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My scythe warms in my hand, startling me into almost dropping it. I frown, dipping down to avoid a blow from Michael as I stare at it. It feels like it’s trying to tell me something which doesn’t make sense. It’s just a weapon. It’s not sentient…

Or is it?

I close my eyes, reaching out with my mind. There’s something buzzing along the edge of my consciousness. I reach out, sinking into it, and a picture pops into my head of me, pulling Michael’s soul from his body with the aid of my scythe.

Fuck. How had I forgotten that?

Something bumps into me, and I lose my hold on my magic. I drop down a few feet before pulling it around me once again. I really need to pay attention to what’s going on around me.

Glancing up, I realize it was Wren knocking me out of the way so Michael didn’t hit me with his sword. I shake my head and rise into the air, bypassing Wren and Michael until I can hover above them.

I take a deep breath and extend the hand holding the scythe toward Michael. “Take.”

Michael’s body goes taut, his eyes finding me as wisps of his soul extend from his chest toward my scythe.

“You fucking bitch,” he hisses, and I’m not quite sure how I can hear him, considering the distance. He shoves my sister away before flapping his wings and coming for me with his sword.

I should be scared, but I’m not. I feel completely at peace as I pull on his soul, tugging harder and harder. It makes him falter for a moment before he continues his path toward me, albeit more sluggishly.

I focus on the tendrils of his soul, trusting my sister to keep me safe. She might not know exactly what I’m doing, but she knows Michael iscoming for me.

“You can’t have my soul, you witch.” He swings his sword back as he nears me, but I don’t even flinch. I just keep tugging and pulling at his soul.

I don’t move even when he’s within reach, his sword swinging toward my neck. I tighten my hand on my scythe and jerk on his soul just as my sister’s sword slices through his neck.

His wings flap once, twice as he hovers in the air. His head falls to the ground seconds before his body follows. I smile as Michael’s soul is sucked into my scythe.

Wren’s sword disappears at the same time my scythe does, and we throw ourselves at one another.

“We did it,” I murmur, barely believing it’s over.

“We did. We ended his reign of terror.”

When we pull back, I realize everyone is still fighting around us, both in the air and on the ground. That’ll never do.

I link my hands with my sisters, feeling a rush of power flowing between us. “Enough. The fight is over. Michael is dead.”

My voice sounds as if it’s been amplified, somehow reaching every ear on the battlefield.Their eyes swing up to me and Wren as we hover above the city.

“Put down your weapons and surrender. Do not make us destroy you. There has been enough death here today.” Wren takes over for me.

I see hesitation in their faces as I call to those I rose from the dead. “Your job is complete. You may return to your rest.”

It’s like their strings have been cut as bodies fall to the ground. As the last one collapses, the first sword hits the ground and the angel wielding it follows suit. She kneels, her head dipping as she stares at the ground.

After that, it happens in waves. Angels fall to the ground, their weapons hitting at the same time as their knees.

It’s hard to believe it’s over as our allies rush forward to secure the remaining angels. I’m surprised to find there’s only about a quarter of them left.

So many of them died today, and for what?

All for a madman’s need for power and vengeance against those whom he thinks his father loved more than him? He was no better than the mortals he hated.

“Are you okay, little mate?” Cassian asks as he and Nex hover in front of us. They’re not close enough to be hit by any errant sparks of flames, making me relax.

“I’m fine. What about the two of you?”

Nex waves off my concern. “Nothing that won’t heal shortly.”