Page 122 of Daman

“So this is how it ends,” Gusion said in a rough voice, his breaths ragged. “I see it now.”

“A warrior never surrenders,” I told him, placing pressure on the wound. Blood pooled between my fingers. “Not to a foe, and not to Death.”

“Death.” Gusion coughed. “He’s not what you’d expect. He’s actually a lovely man… if not a bit uptight. But you’d be uptight too if you had his responsibility on your shoulders.”

“Neither of us is meeting him tonight.” An idea struck, and I focused my ice on the more serious of the injuries. It froze, stopping the bleeding. I then repeated the action on the others.

“Clever,” he said, red specking on his lips as he coughed again. “It’s only delaying the inevitable, I’m afraid. When I close my eyes and envision my tree of life, all the branches fade away. This is where my journey comes to a close. In this clearing.”

Feral screeches came at me from the left, and I sent another blast of ice, freezing the two shades solid. A wolf lunged at them, breaking them apart. The trees beside us creaked, and the long, twisted branches slithered down before lashing out at more demons closing in.

The forest was fighting back, protecting Gusion just like the rest of us were trying to do.

“Do you want to know what I see in your future, ice prince?” Gusion smiled a little. “I see a cottage in the snow and a warm fire in the hearth. Two souls bound together by fate. One heart shared.” His breathing roughened, turned scratchy. “I see happiness.”

I didn’t have a chance to respond.

“Bell!” Daman cried out.

Bellamy lay on the ground, blood gushing from a wound in his side. Asa walked toward him, his crimson-stained dagger dripping in the snow. Bellamy thrust out a wing, and Asa sliced at it. Blood splattered, and a few feathers fell free.

Daman did a backflip, kicking Belphegor in the jaw and knocking him backward, before running toward his brother. Asa flung out an arm, and Daman froze in place. Time didn’t stand still like it had the night Asa came to me in the woods. But Daman couldn’t move.

“You’re still alive.” Asa tsked at him. “Such a shame. I suppose if I want something done right, I need to do it myself.”

My body moved on impulse. In the back of my mind, I knew I needed to stay and protect Gusion—and prevent anyone from getting the key—but Daman meant more than any mission. I’d give my life for his.

I shot ice at the back of Asa’s head. He turned and flung me to the side without even touching me. I hit the snow and leapt back up, charging him again. As Asa’s focus shifted to me, the hold on Daman released. He instantly rushed to his brother. Castor joined Daman, and they put their hands over the gaping wound in Bellamy’s side.

Nothing happened.

“Fuck!” Castor roared. “We can’t heal him.”

My attention turned to Phoenix. The demon stood near the trees, eyes on Bellamy. He took a small step forward, then stopped, indecision swirling in his expression.

Asa grabbed me by one of my horns and forced me to my knees in front of him, black swirling in his red eyes. “You know what? I rescind my offer. I will burn your entire kingdom to ash and make you watch. So your last thought in this life will be how you failed them all.”

A crack of lightning pierced the air, so loud it caused a ringing in my ears.

Asa looked behind me and smiled. “He’s dead at last. Get the stone, Belphegor.”

“No!” Lycus roared, his voice guttural in his wolf form.

Daman met my gaze from behind Asa. I didn’t like what I saw staring back at me.

I love you,he mouthed. Then, he sprinted past me.

With Asa distracted, I lunged upward horns-first and crashed into his face. The surprise attack gave me just enough time to escape his hold and turn around to see Belphegor crouched over Gusion’s body. He tore the necklace free and stood, putting it in his pocket.

Daman jumped high in the air and brought his sword down at the fallen angel’s head. Belphegor raised his weapon to block. A gust of wind whipped around them with the clashing of steel.

“When will you admit defeat?” Asa’s eyes glowed, and the warriors locked into combat in the clearing began to slow. He was freezing time. I lunged for him, but my muscles stiffened. He smirked. “You should’ve taken my offer, dragon.”

A blinding light then illuminated the shadows, so bright I had to squint against it. A man with white hair slammed down in the middle of the clearing, white wings fanning backward as he landed in the snow.

“Lazarus,” Asa said with a sneer.

Other angels dropped down. No, not angels. They had black wings. That’s when I recognized Galen, Alastair, and Raiden.