“Remember to stay close, no matter what happens,” Atti tells me as I slide my hand into his, and my other hand is held tightly in Dabriel’s grip. I can feel the worry through our bond from all my mates. They all don’t like this, and I have to admit I don’t, either, but we can’t leave the angels alone until the council knows everything. Apparently, Lucifer can show the council members if they won’t let me show them my memories. The guys decided to all come today with three angels as well as Leigha who demanded to protect me when she heard what we were doing.

“Time to see my home, Winter,” Dabriel says gently, and I nod, squeezing his hand and keeping my eyes locked on his as Atti moves us all with his power. When we get there, the first thing I notice is the loud noise, a ringing noise that makes me want to put my hands on my ears, but both my hands are held in the tight grip of my mates. When I look away from Dabriel, I almost wish I hadn’t when I see all the bodies on the ground in front of me and the destroyed building we are standing in. Two demons run at us, not stopping once as they kick the angel’s bodies out of the way. Atti lifts his hand, calling his fire and destroying them before they even get close. There are bodies everywhere, of all ages, and sickness fills my mouth.

“Over there,” Lucifer says, getting our attention, and we look up to see a bunch of angels in the air, avoiding the arrows the demons on the ground are shooting at them. Most of them are holding children and trying to fly away. This place must have once been beautiful as I look around at the small houses, but all there is now is blood and more death. The demon king didn’t send his army here to help them or work with them, he came to kill them all.

“We need to save them, stay here,” Dabriel says and lets my hand go, flying over with three angels that came with us. I glance over as Leigha and Wyatt come to my side, and Atti keeps me close as we look around. What once must have been a beautiful building is now just pieces of rock, and I see a painting on the floor under the rubble, only the head of a handsome angel with a white crown can be seen. I take a guess that that was Dabriel’s father, the old king.

“We need to help them,” I tell Atti, who looks over at the angels fighting and back to me.

“Stay close, I don’t think the demon king is here now, but he could come back,” Atti tells me. I know the demon king isn’t here, this is just a game to him, and he wouldn’t waste his time. I doubt he would leave the portal now, knowing that’s the only way to keep himself safe.

“I’m going to shift, makes it easier to kill them,” Jaxson tells me, and hands his sword to Wyatt before his clothes shred away, and he shifts into his giant, black wolf. Jaxson’s wolf presses against my side just before we all start walking. I pull one of my daggers out of my belt, holding it at my side and my other hand is in Atti’s as we approach the massive group of demons. There are so many angel bodies at their feet, and just behind them are a big group holding off the demons, with what looks like women and children behind them. They are all a mix of white and black wings as they fight, holding each other off.

“I have an idea,” I say and step in front of Atti, pulling my power and sending it out like a shockwave towards the group of demons. My blue wave of power hits them one by one, and they disappear into blue dust. It even pushes some of the demons that escape the wave into the angels. The angels make quick work of killing the remaining demons as Jaxson rushes forward and starts helping them by ripping the demons to shreds with his paws and teeth.

“Your power works against them,” Atti whispers.

“I can’t do it again, it takes too much,” I tell him breathlessly, as I glance over at the twenty or so demons that are still left, but Jaxson is making a good go at killing the demons brave enough to come near us.

“That’s what your kings are for,” Wyatt says and lifts both his swords, and runs towards the demons. Jaxson runs over at his side and Leigha smirks at me before following them, throwing knifes at the demons that get close. I glance up to see Dabriel fighting with an angel, and I catch a glance at his face, recognising him from the meal.

“What’s Dabriel’s brother’s name?” I ask Atti, who is looking up as well.

“Zadkiel,” Atti tells me, just as Dabriel tackles Zadkiel to the ground right in front of us. They both get up quickly, both of them weapon-less from the fall.

“You got them all killed, thousands of them must have died because of you. You are their prince, and you betrayed them all. I always knew you were a selfish bastard, but this . . . this is unbelievable even for you!” Dabriel shouts as he holds Zadkiel up by his white shirt and throws him across the field.

