Chapter 21
With my single command, Cole launched me upward as I aimed for Lucifer.
My short lessons with Azra and Sam had taught me enough about flying to know how to catch the air under my wings.
The secret of flight had an answer, and it was the very same thing I’d learned with Cole.
Don’t overthink it.
Focus on love.
Perhaps I didn’t understand my love for the twins yet, but they weren’t strangers. We had ten years of love buried away in my soul and I found a glimmer of that history… and held onto it for dear life.
I soared into the sky, my body lighter than it had ever been before as I mastered the art of flight.
It wasn’t long before I felt myself surrounded—protected. Sam and Azra flanked me from below, and the broad span of Cole’s wings filled my vision.
“We’re with you, Lilith.” Sam’s voice was somber.
“Thank you.” Then there was no time for anything as we hit the barrier of power that protected Lucifer. Sam and Azra plunged their blades into it. I pulled the bloodstone blade my mother had given me from my belt and drove it into the barrier.
It shrieked in protest, as if it lived and breathed. The pulsating blast that followed was so strong, I would have flown backward if not for the grip on the blade, the length of it still buried in the barrier itself.
It shuddered, then shuddered again as Cole unleashed himself upon it. I withdrew the bloodstone blade, focused everything I had on it, then struck again.
Cracks riddled the barrier, some of them showing gaps so big, you could drive a tank through them.
I didn’t need that much space. I darted through the largest gap just as it started to close again, Lucifer bellowing with rage and flinging his arms wide, flooding the barrier with his power once more.
He didn’t get it done in time to stop my Virtues from following me through.
With a scream, I flung myself at him, my rage, fear and desperation giving me a strength and speed in the air I’d never known.
The sneer on his face as he looked up at me fell away in shock as I crashed into him, but he got his forearm up before I drove the blade home.
It sank into the meaty part and I yanked back for another try.
He threw me before I could land another strike.
Instinct had me flaring my wings open, but I was still struggling with the whole flying thing.
Tumbling head over heels, my wings tangling, I bit back a scream.
My left wing wrenched, the pain so severe, I thought it was being wrenched from my body.
“I’ve got you, Lilith!”
Azra’s words came only a second before I slammed into him. The vivid red of Lucifer’s protective barrier flickered in the corner of my eye, only a few feet away.
“That would have hurt if I crashed into it, right?”
“Yes.” Azra kissed my temple. “That’s why I caught you. Advice—don’t get thrown.”
He gave me a cheeky grin, but I saw the worry in his eyes, the fear.
I took his hand, squeezed. “Let’s get him.”
Azra smiled back, the light of battle chasing the darkness from his gaze. He tightened his grip. “I’ll give you a lift.”
Without another word, he took off. A split second later, he released my hand and I pulled my arms in close, cutting back on the drag as I arrowed for Lucifer. He swore when he saw me and pulled back a hand. A red ball of ugly, snapping red energy formed in his hand. He hurled it at me.
I cut to the right to evade it.
It was an unnecessary movement, because suddenly, a beautiful woman was between us.
Sonya.
She blocked the strike with her sword and it went smashing into the barrier, sending a streak of black lightning rippling outward from the point of impact. Lucifer bellowed in rage.
Screams rose to join his battle cry and the thundering whoosh of wings sent a prickle of dread running down my spine. That dread grew as I saw the black wings rising from all around us. Demonspawn, and they were all focusing on me.
“Land, Lilith,” Sam said, his voice urgent. “You’re not experienced enough to battle in the sky. We’ll deal with this menace.”
I folded my wings in, not arguing.
I slammed to the ground with more enthusiasm than grace, but I was on my feet and that was all I cared about.
The soft whisper of air was the only sign of my mother’s landing. She flicked the briefest look at me, both of us too focused on Lucifer to do more than nod at each other.
“Mother.”
“It’s good to see you’re alive and well.” Her tone was neutral. “Hopefully we have time to discuss your sudden disappearance when this is all over.”
