Jake jerked back in his chair like he’d been slapped. “How can you say that? It wasn’t all bad, remember?” The smoky figure lingered at his side. “I’m sorry, Luce. Can’t we just get over it and move on?”
“Stop it,” Will cut in. “You’re upsetting Lucy, can’t you see that? You heard the lady, it’s time for you to leave.”
He squeezed my shoulder but kept his angry eyes on the cheater. What a hero.
Jake slammed his fists on the table, hard. Everyone shot back against the booth. “I’m not leaving till I get an answer.”
“You got your answer.” I stood, the words like a choke collar around my neck as the shadow lunged at me again. I jumped back and the wraith’s claws missed me by mere inches. I couldn’t let this guy win. I curled my fingers into my palms, clenching every muscle in my body. An electric current surged within me, burning my lungs. Finally, my Seer power was turning on. I felt powerful and alive, and I didn’t care anymore. Jake needed to get this through his thick skull. “Leave or I’ll have my buddy here get the bouncers.”
Electricity coursed through my veins, building up like a ball of energy inside me—making me feel strong and invincible. The current sizzled at the base of my palms.
“Get out of here.” Will towered over me, fists balled. “Or else.”
“I don’t think so.” Jake growled, shoving his chair to the ground. The dark wraith billowed taller. “You don’t understand what’s going on here.”
I wrapped my hand in the crook of Will’s bicep. “I’ve got this, Will. It’s okay.”
“No, gorgeous. It’s definitely not okay.” His arm encircled my waist as his face twisted, his jaw set. “This is your last warning, man. Get out of here. Now.”
Kevin rose from his chair. “Bro, don’t make me call security.”
“That isn’t necessary.” Jake eyed Will and Kevin. The shadow whispered something in his ear, and he glared at Will’s arm around me.
Suddenly the shadow morphed into a hulking demon, fists raised. Electricity sparked from my hands. In a flash, a pillar of pure light shot down from the ceiling. An equally gargantuan man of white light appeared at my side in a cloud of the brightest white I’d ever seen, outlined in the shape of one burly dude. He shone like the sun and flashed like lightning, his sculpted biceps refracting rays of light in every color—breathtaking in beauty, if the light wasn’t so piercingly white.
A sense of awe descended upon me. All the noises in the crowded restaurant faded into the background, hushed by the dazzling sight in front of me.
I gasped and whipped my head from Will to Jake. Blinking like a fool, I couldn’t believe my eyes. But it looked so real.
The shadow demon made a jab toward Will’s face. Instinctively, my self-defense training kicked into gear and I blocked the demon punch. Sparks singed the air over my head as the man of light mimicked my move, halting the sinister arm. Orange embers shot from the wraith’s arm in a dazzling display of pyrotechnics.
The shadow-ghoul aimed another swipe, but the white-lightning man blocked the dark punch with one shining blow. Then he landed an uppercut right under the wraith’s ghastly jaw. Shards of every color whizzed by me like diamonds exploding in every direction.
The demon exploded in a puff of flame and smoke, blowing hot wind on my face. Then, Poof! He evaporated into thin air.
It felt as if time stopped. All I could see was this immensely beautiful creature in front of me. One word filled my mind.
Angel.
He winked one golden eye and blasted skyward, leaving a wake of light that seared my retinas. For a few seconds it was burned into my brain—unmistakable. The translucent outline of feathery wings. But then he disappeared through the restaurant ceiling. I could only stand there in utter amazement, my eyes fixed on that one spot, as if by sheer willpower I could make the glorious creature descend from the heavens and explain himself.
Did I just summon an angel, and use angel-power to fight off my ex? Could this be part of my gifts as the Seer?
“Maybe I’ll see you around.” Jake’s voice was haughty, more like his usual self. Completely oblivious to the duel between light and shadow that had just totally rocked my universe.
I lowered my gaze back down to the earthly fight in front of me. It all seemed so pointless now.
Will grabbed a handful of Jake’s shirt and raised his fist. A low snarl escaped his throat. “If I ever see you hanging around Lucy, even on campus, you’ll wish you never set foot in this city.”
“Okay, man.” A hint of fear clouded Jake’s eyes. Way to go, Will. “Relax, I’m going.”
“Just let him go, man.” Kevin cocked his head at Will.
He released Jake’s shirt and my evil ex stalked off, squinting daggers over his shoulder the whole time. Will stared Jake down until he punched open the front door.
Then the waiter came back. “Everything all right, Kevin?”
Suddenly my entire body started shaking. The restaurant whirled around me, whizzing in circles like a funnel cloud of light and shadow. Did I really just see angels fighting wraiths? How crazy was that?
Will unclenched his fist, his fingers grazing my cheek. “Are you okay?”
“I don’t know.” Except for the fact that I maybe just used my Seer powers for the first time. Everything spun by too fast, except Will’s face. Worry lines etched between his eyebrows. Then it all faded out. Like I’d fallen into an abyss, and I’d keep falling forever. My knees buckled under me, but strong arms gripped me on either side. Will’s arms.
Chapter 9
Vague shapes greeted me when I opened my eyes, wisps of gray mist outlined by shadows. A dark hand pressed something
