Reaper Unleashed

“Everything has a time,” he said. “And all things must die.”

As if on unspoken cue, the super vamps attacked. They spilled across the floor like shiny black beetles with fangs.

The troops made to counter.

“Don’t let them bite you!” Mal cried out.

But it wasn’t so much about let, and more about avoid. Because the super vamps were faster than the demons, enhanced to be stronger than them.

While Cain watched from his platform, waiting on Samael’s entourage to be decimated, I summoned my scythe and charged into the fray. I wasn’t alone. Hunter and Grayson came with me. Hunter in half shift and Grayson in wolf form.

Our Tribus connection swelled and snapped taut, opening the channels of power between us. I moved with Hunter’s grace and hit with Grayson’s power, while Grayson and Hunter benefitted from my parkour skills, leaping and kicking, slashing and tearing limbs from bodies. The super vamps were no match for us. Through the haze of adrenaline, I caught sight of Azazel as he decapitated a super vamp. Mal let out a whoop as he dropped and kicked the legs out from another. Conah stayed close to Lilith and Samael. Fighting alongside them while Keon moved like a shadow, leaving open wounds in his wake.

We could do this, we could win. Our troops were holding.

And then a fizzing sensation skated over my skin. A whisper at the back of my mind, not intended for me, but an order to someone else.

To my left Mal cried out in alarm. I whirled to see him fighting off one of our guys. All around me, our troops had turned against us.

Cain stood by the pedestal, arms crossed, a smug smirk on his face.

He was doing this. He was controling them.

We couldn’t win this.

“Give up now.” Cain’s voice filled the room, coming from a multitude of mouths. You’re outnumbered, Samael. Give your life to me willingly, and some of your people may live. There’s still time to get out of the Underealm before it crumbles. Lilith will live and so will your daughter. But if you fight me any longer, I will make sure they are wounded so badly that they won’t be able to escape this world before it ends.”

My head whipped round to find Samael. He stood with his arms around Lilith., surrounded by his troops.

The super vamps couldn’t kill Samael or Lilith—both were immortal—but they could cause some serious fucking damage.

Around us, the fight wound down as Cain took control.

He held up his hands, which sparked bright white. “I have the power of the dread in my hands,” he said. “It’ll be quick, for the both of us.”

Samael’s shoulders sagged.

He was giving up.

He couldn’t give up.

But even as I thought it, the logical part of my mind told me there was no other option but compliance.

“No…” Lilith looked up at him with brimming eyes. “Samael, no.”

He stroked her cheek. “It is the only way. Once I’m gone, you must leave immediately. Take as many citizens as you can. Go to the human world.” He kissed her forehead before his gaze found me. “Take care of your queen and our people, daughter. I am sorry we did not have the time to know each other better. But know you are loved.” Then he turned to Cain. “I will come willingly.”

Cain’s chest rose and fell rapidly. He was about to get what he wanted.

Death.

Samael extracted himself from Lilith’s arms and strode toward Cain.

Something urgent and destructive stirred inside me. This was wrong, this couldn’t be happening. I couldn’t let him take Samael. The braid Eve had given me, was suddenly in my hand. My muscles bunched, and I made to lunge toward Samael, to stop him, when a boom shattered the world.

I spun to face the throne room doors to find them off their hinges, and standing in the doorway, epic silver wings extended like a shield of light, was Uriel.

And he wasn’t alone.

Chapter Forty-Nine

Uri strode into the room and a troop of glowy-winged celestials spilled in behind him. Who were these guys? Where were the Seraphim? And then I caught the ember eyes of one of the celestials, and I knew.

Esmael.

These were the Seraphim, but no longer tainted.

They were somehow restored.

“Stand down,” Uri said to Cain. “Leave this place in peace, and you will not be harmed.”

The Seraphim had the room surrounded, but Cain seemed unperturbed.

He sighed and held his hand up toward Uri, his gaze growing intense. A fizz skated over my mind. Shit, he was trying to get into Uri’s head.

Uri arched a brow. “No, Cain. That won’t work on us. We are the reborn.” His chest glowed orange and then every Seraphim’s torso lit up with the same light. “We are neither of this world or the other. We exist in between. Our minds cannot be altered, and our blood cannot be tainted.”

Cain’s eyes narrowed, and for the first time since I’d known him, his confident stance faltered. “No. This can’t be.”

