Chapter 39
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
Michaela
Iwas really hoping the crazy orgasms would relax my husband, but no such luck. Not that I regretted taunting the beast, but damn, I really thought my plan was solid. Instead, the brute was growling and snarling anytime any single creature got too close to me.
Gremory laughed to my left, and Mor nearly ripped his head off. He was in full daemon mode. Horns, wings, claws, all of it on display. His skin glowed a deep red with the power radiating out of him.
“It’s called resource guarding,” Grem quipped. “You know, like what mutts do with their food?”
Morax launched a massive tree at the daemon. Tabitha yelped in fright, but Grem was ready for it. The tree burst into a billow of leaves, floating to the ground like confetti.
“Watch yourself, Grem,” Deccaria teased, leaning on a tree and watching the show. “He’s in full beast mode.”
“Mor.” I rolled my eyes. “Will you chill?”
Steam literally blew from his flared nostrils, and I laughed. This was absurd. Apparently when I taunted him with having his babies, I ignited some primal urges within him to not only breed his mate, but also keep the world away. Gods forbid I get a papercut, let alone go into battle.
I stood, shoving my hands on my hips. “Morax. You need to snap out of it. We are going to battle a million bad guys, including your brother. I need your head in the game here.”
He snarled, eyes glowing bright gold with his power. “I will never let them harm you. And you will not be going on that field.”
Folding my arms, I glared at him. “Are you going to force me to sit out while all my friends go to war and die for me? This is my fight, and you won’t keep me from it. I’ve seen it.”
My own power glowed within me at the conviction in my words. I had seen it. Before midday, I would be on that field. The part that terrified me was all the dead bodies I recognized at my feet.
Mor dropped to his knees before me, circling my waist with his muscular arms. He was barely below my eye level even now. I stroked his hair and caressed his strong jaw.
“I’m terrified of losing you,” he murmured. “Of losing what we might have.”
I pressed my forehead to his. “So am I. But if we lose, we won’t even get the chance.”
He sighed heavily, his wings fading away with his horns and claws. Mor was still big and scary, but at least the beast within was snoozing again.
The moment came to an abrupt end when strange horns blasted through the air.
Everyone tensed, knowing it was time. We had our plans, we’d trained and prepared as much as we could.
Gremory kissed Tabitha and Delphine with equal amounts of passion before leaping into the sky.
He began calling out orders, amplifying his voice to ready the soldiers.
Our plan was to draw out the zombie army and surround them.
I ordered our people to do everything they could to subdue, not kill.
Not all of these people were in this army by choice.
I’d seen it, visions of Belial and Halphas and others coaxing or threatening creatures to submit their will to Belial.
That was the trick, they had to consent, one way or another.
There would be others, though. Daemons and lumens with more power and free will.
Mor, Grem, Nuri, and some of our strongest would take them out.
Delphine and I would stay back, for now, guarding those who couldn’t fight.
The visions for the day continued to change.
While I was learning to control this power, there was still so much about it I didn’t understand, like the potential to slow time.
Maybe even rewind it. The ability was so unique, and there were very few books written about it, due to it being such a heavily guarded power.
Mor tore my attention away from my rambling thoughts with a soul-searing kiss. “Anyone lays a finger on my wife, I’ll shred them to pieces with my bare hands.”
“Yeah? Well, if anyone gives my husband so much as a scratch, I’ll turn them to ash.” I kissed him again and shoved him away. “I love you. Now go.”
Morax pushed off the ground without a word and flew away, his dark wings glinting in the sunlight.
Delphine stepped up next to me, and we watched our mates lead our army into battle. “No turning back now.”
“I still see Seraphina here, just not when or if it’s in time to make a difference.” I swallowed my fears, my throat dry. “I don’t know how this ends.”
“If I told you, it wouldn’t come to pass.” Delphine glanced at Tabitha and then back to the battlefield, the first cries of pain reaching our ears.
Leona joined us, standing on my left. “Nuri trusted Lailah. And Lailah said it would be her sisters who ended Belial.”
I nodded, taking heart from her words. Nuriela told us everything she knew of Lailah and my mother’s visions. Their blood flowed in my veins. Royal blood. Vengeful blood. And I would do whatever it took to bring down the monster who started the destruction of my family.