red eyes closed in. Her stomach curdled, her spine turned to water.
I don’t want to die. She shook her head, unable to breathe. Her pool of energy boiled and crested, all cylinders in her body burned hot as lava. She had to get away, but there was nowhere to run.
Get it away. Keep it back. Stay away from me!
“No!” She flung outher arms and a burst of energy discharged from her midsection.
A shimmering wave of bright chartreuse blasted out in all directions.
The Land Rover skidded to the side. The beast tumbled back. Abbadon and the tree trunk rolled away from her. And Cyrus fell to one knee.
Nausea washed over her and vomit laced her esophagus. Her limbs quivered, her pool of energy dimmed.
With a roar, the beast leapt back to its feet. Cyrus lassoed the thing with his whip, but the hissing monstrosity lumbered forward. Cyrus dug in his heels and yanked harder.
Claws curled and teeth bared, the crazed animal took four more steps.
A bright streak of white light ripped through Cyrus, as if a star had exploded inside his body. Cream-colored wings unfurled in a thunderous whoosh. The ends of his mouth curled into a smile, radiant with triumph. He rose from the ground and dragged the monster back.
Serenity’s heart leapt in exultation.
Abbadon unhooked the whip from his hip and captured the beast’s ankle. The other two warriors flew out of the house, the deepest shade of lapis lazuli, graced with celestial wings. They glanced at Cyrus, eyes wide. Without wasting more time, they helped subdue the crazed creature, seizing the remaining limbs.
They all had the majesty of archangels, fierce and magnificent. A sharp spike ejected from the handles of the warriors’ whips. They drove them into the concrete, pinning the beast to the pavement on its knees.
Cyrus unsheathed his sword. “Be at peace, brother.”
In a flicker of silver, Cyrus lanced the beast through the base of the neck, and the monster’s head dipped forward in a petering roar. The others removed the whips and laid the dead creature on the ground.
She met Cyrus’s gaze and wanted to run into his arms, but her legs wouldn’t move, weighted down by the gravity of the close call with death. He ascended slowly and flew toward her. The pageantry of him in flight held her mesmerized.
His wings lifted him to a higher plane of grace, making him more sublime, if that were even possible. As he landed beside her, his energy poured into hers, lightening her body and soothing her spirit. He cupped her face. “Are you hurt?”
I’m alive and you’re touching me. I could fly without wings right now if you wanted. “I’m okay.”
Abbadon lingered beside the dead body. The other two warriors crowded in front of them, slivers of the midnight sky bathed in moonlight, and adorned with wings. But her beautiful Cyrus was a dazzling warrior with wings for crown jewels.
Blood streamed down the thigh of one warrior. “You’re hurt,” she said. “Do you need a doctor?” The question sounded strange saying it to a blue angel.
Cyrus smiled and stroked her hair. “Micah will be fine. Carin, the healer who’s with the rest of our team, will tend to him later.”
“Why aren’t you blue like the others?” she wondered aloud.
“Cyrus has always been strong, but never shifted,” Abbadon said from behind her.
She jumped at his proximity. She never saw him move or felt his presence so close.
“I think it’s because he’s evolved to the next level,” Abbadon continued. “Those who are”—a sharp look from Cyrus interrupted him—“special, like him and you, have always exceeded the capabilities of the current generation.”
“Can I touch?” she asked, glancing at his wings.
Cyrus turned so his wings faced her. They were the color of sun-soaked sand, the same as his skin. His silky smooth feathers had a faint glimmer. They looked like a natural extension of his body. He extended his wings fully and flexed in a way that made her think of a peacock
I don’t want to die. She shook her head, unable to breathe. Her pool of energy boiled and crested, all cylinders in her body burned hot as lava. She had to get away, but there was nowhere to run.
Get it away. Keep it back. Stay away from me!
“No!” She flung outher arms and a burst of energy discharged from her midsection.
A shimmering wave of bright chartreuse blasted out in all directions.
The Land Rover skidded to the side. The beast tumbled back. Abbadon and the tree trunk rolled away from her. And Cyrus fell to one knee.
Nausea washed over her and vomit laced her esophagus. Her limbs quivered, her pool of energy dimmed.
With a roar, the beast leapt back to its feet. Cyrus lassoed the thing with his whip, but the hissing monstrosity lumbered forward. Cyrus dug in his heels and yanked harder.
Claws curled and teeth bared, the crazed animal took four more steps.
A bright streak of white light ripped through Cyrus, as if a star had exploded inside his body. Cream-colored wings unfurled in a thunderous whoosh. The ends of his mouth curled into a smile, radiant with triumph. He rose from the ground and dragged the monster back.
Serenity’s heart leapt in exultation.
Abbadon unhooked the whip from his hip and captured the beast’s ankle. The other two warriors flew out of the house, the deepest shade of lapis lazuli, graced with celestial wings. They glanced at Cyrus, eyes wide. Without wasting more time, they helped subdue the crazed creature, seizing the remaining limbs.
They all had the majesty of archangels, fierce and magnificent. A sharp spike ejected from the handles of the warriors’ whips. They drove them into the concrete, pinning the beast to the pavement on its knees.
Cyrus unsheathed his sword. “Be at peace, brother.”
In a flicker of silver, Cyrus lanced the beast through the base of the neck, and the monster’s head dipped forward in a petering roar. The others removed the whips and laid the dead creature on the ground.
She met Cyrus’s gaze and wanted to run into his arms, but her legs wouldn’t move, weighted down by the gravity of the close call with death. He ascended slowly and flew toward her. The pageantry of him in flight held her mesmerized.
His wings lifted him to a higher plane of grace, making him more sublime, if that were even possible. As he landed beside her, his energy poured into hers, lightening her body and soothing her spirit. He cupped her face. “Are you hurt?”
I’m alive and you’re touching me. I could fly without wings right now if you wanted. “I’m okay.”
Abbadon lingered beside the dead body. The other two warriors crowded in front of them, slivers of the midnight sky bathed in moonlight, and adorned with wings. But her beautiful Cyrus was a dazzling warrior with wings for crown jewels.
Blood streamed down the thigh of one warrior. “You’re hurt,” she said. “Do you need a doctor?” The question sounded strange saying it to a blue angel.
Cyrus smiled and stroked her hair. “Micah will be fine. Carin, the healer who’s with the rest of our team, will tend to him later.”
“Why aren’t you blue like the others?” she wondered aloud.
“Cyrus has always been strong, but never shifted,” Abbadon said from behind her.
She jumped at his proximity. She never saw him move or felt his presence so close.
“I think it’s because he’s evolved to the next level,” Abbadon continued. “Those who are”—a sharp look from Cyrus interrupted him—“special, like him and you, have always exceeded the capabilities of the current generation.”
“Can I touch?” she asked, glancing at his wings.
Cyrus turned so his wings faced her. They were the color of sun-soaked sand, the same as his skin. His silky smooth feathers had a faint glimmer. They looked like a natural extension of his body. He extended his wings fully and flexed in a way that made her think of a peacock
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