Page 43 of Wings of Valor (Silver City University #4)

T he guard fighting beside me—Yael, I think?—is good, but he’s no guild member.

I can tell he’s had some of the best training out there, but that’s all it’s been. Practice. Today might actually be the first day he’s ever been face to face with a demon, and it’s not going well. So far, he’s blocked most of the attacks, but he hasn’t gotten a single hit in himself.

All he’s done is put off his own death long enough for me to step in.

I throw an imbued dagger toward the demon, who’s distracted by trying to kill Yael. It arcs through the sky, throwing beautiful shafts of light around, before sliding into the demon’s skull where he turns to dust.

The ashes fall onto Yael’s face, some even going into his mouth.

He sputters—heaving as he tries to shake the remains of the dead creature off him.

I help him up, instantly regretting it when he says, “Ugh, that’s disgusting!

Could you be a little more mindful next time about where the body will go? ”

Is he fucking for real right now?

“How about you kill it yourself next time, then, yeah?” Ungrateful asshole. I turn to leave, desperate to get back with Hayliel, Theo, and Remiel, but five demons now stand between us and the forest. And they don’t look very happy.

Yael gulps audibly beside me, making me frown.

Great. Keeping my voice low, I say, “Listen up. You’ve been trained by some of the best fighters in our city, including the Archangels themselves if the rumors are true.

Would you cower like a little bitch if Remiel was still with us, or would you fight with everything you’ve got? ”

“I—I—I—” he stutters, testing my patience. The demons are closer now, clearly ready for a fight.

How the hell did I end up with this sniveling coward?

“Decide!” I shout just as the demons make their first move.

I lose sight of him as I fend off two demons at once, blocking and attacking in a steady rhythm that eventually earns me a pile of dust when one of them falls onto my blade. I’m left with one demon to fight when I notice Yael has three, and it looks like they’re toying with him.

Probably because they sense he’s weak.

My focus is pulled again as the demon in front of me, who seems a little pissed that I just killed his friend, comes at me in a fit of rage that makes him reckless. Eventually, our fight has me turned enough that I can see Yael in my periphery.

Somehow, in a feat that actually impresses me, he impales one of them on his long sword. “Holy shit,” he screeches. “Did you see that, Raphael?”

I did see it, just like I see that his gaze isn’t on the remaining two demons. No, he’s watching me, looking for what? Approval? Instead, all he gets is death.

One of the demons thrusts an angel blade straight through his chest and lifts, holding him up like an offering. I swear, the demon near me laughs as Yael’s limp form is kicked clean off the blade, falling to the ground in a heap and leaving me alone with three angry demons.

They all rush me as one, not giving me the opportunity to fight them individually.

A claw hooks through the fleshy part of my thigh, making me fall to my knees in agony while the three demons draw closer around me.

Should I use the small sack of ash? They said it’s only for emergencies, and this is feeling more and more like one.

I try to stand, but whatever muscles they hit must have been important because holy fucking hell does it hurt.

The odds of my surviving become dimmer with each passing second.

I feel my heartbeat in the wound like a second organ as blood spurts out in a disgusting rhythm that only seems to delight my enemies.

Three demons, three angel blades. And only one me.

I fumble to access the pocket, no longer caring what the ash will do to me as long as it incapacitates them.

I’ll gladly take pain if it means Hayliel survives and takes Auriel down.

Then this will all be worth it. Whatever happens to me is meaningful if she succeeds, but as hard as I try, I can’t get the pocket open.

The demon in front of me holds an angel blade high in the air, ready to strike, and at that moment the only thought flowing through my mind is that I wish I had more time with Hayliel—with the family we created.

The pulse of something very similar to fear spreads through me from the mental pathway with Theo. It’s so sudden and powerful that I look around, eyes wide. The demons must think it’s fear for my death because they cackle.

It doesn’t last long, though, not when Theo barrels into the closest demon, catching him completely off guard and turning him to dust in the same moment.

That distraction, despite it lasting only a few scant seconds, gives me enough of a chance to heal—or maybe it’s my adrenaline. Either way, I finally make it onto my feet. I’m still not at full strength, but these odds are far more manageable.

Theo lost the element of surprise, but he must be riding a high of endorphins because he doesn’t seem to slow at all, even when an angel blade lances across his cheek and blood trickles from the wound.

A demon growls, bringing me back to the fight in front of me just in time to stumble backward. I’m not quick enough to avoid the knick of the angel blade across my chest. I wince, but the pain isn’t nearly as bad as it could have been.

The demon drops the blade, yipping like a hurt dog as he stares at his fingers. I look down at my clothing and smile. I’m completely clueless about what the fuck just happened, but one thing is clear. The rune weaver sure knows her fucking stuff.

Theo joins me and the last remaining demon—who still hasn’t picked up the angel blade he dropped. He must think it was the blade that caused his injury—not the clothes—but that’s fine. Let him fear the weapon.

It makes this far easier for us.

Instead of attacking us, he spreads his wings and takes to the skies. His wings beat twice, then a third time, but doesn’t make it a fourth. There’s a whoosh and a whistle before a sunfire imbued bolt falls to the ground along with the ashes of the demon.

I glance up to where I know Zeke and Mira are working the ballista and send gratitude down our mental connection, then I turn back to Theo.

“Why aren’t you with Hayliel?” Now that the danger is gone, I have time to panic. He’s covered in blood, more than just from the cut on his face. “And what the fuck happened to you?”

“She’s fine, and so am I,” he says, soothing my worries. “We got separated. Serah’s killer showed up, so Remiel and Hayliel forged on while I got rid of the problem and took care of a long overdue life debt.”

“No fucking way,” I say, slapping my hand on his back. “Serah can finally rest now, thanks to you.”

“Now let’s go make sure we don’t need to avenge any more angels, yeah?”