Chapter 1 #3
The dark skinned man grimaced back at him, looking unsurprised as he threw back the hood of his dark cloak. “I see. So we haven’t missed. It’s just not affecting you.”
Leviathan chuckled, sounding unbothered.
“You pathetic humans don’t stand a chance.
” His head tilted to the side, a slightly inhuman movement.
“Not even you, chosen one.” A pointless title, Cullen knew.
Dom was no more special than any of them; he'd simply spent his entire life studying the creatures they fought. He knew every weakness, every demon language and the way the beasts’ minds worked, and had trained his body to the point where he could store ridiculous amounts of the heavenly energy they held inside and wield it with wicked accuracy.
The only time Cullen had ever seen his abilities fail to cause harm was… with Leviathan.
Dom smiled, calm and smug, and that glint came into his eye that Cullen knew meant trouble.
He risked a glance to the roofs nearby and saw a half dozen cloaked men and women crouching on either side of the alley.
Directly above him, he watched a familiar shadow move, his hand coming up to give Cullen the smallest of waves, a reassuring move, and Cullen bit back a smile as he dropped his gaze to the back of Leviathan’s head.
Not that they were necessarily out of the woods now–but at least the others had finally found them and Cullen was no longer being molested all to hell.
He could still taste the bastard on his mouth and his lip throbbed every other second, fresh blood beading up.
He licked it away in irritation, watching warily as Leviathan and Dom glared at each other.
“Well, go on.” Leviathan murmured, flicking a hand towards Cullen’s adoptive father. “Fling your pathetic little light energy at me already. Let’s see if I can even feel it this time.”
Dom raised a hand and closed his fist, much the same as Leviathan had when he’d dropped that goddamn building on them.
Cullen braced himself just as the ground started to tremor beneath their feet, a long crack racing across the cement from Dom to Leviathan.
On either side of the alley, blindingly bright light appeared in dots along the rooftops.
“Hey, wait!” Cullen cried, shocked. “What are you doing?”
“Be quiet, Cull.” Dom snapped, his face pinching with stressed concentration.
The static in the air shifted, making his hair stand on end. The alley lit up brighter than the sun and Cullen gasped in terror and shock. They didn’t really mean to–
“You would kill your own son?!” Leviathan’s words came out harsh and quick, fury dripping in his voice. “I will survive this and he will burn to cinders and you will lose everything. Is that what you want?”
A muscle twitched in Dom’s jaw. Cullen gaped at him, more tears burning in his eyes while the panic gagged him. Not like this. Not like this–
“Dom.” It was Walker that spoke, panic edging into his voice as he shouted down to them. “Maybe–”
“Don’t be so selfish!” His guardian cried, startling both him and Walker. “We have to think of the lives we’ll be saving!”
“What?” Cullen gasped. Had he misunderstood exactly what his job was as bait? Had this been some nefarious plan all along? “Hang on–”
“Close your eyes, Cull. It will be better that way.” Dominick made a quick motion with his hands and a blazing red fire spread in a quick surge in front of him, spreading in a thick arc.
The light of heaven, a summoning gift taught to their people long ago.
A light in the darkness cast from their very own hands…
Wait. The word died in his throat.
Because this was part of the job, wasn’t it? They all knew if something went wrong, if it was the only way, then a life here and there would be forfeit. It was fair. There were no exceptions. Not even if you were the adopted son of a very important man.
It’s for the best. He thought as he squeezed his eyes closed. He didn’t look up at Walker above him, didn’t want to see the realization. The horror and sadness in his gaze.
Had he already known how this would go?
Cullen didn’t want to think about that. He didn’t want to know.
He didn’t want to know what Dom and Walker had talked about behind his back, didn’t want to know if he’d been a sacrifice instead of bait.
So he only kept his eyes closed and waited, flinching as the heat in the alley grew intense and dangerous, a sweat breaking out on his skin as he started to burn…
Leviathan swore under his breath and Cullen felt his presence shift–he gasped, his eyes flying open as arms wound tight around him, pushing him backwards.
Light flared in the alley–and they vanished into a pool of shadows.
Cullen opened his mouth, trying to draw in a breath, but failing quickly.
And then they were on a rooftop, the small explosion a few streets down from them, just barely visible over the rooftops.
Leviathan was still holding him, one hand on his hip while the other came up to caress his face in a gentle swoop.
“It seems we must say goodbye again, Cullen.” His thumb traced over his swollen lip.
“But I will be back for you, pet. In a few days.” He shook his head.
“Do not try to run from me.” He pressed another hard kiss to Cullen’s mouth, startling him, and then vanished in a pool of shadows, leaving Cullen standing alone on the cold, icy rooftop.