Boone steps forward. “Your brother headed that way,” he informs us, running a hand through the blond scrap of hair on top of his mostly shaved head. “They’re gonna figure us out soon. You’d better go. Catch up with your brother and bury yourself far away from this mess till it blows over.”
“What about the hawthors?”
He shrugs. “Not sure. If I were you, I’d want to remain a free agent.”
Yeah. A free agent without my sunstar.
“That’s it?”
“Yah could say thank you. Don’t they teach manners on this planet?”
His voice is gruff. Why do I remember it so well? I’d rather remember Zhang’s. I reach back for my husband’s hand and lace my fingers with his.
Merrick’s scanning the skies. “My father’s there. I should go home with him, get him to calm down,” he says.
“No. Merrick, you can’t go with him. Look what he did to you last time.”
He won’t look at me. “He’s less likely to come after you if I talk to him.”
“Why do you insist on that belief when he’s proven otherwise?” Zhang says, shocking the hell out of me. I never thought he’d care about what Merrick did, especially if his actions lead him away from me.
Thunder rumbles, and the clouds open, showering us with cold rain. “Your brother?” I ask Merrick.
“Mhm.”
Like a black meteor, the grand seraph drops out of the sky, pounding the ground with his fist as he lands in a crouch. His body unfurls, standing tall, blue energy crackling around him. Zhang’s first to hurl himself in front of danger for me, crossing his swords, ready for battle this time.
Daniel sends a blast, and Zhang’s glowing blades deflect it. “You’re not taking him.”
Merrick steps forth, opening his wings. One won’t even open all the way. Honestly, how did he expect to fly with that? “This is wrong. You know it’s wrong, Father.”
“You would openly defy me?”
“Yes.”
The sky thunders its support. I haven’t met the guy, but Merrick’s older brother seems awesome.
“Treyu is my mate. It’s been decided by the Gods. I’m bound to protect him, even from you.” Everything about Merrick is steady. And I’m not supposed to be admiring my mens’ asses right now, but they’rerightin front of me dammit. I still want to see Merrick in a pair of jeans. I’ve seen Zhang in jeans, it’s everything it’s cracked up to be.
“Then you leave me little choice, son.” Blue lightning flashes into both his fists, and he pelts them in their direction.
* * *
There’s a flash of steel and a glow of starblade. Merrick and Zhang fend off angel lightning, bolt after bolt with quick movements. Daniel’s wings flap, lifting him just enough into the air to make it difficult. Zhang crouches and jumps, sailing an impossible height into the sky, slashing his sword.
Daniel spins, narrowly missing Zhang’s sword, which leaves a white-hot trail of sparks where his blade meets the war general’s armored jacket.
Merrick capitalizes on the momentary distraction, leaping over his father. He knows where to jab to avoid catching the armor of that damn jacket. Not gonna lie, I’m jealous of that jacket. The one Merrick gave me is nice, but Daniel’s is something else.
Merrick’s blade sinks home midair with a sickening squelch. Daniel folds as Merrick yanks his sword free, and lands in a tumble. “That won’t hold him long,” he shouts, running toward me.
“I’ll buy you time,” Zhang calls over the mayhem. “Get him to the hawthors.”
He can’t be serious. That wasn’t the plan. The plan was all of us. We’re already scattered with two members of our crew MIA, we can’t divide ourselves further. I get his line of thought, there’s no way for us to kill the angry seraph, running’s our only option, but the seraph can and will kill Zhang. I can’t bring myself to leave him, even if it means me too.
But my hero-complex men aren’t giving me a choice.
Merrick dives for me, his wings spreading, unfurling from their sleep. He’s going to attempt the stargate thing with them, and then we’ll blink out of here and I’ll never see Zhang alive again. That same energy that lives trapped within my skin zips across my arms as if it’s pacing, wishing it could break free and do something.