“No! Govan did!” Zadkiel shouts back as he stands up, and Dabriel shakes his head, the cuts on his face disappearing.

“Where is Govan? What do you mean?” Dabriel asks, but his tone is so sharp, I doubt that he believes a word his brother says, and I don’t blame him.

“Dead. I killed him when he told the demon king where we lived. I never told him that, I just wanted an alliance for my people,” Zadkiel says and glances at me. The fear in his eyes when he sees me is clear, and it almost makes me want to attempt to kill him myself. I don’t know if his words are true, but he knew the demon king couldn’t be trusted. You should never make a deal with the devil. I grew up knowing that and even most humans wouldn’t be stupid enough to make the decisions he did.

“They are not your people, and they will never be.”

“You’re not going to kill me, brother,” Zadkiel laughs.

“I am, and then I’m taking my throne. I’m going to kill you for treason. I’m going to kill you because I don’t believe a damn word that comes out of your mouth. I hope the Goddess forgives you when you die,” Dabriel says, his words echoing around.

“It wasn’t me!” Zadkiel protests, his worried eyes glancing between Dabriel and me.

“As a child, you always blamed Govad for your mistakes, and it seems like nothing has changed. You want the throne, then fight me for it!” Dabriel shouts, and calls his marks, which glow on his skin so brightly that I can barely look at him. I glance behind them both to see the battle is over, and Wyatt is walking back to us, unharmed and throws a sword each to Dabriel and Zadkiel.

“Good luck, my brother,” Wyatt says as Dabriel lifts Jaxson’s green, metal sword and swings it around his hand a few times. He clearly knows how to use it.

“What is left of the angels is here to witness this fight. Whoever wins takes the throne, and as a member of the council, I decree it,” Lucifer says after he flies down and lands next to me. The rest of the hundred, or so, angels stand behind Wyatt, Jaxson, and Leigha on the other side of the fight.

“Don’t, you can’t interfere. Believe in your mate,” Atti whispers when I try to take a step forward as Dabriel smiles at me. He mouths “I love you,” and I do the same. I watch as both Dabriel and Zadkiel bow low and then lift their swords.

“I remember beating you in sword lessons, you never had that skill, Dabriel,” Zadkiel taunts and does some complicated show with his sword before dropping into an attack position.

“No, I just refused to kill innocent angels for fighting practise, like you did. Always trying to prove something to someone, Zadkiel. What were you looking for in the demon king?” Dabriel asks, and I watch as Zadkiel’s face tightens in anger.

“Do I get your pretty, little, demon bitch to fuck when I become king? Does she come with the throne?” Zadkiel asks, and Dabriel charges at him as I hear Jaxson’s wolf growl and feel Atti tighten his grip on my hand. I watch as Dabriel strikes hit after hit on Zadkiel who is only defending from the hits and not getting any of his own in. Dabriel slashes a cut across Zadkiel’s leg. I watch as fear fills Zadkiel’s eyes, and he tries to fly away, but Dabriel grabs his injured leg and slams him onto the ground. I watch as Dabriel lifts his sword and swings it down on Zadkiel who doesn’t move as his head is cut off. The fight is quick, and it wasn’t even a fight at all. There was no chance for Zadkiel; Dabriel would never have let him get away with speaking to me like that.

“King Dabriel wins,” Lucifer shouts out, and Dabriel stands straighter, throwing his sword on the floor and walking over to me. Dabriel pulls me into a kiss the moment he can, and there’s silence as he breaks away from me, linking our hands.

“We have a place that is safe, and we will bring back witches to bring you there. War is coming, and we need angels to help win this. We will never win this apart, now what do you say?”

“May the queen and her kings rule true,” a male angel shouts out, and then the rest of the angels repeat the words.

“My Queen,” Dabriel says to me gently before he kisses me once more.