“You fear she will reject you or blame you, but your true fear should be for her soul. Sebastian you must train her to control the power raging in her. You can smell it in my blood, but the desire you feel is nothing compared to the blood lust she carries. Few are left who walk this earth with the power she carries. Help her before it consumes her.”
Sebastian releases a breath he didn’t know he was holding. Relief rushes through him and he drops to a knee and presses a kiss to her hand, “I will, my Queen.”
Caderyn smiles and turns to her husband.
“At ease,” King Drake snaps and the soldiers all stand down.
“Vorn your part in this affair is not yet done. Will you continue with it or stay with us?” The Shadow King asks.
Vorn glances at them and grins, “I wouldn’t want to miss the end of this story.”
“Very well, follow me.” King Drake leads the group to a massive water fountain in the center of the courtyard.
Together the four kings and queens touch a single fingertip to the flowing water, and it freezes. King Reese whispers, “You must all picture the person, not the place that you wish to see. Hold her image in your mind. That’s good, now wait until the images stop and the doorway will open to you.”
They all stare into the frozen water and watch in horror as Anya, Katie and Morgan battle two demons. No one moves when she reaches down and jerks the spear from the creature’s chest. Vorn tries to step forward, but Caderyn grabs his upper arm. “Not yet,” they watch as Anya sucks in his essence and turns to look at them. “Now.” A doorway opens only for a moment into the snowy abyss of Siberia.
When the door closes after the passage, the Fae all stand quietly for a moment.
Queen Caderyn stares into the moving water, a far off look in her eyes. “The Herald holds the fate of all in her hands.”
“Humans are only food to Caius,” King Drake states flatly, “but if he succeeds and kills the last of the Angels, he will seek us next for vengeance.”
“Then we will help the Herald and Guild all we can. In the meantime, we will ready ourselves for war.” The Shadow King snarls.
Chapter 23
Another howl calls out from the demons approaching the fallen rock wall. Standing outside the blocked passage way they begin flinging themselves at the crumbling wall protecting the two angels.
Apollyon looks at his friend, “I can’t fly, and I doubt you can carry me,” he says with a grin.
“Funny,” Zachariel snaps back at him. “Your wing is too damaged, and I have healed your leg enough to run on, but we need to get to the gate.”
Apollyon stomps down on the claw of a demon who is desperately trying to reach him. The claw is jerked back out of the hole before barking and snarling are heard. A large eye looks inside the cavern at them.
“Zach!” Apollyon yells as Zachariel takes his sword and flips it around ramming it into the eye popping it. The resulting scream brings them some relief and they try not to laugh at the absurdity of the moment.
“Let’s go.” Zach aids his friend and they shift through the wall, passing through the small cracks and crevices of the mountain emerging on the other side.
As quickly as they arrive, they break into a run. “This way.” Apollyon leads and they race over the barren rock dodging the thick brush through the night air. They hope to make the gate before the creatures realize they are gone and begin to track them.
‘The only way to access the gate is to get across the bridge,’ Apollyon speaks to Zach’s mind. ‘We are seven miles from Undine falls. Lava Creek is on the other side. If we get separated, Zach. You get to the suspension bridge. The gate is on the other side of it.’
The sound of a howl pursues them off the mountains and into the forest. Time is up.
Liam hears the sound of a waterfall and the humid air surrounds them. Their feet touch down and Cassiel draws his blade. “Where are we?” Cass whispers. “This isn’t the gate.” A mountain is behind them with a waterfall overflowing into a lush forest.
“We are at Undine Falls,” Liam answers. Turning around to face his friend. “On the other side of this forest is Lava Creek. That is where the gate is located.”
“Easy enough, we just fly,” Cass says, but Liam is already shaking his head no.
“The only way to get over Lava Creek is to use the swinging bridge. It is part of the gate here. You are judged as you cross over and if you are not found worthy…”
“I remember now. Lava creek shows us why it is called Lava Creek,” Cass states.
“Exactly.” Liam replies. “We could call for Apollyon, but if he is turned…” Liam leaves the statement unfinished.
“No, our job is to protect the gate,” Cassiel argues, “and no one can protect the gate better than the Destroyer.”
“True, but then we would not be needed here.” Liam turns and looks at Cass. “We need to fly up to the peak of that mountain. The bridge is a steel structure that swings across the gorge below it.”
“Alright, but you are the first to cross the bridge,” Cass snaps with a grin.
They just start to fly when the sound of a wolf reaches their ears. Below them, on the ground, they can see a white
