Page 307 of City of Souls and Sinners

“I’m alive,” Ivy said, readying her gun. “And don’t you dare tell me to sit this one out.” She lifted the gun, pointing it at the gate as she concluded with a murmur, “Because you know I won’t.”

Darien’s eyes met Lace’s. “Lacey?”

“Same answer as Ivy,” she said, spitting out blood. “I’m in until sunrise.”

Malakai stepped up to Darien’s right. “What’s the plan?”

Darien swallowed a mouthful of blood. “Venom,” he replied, voice thick. “And don’t let a single fucking thing through.” He looked at the Reaper, whose black eyes met his. “You and I have shadow magic. Death magic—I don’t really know what the proper term is, or why we can suddenly use it, but we have to. Regular weapons don’t work on these things. Their skin is nearly impenetrable.”

“Shadow magic…,” Malakai mused, brows knitting together. Darien thought he was likely remembering that night at the warehouse, when they’d had no choice but to use their magic as a shield when that hellseher had exploded. The first time Darien had ever seen magic that wasn’t his own.

“I have it too,” Travis said, wiping his bloody nose on the arm of his bodysuit. “Venom helps bring it out. You got any?”

Malakai reached into his jacket pocket and produced a bottle. “Are you kidding? I’m addicted to this shit.” He tipped his head back and dripped two drops into each eye.

Tanner muttered, “Of course Malakai would say that as if it’s a good thing.” The statement earned a chuckle from Valen and Sylvan.

It was a small reprieve that they had these few minutes to discuss this; to catch their breath before the next threats barrelled through the gate.

Darien could sense more creatures coming. The night was still young, and a demon’s hunger was never quelled.

“Jewels,” Travis called over his shoulder.

Malakai’s sister leaned forward to hear him better.

“If we live through this, you wanna go out?”

Jewels smirked. “I don’t even know your name,” she teased.

Travis gave her a bloody smile. “Damn.” He faced the gate again.

But then Jewels whispered, “Yes, Travis Devlin, I’ll go out with you.”

Travis grinned. “Cool.”

“Dare,” Jack said. Darien tilted his head slightly to show that he was listening, but kept his focus on the landscape in Spirit Terra. “If you and Travis have the same magic—”

“Shut up, Jacky,” Darien said steadily, knowing exactly how Jack was about to end that sentence. The last thing he wanted was for Ivy to be anywhere but behind him. The safest place for her was behind him. “I love you, Jack, but shut up this time, please.”

Jack chuckled. Always laughing, even when their city was poised on the brink of destruction—and even when Darien was three seconds from disowning and excommunicating him.

But Ivy said, “I know what he was about to say.” Her words were all for Darien. “But I won’t fight you on this. Not this time.”

Darien heard all the words his sister didn’t voice. Ivy had been careful all her life to not overly use her magic, and whenever she did summon it, the purpose was to track a target or protect herself if needed. Even if she had the same kind of magic, she didn’t have the practice she needed to face these monsters.

Speaking of monsters…

The horizon in Spirit Terra was dotted with more of them. Countless more, all heading this way.

“…Darien…,” said a voice. A voice far away. Was he imagining it? It was small and quiet and slightly tinny, as if someone were speaking to him through…

His watch. It was coming from his watch.

“Max?” Darien lifted the watch to his mouth and turned the cracked face of it. There was no audible click to tell him that the mouthpiece was working, likely because his ears were crusted with blood, the eardrums nearly ruptured. They were in far too much pain to pick up on such a soft sound. “Max?” he said again, swallowing more blood.

“We’re coming,” Max replied. It sounded like he was running, every breath he drew a rasping pant. “We’re almost there.”

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