Page 121 of Princess of Bael

Kayla grabbed me as the ground split open beneath her feet. I engaged my wings to keep us upright, my hands otherwise occupied with my swords.

“Wrap your arms around my neck,” I instructed. It was a moot point since she’d already begun climbing me like a tree. Thankfully, she’d put away her fireballs before touching me.

“This is going to make fighting difficult,” she muttered as her thighs clamped down around my waist.

“Or enjoyable.” I couldn’t stop the musing reply from leaving my lips, nor did I even try to keep the grin from forming afterward.

Kayla snorted, grumbling something about males.

But a pulse of energy had her freezing against me.

“They’re building another portal,” I said, aware that she couldn’t see them.

“Where’s the first one?”

“I’m not sure, but I can feel it.” They’d created a dark hole somewhere beyond this barrier, the magic whirling in a chaotic rhythm that allowed beings to traverse straight to Heaven from Hell. “It’s like they crafted a tunnel from Hell to Heaven that uses this realm as the passing point.”

There was no other way to explain it.

I could sense the demons flowing through Earth to reach the heavens. A feat that shouldn’t be possible. Which was the source of the chaos shredding apart my soul and threatening the balance between our realms.

“That’s why they wanted the Dark Provenance members distracted. They didn’t want to give them a chance to interfere on Earth.” Because these beings were controlling the anchor that kept the portals alive. “They won’t be able to close them in Hell or in Heaven.”

It was a guess, but a very good one based on what I felt emanating from behind the barrier.

“Similar to the portal that opened over your estate in between the realms,” she said.

I nodded. Yaz had told us earlier this week about how that portal didn’t seem to have an origin or an anchor.

Portals between the realms always required a party on either side to keep it open.

But there hadn’t been anyone keeping the portal open near my estate that day. At least according to Yaz.

Something that had struck me as suspicious.

However, the demonstration of power before us suggested this was the cause.

Another rumble touched the earth as the male inside shot power through the atmosphere. My wings easily held us aloft while my swords continued to dismantle the magic within their barricade. “They used Kristina’s essence to craft this,” I told Kayla, my veins alighting with a fury I felt all the way to my soul. “That’s why it’s taking so long to cut through.”

“It’s the same essence as what she used to repair the veil.” Kayla’s words were a statement, not a question.

Still, I confirmed it with a “Yes.” But the fact that she knew that just further proved how our spirits were mingling to create a new dynamic between us. “Her ability combined light and dark to create veil magic. It’s why she embodied the perfect balance.”

“Dark,” Kayla echoed. “From Prince Morax. Dark… like shadows?”

I considered that for a moment. “Similar, yes. But he has no domain over the actual Shadow realm.”

“True,” she agreed. “But that doesn’t mean his power…” She trailed off, then cursed.

Her arm wrapped tightly around my neck as she lifted her opposite hand into the air to create a fiery shield.

I glanced up as an avalanche of fire fell over us.

My lips parted. “How…?”

“I felt it coming,” she muttered, shuddering as she fought to keep the embers from touching us. “Hurry, Ezra.”

I sliced my blades against the barrier again, urging the swords to dismantle the invisible magic. But it wasn’t something I could rush. This magic was enchanting and powerful, just like Kristina’s gifts had been.