B

ane’s back slammed into the rubble that used to be the house. Dumbfounded and temporarily immobilized, he watched Amaya incinerate a handful of creatures on the field. Between her and the Reaper, maybe the tide had turned even if a portion of the demons would get away. Already Spaun were forming dimensional pockets and Taige had vanished. Died? Either way, he’d left his legion to survive or die on their own.

A heavenly scent filled the air. Braile. It wasn’t just light pouring out of her. It was Braile’s celestial essence that she’d absorbed. Energy in the air coalesced around her, feeding her more power. Arms stretched wide, her clothes melted away, and the beautiful light bled from her pores and projected forward.

Darklings, Spaun, and demons burned, their ashes a gray blizzard. “Look out!” he shouted, too late to save the Reaper from getting a full blast of light. Bane didn’t expect to see anything left of the Soul Snatcher when the light moved on. The bastard proved he was the real deal when he wobbled to his feet, dazed, and very human.

And then, Amaya turned toward him.

He pivoted and yelled at the UnHallowed, “Get to the hou—”

Braile’s celestial essence washed over Bane. He waited for the searing pain. Waited for his substance to unravel and for him to receive his final punishment, the punishment handed down when he fell from grace. He was UnHallowed. He would burn like all the rest.

Instead, Braile’s essence entered his body and…and…stayed. Braile’s light filled the empty reservoir that used to hold Bane’s grace.

Was he alone in this phenomena? Had Amaya and Braile saved him and none else? He pivoted to his UnHallowed brothers. Braile’s essence encompassed them all. From stunned to terror, a range of emotions contorted their faces as skin returned to Tahariél’s chest and face, gray wings sprouted on Daghony’s back. Sammiél rose to his feet as the Angel of Death once again. Kush, Ioath, Rimmon, and Zed were on their feet, wounds healed. Gideon had Dina in his arms while Gadreel and Chay stood close to Scarla and Sophie, both UnHallowed and the women were healed.

A sharp pain had Bane glancing at his right shoulder. His jaw unhinged at the sight of his arm back where it should be. Stunned, he flexed his elbow, opened and closed his fist in amazement. He should be dead, not hale and hearty.

A scream broke through his inspection. The essence had landed on Malphas, and Bane saw the last thing he’d ever expected; Daghony threw himself on top of the Demoni Lord and shielded Malphas with his wings. Riél was next. He stood over the two with his wings outstretched. Rimmon joined in, then Kush surprised him and joined the circle, even though his wings were skeletal. Sam was the last one with wings that could join the Protect Malphas fan club. Give it to the Angel of Death to glare at the rest of them as if they were all demented. Understandable since Sam hadn’t been privy to any of the UnHallowed’s activities for the past two weeks.

Kush surprised Bane again when he hauled Sam into the circle. The rest—Gideon, Zed, Gadreel, and Chay—filled in the gaps. They created a cocoon to protect Malphas when they could’ve let him die.

Braile’s essence continued to stream out of Amaya, focused on the UnHallowed. Did Amaya know what she was doing or was Braile in control, sensing a Demoni Lord and performing his duty?

Too bad he couldn’t ask. He’d give almost anything to hear the Chancellor’s voice again, but not more than he wanted his woman back. He waved his arms. “Amaya! Look at me, baby.”

Like a search light, her head whipped toward him and he was doused in warmth. But this time, it was different. He sensed a presence within the light, a being of such benevolence, Bane dropped to his knees. “Hello, Chancellor.”

Bane.

The deep tenor of the Chancellor’s voice echoed inside Bane’s head. “Thanks for the help, killing the demons, putting us back together, but I think you’re done.”

One more.

Amaya’s attention and the light returned to the group huddled around Malphas. “I know this may be hard to hear. Malphas is a friend, of sorts. Definitely, a means to an end. He’s not our enemy and we need him.”

Demon!

“I know, but so am I. So are they.” Bane pointed at his brothers. “It’s what we are and you saved us. I am asking you to save him also.” The light intensified and began passing through the UnHallowed to reach Malphas. His screams began again.

“At least not kill him! We need him, Braile. The enemy you know is better than the enemy you don’t. You taught me that. We know Malphas.”

The intensity ratcheted up a notch, became blinding. Malphas’s screams dwindled, took on the tone of a man seconds away from dying, joined by the cries of the UnHallowed.

“Braile, please! You’re killing us, too!”