His jaw tensed, and he made a grab for Samael, but I blur moved knocking Samael out of his reach.

Cain’s bellow of rage shattered my eardrums, and then the room erupted into chaos.

Keon

Uriel has come through. We have the advantage, and the enemy falls beneath our assault, but Lilith’s order resonates in my mind, and I find myself drawing closer and closer to Fee.

No. I don’t want to do this.

I don’t want to kill her.

A hand closes on my arm, and Lilith hauls me to her. “Now, Keon.” She orders. “Kill her now.”

She spins to counter an attack, leaving me with her reinforced command. Rage infuses my blood, and I propel myself across the room to engage with two super vamps. I can take them both easily, but the order in my mind is a distraction that has me slip up twice. I end them both but walk away bloody and wounded.

I walk right up to Fee as she finishes off a super vamp and turns to me with a triumphant grin. Hunter and Grayson are close by, but they see me with her and return their focus onto the enemy.

No. Don’t you see? I am the enemy. She isn’t safe with me.

Oh god, why do they think she’s safe with me.

“Keon?” She tilts her head to the side. “Are you okay?”

Kill her. Kill her now.

I grip my blade tighter. “Fee…” My voice is strained. “I…”

Her eyes widen. She knows. She knows what I am about to do.

There’s a shadow behind her. A super vamp with a sword, and it’s arching toward her neck.

Let her die.

“NO!”

With every last ounce of will I can muster, I shove her to the side and take her place. The blade pierces my heart, burning, rending, tearing, and Lilith’s voice is finally silent.

Fee

No…

I watched Keon fall, only distantly aware of the others coming toward me and taking down the super vamp who’d struck him. I reached for Keon, grabbing him as he fell, trying to staunch the blood pumping from the wound in his chest.

So much blood.

“Keon. No.”

His mouth moved in a whisper. I leaned in to hear.

“I can’t kill you,” he said. “I would rather d—”

I looked at his face, his beautiful, blue face. But the eyes that had burned with feeling were empty and cold.

Keon had saved my life by giving up his own

Lilith had given the order, and he’d thwarted her.

Lilith…

The rushing in my ears, blocking out the cacophony of the room, was replaced by a burning in my chest as I locked eyes on Lilith across the room.

“You did this.” My voice was a whisper yet the whole room was suddenly silent. “You did this.” Not my voice. Too gruff, too loud, like the voice of a titan filled with vengeance. “He didn’t need to die.”

“Seraphina…” Samael held up his hands to placate me.

“You ordered him to kill me.”

Samael’s hands drooped to his sides, and he turned to Lilith in horror.

The rage inside me swelled. “This is wrong, and the price must be paid.” The words echoed through me from a place deep inside connected to the righteous blaze. I was no longer in control, because Keon was dead. My Keon was dead, and all who had hurt him would pay.

“No, Fee!” Azazel cried. “You need to shut it down or it will kill you.”

But it was too late. The power had me. The blast burned through me, searing me, tearing my insides and bringing the coppery taste of blood to my mouth, and then the world went white.

My knees hit the ground as the dazzle faded. My vision blurred and darkened.

Dead.

She had to be dead now.

But even though the ashy remains of the super vamps that rained around her, Lilith was whole and protected in Samael’s arm. A blue shimmer radiated around them.

He’d shielded her. Protected her.

“No!” The flame rose again.

“Stop!” Samael demanded. “Lilith’s the only one who can bring him back.”

Bring him back?

The flame didn’t care. It wanted out.

“Lilith can save him,” Samael shouted. “Shut it down.”

Fire in my throat, behind my eyes, and in my blood. I tamped down, pushing back against the power with every last iota of will. My scream was a banshee wail and then there was blessed numbness.

The flame was out.

I fell forward, bracing myself on my palms, slick and sweaty against the marble tiles.

Azazel hauled me into his arms. “Fee. Oh fuck, Fee.”

I coughed and blood spattered his face.

“Sorry.” The word was a gurgle.

Cora wiped my mouth. “You’re okay,” she said thickly. “You’re going to be okay.” But her eyes said different.

“Keon.” I turned my head to look down at the daemon. “Fix him.”

Samael propelled Lilith across the room and pushed her to her knees beside Keon.

“Bring him back,” he ordered.

Lilith let out a strangled sob.

“Bring back your son,” Samael ordered again.