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“Watch out, Nex,” Wren cries, and I spin around to find an angel about to sink his blade into my back.

I swing my sword around and knock it to the side before taking the angel’s head off, smiling a bit at the look of shock on his face that follows him into death.

They really thought they’d be able to destroy the mortals without resistance, didn’t they? They didn’t count on the denizens of the underworld to come earth-side to protect it.

Sucks to be them, doesn’t it?

My eyes find Brenden as he joins us, and I let out a sigh of relief. Thank the Fates they finally found us.

My attention is torn away as another sword swings toward me, but I’m able to block it. Ishoot a blast of lust into him before cleaving off his head and shuffling toward Brenden. It takes me a moment to realize Audrey isn’t with him.

I swing around, taking off the head of the angel trying to sneak up behind Brenden as he rips the still beating heart from another angel’s body.

“Where’s Audrey?”

Brenden shakes his head. “We got swept away from each other. I tried using my speed to find her, but she took to the sky. She was heading this way, so I sped over here.”

Fuck.

While one of my mates made it to us, the other is still unaccounted for.

“Cover me?” I ask, pressing my back to his.

“I’ve got you,” he assures me, and I lift my eyes to the sky.

Angels fly through the city, but there aren’t as many of us who have wings. Maybe Cassian and I should’ve stayed up there to keep it clear, but we didn’t know Audrey would choose to travel that way.

I scan the area before my eyes drift further away. Purple hellfire flashes in the sky, and I follow it to find my fearless mate battling ten or more angels at once.

I curse, ready to burst into the air to help her, but Brenden’s hand on my arm stops me.

“Don’t. She has this. She’s closer than she was before. She’ll come to us,” he reassures me before turning back to the battle.

I want to argue with him, but he’s right. She doesn’t need my help. She doesn’t need anyone’s help.

I barely get my sword up in time to block another blow. My sword locks with the angel’s, and I shove against him. He stumbles back before coming at me again.

This time, I’m ready for him. I send a blast of lust at him before taking his head.

This is almost too easy. Except that each time I take out an angel, two more seem to pop up in their place. I hope it’s because of who I’m fighting with and not just that their numbers are overwhelming us. There are so many reapers and demons out here fighting who are weaker than the angels we need to defeat. But I can’t let my thoughts dwell on that for too long. The dread threatens to weigh me down, begging me to give up.

Fuck that shit.

I have two mates who still haven’t forgiven me. I have everything to lose if I die. I plan tolive long enough for them to forgive me at the bare minimum. I won’t be dying here today.

When no one rushes toward me, I lift my eyes to the sky again. Her red hair is a beacon even against the night sky. She’s almost to us, finally.

Movement behind her has my body stiffening. An angel is trying to sneak up behind her.

But it’s not just any angel, is it? It’s fucking Michael.

“Audrey!” I scream, drawing the attention of everyone around me—her mates, sister, and friends, plus the angels.

The pause in the fight gives me long enough to launch myself into the air, eyes wide with fear. While I know my mate can hold her own against Michael, she doesn’t even know he’s behind her.

“Behind you!” I scream, but she can’t hear me. I’m too far away.

Thank the Fates.