Amaya’s head jerked, as if she fought to regain power, then it fell back on her neck. Her entire body tipped forward and blazed into the UnHallowed. Bane expected to fry, and though he didn’t cook, he did feel crispy, yet lighter than he’d been since the day he fell. Stronger and at peace in the most fundamental way, because a part of him that had been missing had returned, gifted from the sacrifice of another, who was worthy of the highest exaltation.

The first rays of the sun crested the horizon and touched all of them. How many times would they have to escape death tonight?

He wouldn’t leave. He couldn’t. Not without her. “Amaya, I’m with you baby. I’m not going anywhere without you.”

The energy pouring out of her intensified until she was a dark blip surrounded by white. Abruptly, it decreased by half, then a fourth. He could see her again, an outline haloed by light.

But then the rays from the sun landed on him and the UnHallowed. He braced for the pain, but none came. He didn’t burn. Multiple gasps came from behind him, but his gaze stayed on Amaya. That wasn’t where his concern lay. It was her wings. One by one, her white, red tipped feathers floated away on the morning breeze. Soon, nothing but the skeletal frame remained, and then it withered to white ash.

The light surging out of her ended as swiftly as it started. For a few precious seconds, she hovered. She’s a candle caught in a thunderstorm. No matter how brightly she burns, she will be snuffed. Rimmon’s words cored a hole in Bane’s chest. Rimmon’s words were now prophetic as Amaya plummeted from the sky. He caught her naked body and cradled her close to his heart. “I got you. I got you, baby.” His grip tight with relief.

She gave a breathy sigh and her eyes cracked open a sliver. “You’re okay?” she whispered hoarsely, strands of her hair caught in eyelashes and between her lips.

Bane gently freed her hair. “You saved us all.”

Weakly, she shook her head. “No. Braile did. I was just the tool he used.”

“No, Amaya. You are far from the useless female I thought you to be. You are the one who saved us,” Sam said. He and the UnHallowed now surrounded Bane and Amaya. Gadreel removed his leather tunic and draped it over Amaya, covering her nakedness.

“Is this wise?” Bane asked Gadreel. One touch from a weapon on his bare skin and the battle would begin again with him as the enemy.

Gadreel shrugged. “The least I can do.” Then he turned his face into the morning sun and sighed.

“I don’t know what feels better, Braile’s essence inside me or the sun on my skin,” Ioath angled his head into the sunlight.

“Both,” Kush said gruffly.

Bane rose with Amaya safely in his arms. “Is Malphas alive?”

The UnHallowed parted ranks, revealing a charred mass on the front lawn. “Define alive,” muttered Zed.

Rimmon snickered. “This is a tan he won’t soon forget.”

“And Taige?” Daghony asked.

“I didn’t see it, but I’m sure he’s ash,” Kush said.

The Reaper, still looking human, walked over. “You followed me, Daeden? Through the shadows.” Sam asked, something the Reapers weren’t known to do.

“Yeah. Had a hunch you needed help.” Daeden scratched at the stubble on his cheeks.

“Why didn’t you fry when Amaya blasted you with the light?” Scarla eyed the Reaper warily.

“Because I’m not a demon.” Daeden’s acerbic tone challenged anyone to contradict him.

“You’re not an angel either.” Scarla just had to have the last word. It worked. Daeden didn’t reply. He was too busy eyeing Sophie enough to cause Chay to move to her side. She didn’t seem to notice either man.

“Enough of this. We need to leave this place.” Daghony took charge. Shadows curled between a piece of the roof and a downed wall.

“Agreed. Malphas is out of commission, how do we get the ladies home without him or Amaya?” Chay took Sophie’s hand. She moved to stand on the opposite side of Dina, away from Chay and Scarla, leaving the two puzzled.

“Has anyone tried forming a dimensional pocket? Hey, you’re in sunlight. Maybe other powers were also returned.” Dina leaned on Gideon, his arms wrapped around her.

A few useless moments passed while a few tried to draw the energy from the air.

“I can get your women home.” Daeden offered and stepped to Bane.

Bane clutched Amaya tighter. Passing your unconscious, semi-naked woman to another “man” was wrong on all fronts. In the end, he did what was best for her and passed her care over to the Reaper.

“Take her to the farm. I will be there waiting for you.”

Daeden glanced at the woman in his arms and nodded as a dimensional pocket formed behind him. “Got the address from her mind.” His attention turned to Scarla, Dina, and Sophie. “Ladies, first.”

“Maximum Effort, please.” Scarla rattled off the address. “I don’t want you plucking anything out of my mind, thank you much.”