die demon ass scum!" she screamed and a wailing screech jarred mysensitive ears.
My eyes widened, that was no scream from a little faeling girl, which meant this was far from practicing forms.
"Riella!" Jumping upwards, choking on fear, I whirled around to see her wrenching her spear back as the demon in front of her slowly started to disintegrate into nothing. His dust drowned in the torrential rain.
Swiping the water from her face, she looked up at me, her eyes pure gold with sharp fangs bared. "Oh hello maedere."
My lips pressed into a thin line, a shadow blade morphing into my hand. With the other, I yanked down the dormant shadows being cast from the crackling lightning and booming thunder. Gathering together like curtains drawn, I gasped in horror at the sight of hundreds of demons and blood wraiths swirling above us within the storm.
Hollering through the heavy rains, I narrowed my eyes on my daughter, her eyes scanning the horizon. "What has happened? Where is your father?" Twirling my hand, shadows shot outward like a volley of arrows bringing down a few dozen hell spawn and wraiths alike to be swallowed up by the angry seas.
"Wrath demons and blood wraiths joined forces," she yelled back, water sputtering from her tiny lips as her crown slide over her brow, her eyes switching to an emerald green before she shadow jumped behind me, stabbing out into the storm, another demon cry piercing the night before being extinguished. Protecting me from its silent attack.
I stared, enamored with the tiny faeling warrior I was now in the presence of. Bás fang in hand, my new shadows, the lilin, faithfully hovering over her shoulder, and her pookah spirit guide poised on her other, its red beady eyes darting around her, searching for more prey.
"And that's faedere," Riella said, raising her spear upwards.
We both looked up when a fierce flash of fire streamed across the skies, gathered into an enormous fiery beam straight into a large consuming mass of darkness engulfing the swarm of demons on all sides.
My heart dropped. "Emon," I breathed his name, a painful worshiping sound.
Riella tapped her spear on the steps, tilting her head, listening to their cries. "They are afraid of him."
"It's his wraith," I said, recognizing the hunger. There was a reason why the soul needed a body and body needed a soul…without each other there could be no balance. This was the cost of a soul wraith. How long before he forgot everything but his taste to destroy life?
"So typical of him, isn't it? Jumping without assessing the consequences…how it could possibly affect others, all that matters is what he feels is right," drawled a high pitched voice straight from my nightmares.
Reeling, I pulled Riella quickly behind me. Shadows falling around us protectively while I manifested another sword in my hand.
Baring my teeth, I hissed at the fae standing on the step above us, barely able to discern through the downpour his black eyes from his dark skin. "Falcon."
"Remi darling, you have something that belongs to my goddess." Cocking his head he attempted to peer around me but my shadows rose higher blocking her.
Before I could answer, a roar shook the rain between us, Emon's large frame dropping in front of me, forcing us back on the edge of the stone step. His soul wraith transformed back into his fae form instead of the dark mass of shadow he just was in.
"Falcon," he growled with the thunder rolling above.
Falcon’s too bright white grin turned on my soulmate. "Emon. You've looked better…more alive I would say." Teetering, he cocked his head to the side much like a bird searching from its high perch. "I don't know if I am flattered or surprised you can even remember who I am in this state."
"I'll be more alive than you will be, Falcon. Your death is going to taste the sweetest when I devour your deceitful soul."
Emon's cold and empty tone forced a dark shiver down my spine, instinct telling me this was not the same shifter anymore. Emon was a fierce protector, he was full of fiery hot passion whether it was rage or love but never void…never desolate.
