Total pages in book: 138
Estimated words: 131708 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 659(@200wpm)___ 527(@250wpm)___ 439(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 131708 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 659(@200wpm)___ 527(@250wpm)___ 439(@300wpm)
“You’ll have to wait until the shield lowers,” he calmly told her. “Relax. The child will not be able to hold it for long.”
Ella’s stomach dropped. Oh, fuck, he knew she was pregnant.
The queen’s brows met. “Child?”
“Yes, she carries Viper’s offspring,” he revealed.
The queen’s eyes lit up in devious delight, the lines of hunger in her expression deepening.
“As soon as the shield winks out, you can attack.”
“Why can’t we just do it now?”
The archangel flapped a hand. “See for yourself.”
The queen nodded curtly at her male guard. He rushed forward, collided into the shield—and disintegrated into ashes just like that.
Ella felt her mouth drop open. Oh. My. God.
Mia gasped, her hand gripping Ella’s arm tight. “Go, Peanut,” she whispered, awe in her tone.
That same awe coursed through Ella’s inner demon, along with a healthy dose of parental pride.
“It’s constructed of unholy fire,” the archangel explained to the queen. “It will cause death on impact. But you can keep at it if you wish—your choice.” He gave an uncaring shrug.
Who was this guy? One of the Seven, maybe?
It was weird that he was so chill. There was no anger, no sense of urgency, no distaste as he looked upon either Ella or her sister. He honestly seemed largely unaffected by their presence. And yet, he’d played a part in them being brought here and he clearly wanted them dead.
The slim guy at his side took a nervous step back from the shield, as did the traitorous bitch Maxine and the majority of the strix. Only the queen and archangel remained in position, appearing unfazed.
“How long before the shield drops?” the queen asked the archangel, her tone huffy.
“Not long. Then you can slaughter them all.”
Anxiety punched Ella’s chest, and she pulled in a breath. It hurt, as if her windpipe had narrowed. The shield would drop—that was a fact. There were far too many strix to hold at bay, not to mention two celestials and Maxine to combat. There was a very real possibility that she, her child, Mia, and Joe would die today.
And if Ella died, Viper would too due to their souls being bound. Fuck.
Tamping down the panic that tried to rise, Ella cocked her head at the archangel. “Who are you?”
He regarded her for a moment. “Name’s Ophaniel.”
Never heard of him, Ella telepathically told her sister. You?
No, never.
A groaning sound came from Joe, but he didn’t wake.
“What’s wrong with his hands?” Mia asked the archangel, gesturing at her psi-mate.
“I burned them with holy fire,” Ophaniel answered matter-of-factly.
A low hiss came from Mia. “You tortured him?”
“Of course not. I simply suggested he put his fingers into one of these.” Ophaniel conjured a golden, fiery orb. “I’d hoped the burns would shock you enough that you’d reach out to him—it was the only way he’d be able to teleport you here. It is pure luck that your arm was looped through that of your sister.” Looking at Ella, he let the orb disintegrate. “I had thought I would need to get to you by insisting on a trade—you for your sister.”
“You said he burned himself at your suggestion,” Mia remembered, flicking a concerned look at her anchor. “So, what, you controlled his actions somehow?”
“Not quite,” Ophaniel responded. “I suppose there’s no harm in explaining, since you won’t live to share the information. I steered his will, though it took some time to get a real grasp on it. With humans and angels, I can easily slip into their minds, put them asleep, and use their bodies without their knowledge. I can also plant thoughts, suggestions, or ideas in their heads. The latter doesn’t work as well with demons. It’s also impossible to use them as puppets.”
Thank God. Because he could have otherwise wreaked all sorts of havoc. “If you’re so good at slipping into celestial minds, why didn’t you attempt to control any of the other Black Saints?”
“They’re unfortunately too powerful,” he replied, a note of faint resentment in his voice. “A dominion proved helpful, though—something he’s unaware of. ‘Prophet’ he calls himself these days. He is all tangled up in regret, bitterness, self-loathing, and fear. A mind is easier to invade if a person is vulnerable, but—what with him being so powerful—I could only pick up his surface thoughts. Still, it made him a good involuntary source of information.”
Right then, Mia’s mind stroked hers. Dice just telepathed me, he sees us.
It took everything in Ella not to smile. He found us?
Teague’s clan did. The Black Saints are all here, but they can’t get close. Archangelic wards have been placed around to keep people away—it seems Ophaniel isn’t taking any chances.
Oh, fuck. Can they unravel the wards?
Viper can, but Dice says it won’t be a quick process.
Panic again beat at Ella, and she almost cursed aloud. At least they could be unraveled. That was something.