My throat tightened. “Yes.”
She gestured with her hand. “You are the Champion of this Echo. I’ll follow your lead.”
The expression in her eyes told me she wished it could be another way—that she wished she could do this for me. I managed a tight smile and nodded. She’d done her time as Champion.
This time was mine.
“Lucifer,” I said, starting for him.
“My beautiful Lilith.” His voice was a low, sensual purr, and he offered a savage smile as I approached. “Why fight this? Lay down your arms. I’ll heal your Virtues. I’ll make you a queen, give you your own realm.”
“Fuck off.” I lunged.
The suddenness caught him off guard. I saw it in his eyes the second before I managed to drive a kick into one knee. It felt like I kicked a stone column but he howled, going down as the leg went out from under him. Huh. Maybe he hadn’t expected a physical attack?
Rushing in to take advantage, I drove another kick home, this one to his abdomen, then another to his head.
But before I could land a fourth, he jerked out of range, flying several yards away before landing.
Vicious hatred filled his eyes as he bent down and wrenched at his injured leg, forcing the bones back into alignment.
He snarled through the pain, eyes never leaving my face.
“You’ll pay for that.”
“What’s the matter, Lucy? Has it been a while since you really got your hands dirty?” I gave him a faux pout.
“Yes. It has.” He smiled. It was a cold smile, one filled with promises of pain and despair. “I’ll see about fixing that in just a few moments as I rip your innards out and choke you with them.”
I met his attack with my bloodstone blade, but it was no match for the large black sword that he pulled seemingly out of nowhere.
As if summoned like Sam and Azra’s Blades of Justice.
This was a Blade of Sin.
A pained cry escaped me as he powered me backward, the muscles in my arms trembling in protect against his incredible strength.
Something darted behind, so fast, all my eyes caught was a blur.
A blur with white wings. Azra’s manic laughter rose in the air around as Lucifer crashed to the ground, black blood spilling onto the street.
I had no idea what had happened, didn’t pause to check.
Driving the bloodstone blade into his chest, I twisted it.
He roared and backhanded me. My mother’s body stopped me this time and she caught me, stroked a hand delicately down my cheek, eyes on the bruise that was no doubt forming.
She made sure I was steady on my feet before she launched herself into the air, then toward Lucifer.
Panting, I did nothing but watch for a few seconds, my head still ringing from the blow.
My mother was a whirlwind of wings and metal, striking Lucifer. He staggered and lunged, but she danced out of reach.
He dragged one leg behind him and I saw why seconds later.
The flesh was knitting itself together, the edges blackened as if they’d been cauterized.
Flicking a look upward at the angels who fought back the Demonspawn along with Cole, I saw Azra.
Black ichor still stained the brilliance of his sword, making me smile.
My bloodstone dagger was still jutting out of Lucifer’s chest and I focused on it, making that my target. He saw me coming as he blocked one of my mother’s blows and uttered another one of the eerie battle cries.
The Demonspawn around us answered in kind, painting the air with a chorus of their demonic voices.
A feminine voice rang out. “Look at you, Lilith. All grown up and ready to die. Again.”
The blonde slithered into view, her lovely face lit with a malevolent smile.
“Freya.” Hate filled me.
She pursed her lips and blew me a kiss. “Come on, sugar. Let’s see what you’ve got.”
Opening myself to the bonds with my mates, I ran for her.
A physical attack had taken Lucifer off balance.
Maybe it would surprise her, too. It seemed to work, Freya backpedaling even as she muttered some spell or other under her breath.
I leaped, pivoting off my back foot at the same time, wings tucked tight to my body.
With all the strength I could muster, and all the strength I could draw from my Virtues through the bond, I drove my foot down.
The feel of her throat crushing under the blow filled me with savage victory.
She fell to her knees, clawing at her neck. I punched her in the temple. She crumpled, lashes fluttering closed over her eyes.
“Finally.” Without a backward look, I ran to join my mother.
I never made it to her side.