Chapter Twenty-Four
Enzo
Marsha stepped out of the cathedral and spread out her arms wide, as if embracing the storm itself. The wind rolled around her, her black dress billowing like the wings of some vengeful angel. Lightning flashed overhead, illuminating the cruel satisfaction painted across her face.
Rage rolled over me like red-hot fire, burning away every rational thought. My hands trembled—not with fear, but with the desperate need to tear her apart. I cracked my neck, feeling the familiar surge of bloodlust. “Where’s Joy?”
She laughed—a sound like breaking glass that made my skin crawl. “Someplace you’ll never find her, vampire enforcer. She’s ours to control.” Her eyes glittered with malicious glee, savoring every word like a fine wine.
“Over my dead body.” The promise came out low and deadly, heavy with violence.
“Exactly.” Her smile widened, revealing teeth that seemed too sharp. “Gunnar, Hades, I order you to kill them, kill them all.”
Terror spiked through me—not for myself, but for the others. Angelo immediately rushed over to Serenity, his face twisted with protective fury, lower lip pulled back to reveal his fangs in a warning that was purely instinctual.
“Stay behind me,” he growled.
Tinker Bell’s hands trembled as she shut the ancient tome and placed it on the ground with reverent care, her usual spark dimmed by the weight of terror pressing down on her. But even as fear tried to crush her small frame, she never took her focus off Marsha. Defiance burned in her eyes like a candle refusing to be extinguished, flickering but unbroken.
Marsha’s lips curved into a predatory smile as their gazes locked. She saw the fear, tasted it in the air, and fed on it. “Dark Demons, attack,” she commanded like an angry storm.
Fuck. Dark Demons moved fast, killed faster. We couldn't fight them all and rescue Joy. I had to choose—help my team survive or abandon them to reach her. The choice was impossible, but the cathedral was burning and our access to Joy was inside.
The ground behind Marsha seemed to split open as Dark Demons erupted from the shadows like a plague of locusts. Their shrieks filled the air—a sound that scraped against the soul. Some launched themselves toward Angelo and Serenity on leathery wings, their claws extended and eyes burning with malevolent hunger. Others swarmed toward Lorcan and Nyx, moving with inhuman speed across the cathedral stones.
We were outnumbered, outmatched, and out of time. My team needed me. Joy needed me. I couldn't save them all.
The real battle had begun.
Hades swooped down at me, his massive form blocking out the storm. Talons stretched out, roaring like the beast he was.
I drew on my speed and charged straight at Marsha. She was dead—that was all that mattered.
Hades whooshed past me, his lion-like tail slamming into my back. The impact barely registered. Pain was nothing. Only the target mattered.
She was dead, dead, dead.
A sharp cry cut through the chaos—Keir's voice.
I spun around in time to see Gunnar diving at him with deadly speed. Keir stepped back, sword already in hand. Good reflexes, but not good enough. He was fast with that blade, but Gunnar was faster. Immortal didn't mean unkillable.
Decision was made in a split second—protect first, kill second.
Keir lunged with his sword, the blade cutting through air in a perfect arc. But Gunnar tilted away mid-flight like it was nothing, wings adjusting with inhuman grace. His laugh echoed across the courtyard—cold, mocking.
I was almost to Keir when something raked across my back like razor blades dragged through flesh. Fire exploded along my spine. I yelled—couldn’t help it—as my legs gave out and I hit the ground hard.
Hades landed a few feet away from me, compact but lethal—built like a panther, all coiled muscle and predatory grace. Those talons that had just shredded my back gleamed wet and dark.
No. Not happening.
I twisted to the side, ignoring the fresh wave of pain shooting through my shoulders. Fuck, dead demon blood. Already slowing me down. Muscles getting heavy.
Had to get past this bastard. Had to reach Keir before Gunnar tore him apart. Above us, I could hear the whistle of Gunnar’s next dive.
Getting weaker. Needed blood. Didn’t have time for blood.
I pushed myself up, joints aching with every shift. Hades crouched low, blocking my path to Keir—smaller than expected, but those claws promised serious damage.