Page 117 of Daman

None of us used these powers. Not anymore, anyway. I used to do it for fun. Maybe because it made others feel exactly what I did on a daily basis. I’d vowed centuries ago to never use it again.

“Just think about it, Envy,” Phoenix said. “You wouldn’t need to hide that side of yourself from us. Hell, we’d want you to embrace it. Perhaps it’s time to break the chains Lazarus placed on you and live freely.”

“Yeah, because serving Asa would make me free.” I rolled my eyes. “Do you actually hear yourself when you speak?”

The air stirred at my back.

I lunged to the left, barely missing Elon’s arrow as it whizzed past my head. Without celestial metal in the arrowhead, it wouldn’t have been a fatal blow, but it would’ve taken my ass down long enough for them to subdue me.

“I heard that’s how you took down the warrior on the beach,” I told Elon. “You shot and killed her from a distance. Does anyone in your ranks have a spine? Seems to me like you can only win with sneak attacks and tricks.”

In the distance, a wolf howled. Others joined in, the howls blending into a sorrowful song. Had something happened? I searched for the mind link to my brothers.

“Is everyone okay?”I asked the three of them.

“A wolf is down,”Castor responded.“Five shades attacked him at once. Ripped him apart in seconds.”

“Fuck. What about Lycus?”

“I’m on his back right now,”Gray said.“A sleepy spell hit, and he caught me when I fell. We’re both okay.”

“Bell?”I pressed when I didn’t hear from him. I then searched for his life line, the royal blue thread that let me know he was still alive.

He found me first.

Bellamy burst from the trees, large wings blocking out the small amount of light that reached us through the thick branches and fog rolling over the treetops. Elon darted to the side as Bellamy’s sword hit the snow exactly where he’d been standing not even a second earlier.

“Hey, darlin’.” Bellamy flashed Elon a malicious grin. “Miss me?”

His body blurred as he lunged at the archer. The clanking of swords rang in the air as they fought. Bellamy deflected a blow before dealing one of his own, slicing deep into Elon’s bicep.

My focus shifted from their fight as a familiar scent tickled my nose, and my soul fucking purred. Warrin approached me, and I threw my arms around him, my heart jumping up into my throat.

When I’d left him in the air, I hadn’t known if I’d ever see him again. Battle was unpredictable. Not even Gusion could see the outcome.

“Don’t you ever tell me goodbye,” Warrin growled, crushing me to his chest. “Losing you isn’t an option.”

“How sweet,” Phoenix said. “Makes me want to puke.”

“Now you know how we feel when we see your ugly-ass face,” I retorted, facing him again. Warrin kept close to my side.

“Stop! Please,” Elon begged, drawing my attention back to the fight. He was on his knees, one half of his left wing sliced off, blood and matted feathers coloring the snow in red and black. He stared up at my brother. “I don’t want to die.”

Bellamy glared down at him, sword aimed at his neck. “You should’ve thought about that before betraying us.”

And then he took off Elon’s head.

“Well, that’s unfortunate.” Phoenix stared at the archer’s headless corpse as it toppled over, blood spurting from the neck. If I wasn’t mistaken, he seemed sad. “The casualties of war are never-ending, I suppose.”

Bellamy wiped at the specks of blood on his cheek as he looked over at the demon, his blond bangs falling in his eyes. “This is where you run.”

“Me? Run from you?” Phoenix stepped toward him, his gait slow. “Never.”

“I smell him on you.” Bellamy smirked. “Did you fuck before the battle?”

“Does that make you jealous?”

“I don’t get jealous.” Bellamy slung blood off his blade, his gaze darkening. “Besides, I fucked him first.”