Page 148 of Princess of Bael

Then I created one of my own with the aid of my weapons and the power thriving inside me. Only to feel the presence of another Archangel arriving in a flurry of blood-red wings.

Scion.

“Indeed,” the Archangel of War said, agreeing with my statement about choosing the wrong side. He twirled his swords, his energy signature rivaling mine. “Check.”

Azrael appeared on my other side. “Make that ‘checkmate.’?”

I smiled and unleashed my angelfire, casting the first move.

And the real dance began.

Kay

A Few Minutes Earlier

“Get me out of here, Yaz.”

My Royal Guard didn’t hesitate, his hand grabbing my wrist as he portaled us away from the fight.

But we didn’t go far.

Maybe a mile or two away.

Because he knew me well.

I would never leave a man behind to fight on his own. Even one I’d proclaimed to hate for most of my life.

Nor would I abandon the veil during such a dire time of need.

A spark of light shot through the sky, confirming our close proximity to the fight unfolding above. Vibrations of power followed the flash, the trees around us quaking from the impact.

And another jolt hit the earth, the portal nearby expanding to allow more demons to enter this realm. I hadn’t gotten a close look at them but suspected there were Portal Dwellers among them. They would be venturing to other areas of the world soon, stirring chaos and mayhem in their wake.

“We need to hurry,” I said, goose bumps pebbling across my skin. “That portal needs to be destroyed.”

“Yes,” Yaz agreed, his focus on his cuff. “Serena will be here soon. She’s having to use a Portal Dweller.” He skimmed his thumb along a rune and frowned. “There are three illegal portals open in the underworld right now. One is in Morax’s realm—which we already know about, obviously. Another is in Alastor’s realm. And the third is in our home realm.”

“Johanna and Prince Bael have it under control,” Serena said as she materialized before us with Jinx.

The Portal Dweller immediately blinked out of view, likely headed back to gather more of my guard.

“It’s a minor breach that Prince Bael states is meant to distract him from the real problem,” Serena continued in her usual robotic tone. “He suspects the portal in Alastor’s realm is a similar diversion, as Xai and Evangeline were headed there earlier today. In Hell time, I mean.”

Yaz nodded, his fingers still moving over the cuff. “Sounds right.”

“Where did you get our cuffs?” I asked. He hadn’t properly answered my question the first time, and I wanted a response now.

Yaz glanced at my bare wrists before meeting my gaze. “Why?”

“Because mine started sucking energy out of me like a fucking Shadow demon. So I want to know where they came from.”

“Divine power,” a deep voice announced from my left as a pair of blood-red wings fluttered into view. “But we can discuss it more after I save Ezra’s ass.”

The Archangel of War snapped his fingers as a horde of Nephilim appeared in his wake, all of them wearing golden cuffs.

Gleason stood in the center, a long sword in his hands. “Go. I can lead,” he said to Scion.

Or I thought he was talking to Scion until Azrael materialized beside Gleason and replied, “I know.”