That explained the weapons Cypherion and I threw at them disappearing in midair. Swallowed by shadows. And that senseof ownership in their steps—they were born of the Spirit Volcano, of Ambrisk itself.
Mila added in a murmur, “The gorgons can fall to Ophelia’s and Jezebel’s powers and Cypherion’s scythe, but what are your weaknesses…”
“Rare,” one of the fucking creepy demigods stated. His hands rested too casually in his pockets. “And our father will gift us Gallantia after this.”
Gallantia? But what about the Angels? They were fucking sending their warriors to ruins, and for what? If Echnid wasn’t even going to give them their land back, what was the fucking point?
Perhaps what I’d suspected after finding the papers about Cyph’s scythe was right. The Angels had a bigger plan here.
“He can’t do that,” I challenged.
“He will if we earn it,” the other demigod stated with a cruel smile.
“That’s why he used the Spirit Volcano,” I breathed. “So, they’d have a direct tie to the realm.”
“How will you earn it?” Mila spat.
All the demigods did was grin, chilling me to my bones. Before I could ask, lightning flared, and they stepped back, fading into shadows again. This time, Rozelyn and Salteaire went with them, but both flashed Mila lethal smiles before they did—one of pure jealousy and another of unfettered revenge.
“Malakai,” Mila said, spinning toward me as her eyes cleared, either oblivious or ignoring the gorgons’ expressions. “I have something I need to do. I’ll be back, okay?”
I gripped her wrist. “Where are you going?”
“Echnid is using the Spirit Volcano. I think it’s time we get our own help from another realm.”
She pressed onto her toes and kissed my cheek before I could respond. Then, she was fleeing in the direction the demigodshad disappeared in. I tried to run after her, but footsteps pounded down the alley behind me, and the back of my neck prickled.
Spinning, I lifted my sword, but quickly relaxed. “Tolek?”
He halted, his eyes whirling with some frazzled emotion I couldn’t quite name. Dax and Barrett prowled the edge of the courtyard, searching behind every open door and in each corner for the threats who’d just slipped away.
Atop one of the buildings rimming the courtyard, a winged figure loomed. I couldn’t tell who, but they didn’t move. Only watched.
It didn’t matter which Angel it was—all of them had betrayed us. Fucking unreliable bastards leaving us for a slaughter centuries in the making. My eyes flicked between the Angel’s hovering form and Tolek explaining in an almost detached voice why he wasn’t atop the capitol with the cannons.
“Tol,” I began, gripping my sword tighter. “Are you okay?”
“Yes,” he said, once again his voice slightly off. Void of emotion.
Barrett cast me a wary look as he came closer, but the shadow of an Angel raised a hand. Tolek’s raised with it.
And then, Barrett was screaming.
Dax shouted, rushing for him, but the prince dropped to the ground, writhing beneath some beast we couldn’t see. Angellight cracked through the clouds, my attention snapping up. The form on the roof illuminated?—
Thorn.
He was tormenting Barrett’s mind.
Tolek grinned down at the prince, an evil look twisting his expression.
I charged, shoving him back against the wall. “What’s happening to him?” I yelled both to Tolek and Thorn.
“No—no!” Barrett screamed, his voice alternating between a ragged whisper and a sharp, bone-shattering shout. “Don’t touch him! I just want to help!” Dax crouched over him, but I kept my eyes on Tolek.
But it wasn’t Tol—it wasn’t my best friend of two decades—who looked back at me as he said, “What all warriors who let their emotions rule them deserve.”
Then, Tolek was pushing me back. He and Thorn both raised their hands again, and those invisible bolts of power lashed at me. They zapped Dax, but neither of us went down the way Barrett had.
