In the air, the dragons circled the sky, roaring fire. No angels remained, but still, the dragons circled. Their flight changing slowly from one of rage to one of pleasure.
When Daniel and Mark moved and took his arms, placing them over their shoulders, he relaxed between them. They watched the dragons with an unspoken amazement. They were beautiful creatures. It was rare to see one. The beings were powerful enough to create glamours that even demons couldn’t see through.
And there was something amazing about seeing them free. Never, in all his days, would he forget the sight of the broken dragon, of its dull scales and broken wings.
Beauty like that should never be destroyed so thoughtlessly.
At last, the dragons landed lightly on the shore. Within seconds, they transformed. For the first time, the four Immortals truly looked like powerful beings of legend. Magic surrounded them and lit them from the inside out, like a glow.
Summer moved forward. His broad shoulders and muscles humming with strength. “Thank you.”
Daniel responded. “You’re welcome.”
After a quiet moment, Mark spoke. “You know we sought you out because we intend to overthrow Caine.”
Summer nodded. “Because he controls your angel.”
Tristan stiffened. “He does not.”
Summer’s silver eyes focused on him. “He does. He could call her back at any time. Make it so painful that she has no choice but to return. But he doesn’t, because she’s his spy.”
Tristan pushed away from the demons who held him. “No! She would never!”
The shifter tilted his head. “She does not have a choice. None of us had a choice. Caine plays with our minds. Our memories. He plucks what he wishes from her, and erases her memories of what he has done.”
He felt sick, so sick he thought he might hurl right on the beach. “That can’t be true.”
Spring moved forward, the bright, lively flowers in her long, golden hair, moving slightly. “It’s true. Her life is in his hands as long as he sits upon the throne in Zedussa. When we are restored to power, the angels will be under our control once more.”
“I can’t believe it,” Mark murmured softly.
Summer looked sad. “How do you think the angels found us? Don’t forgot this.”
The massive shifter moved toward the water and Shifted back into the golden dragon, before gracefully leaping into the sky.
Spring followed him, but paused at the water’s edge. “We will not forget what you’ve done for us.”
When she transformed, and Autumn followed her, only Winter remained.
The woman was stunning. Long black hair framed a pale face that was overwhelmed by two dark eyes. “You might love her, but you cannot trust her. Even though it is against her will. Do you understand?”
Tristan nodded, numbly.
Winter turned to look at the sky. “We will go to this sanctuary of yours, until it’s time. But you should also know, none of us believe you will be able to save the others. The odds are simply… against you.”
She shifted, and then the dragons circled overhead several times before shooting off into the sky.
“Do you think they’re right?” Daniel whispered.
Tristan was surprised when Mark answered. “The angels took me because of the God Finder. I couldn’t figure out how they found out about it, but if they can pull information out of Surcy…”
Tristan collapsed onto his knees. The bodies of the angels turned to light and disappeared, leaving behind golden sands covered in blood. And yet, none of that mattered, because now they knew the truth. Surcy was not safe. Surcy was not free.
And Surcy could no longer help them in their search for the Immortals. Yet, if she wasn’t useful to Caine anymore, what would he do to her then?
They heard a sound behind them.
Surcy’s voice came, soft and shocked. “What happened?”
How can we possibly tell her?
20
Surcy sat at the dining room table with her demons. They’d barely spoken since returning, just enough to say they’d been attacked by angels, and that the Immortals had returned to the sanctuary. A tension she didn’t understand hung in the air, and no matter how she tried, it remained.
Even Mark wouldn’t look at her.
They ate their spaghetti and salad in silence.
“How are you feeling?” she asked Tristan, turning to the stoic gargoyle.
Instead of answering, he set his fork down, rose from the table, and left.
What happened? How do I fix this?
“Is he okay?” she asked the other two.
Mark said nothing.
Daniel took another bite of his food. “None of us are.”
“But none of you will tell me a thing,” she pressed, sounding frustrated.
“We need to discuss it first… without you.”
She felt her brows rise. “Without me? Why?”
He shrugged. “That’s just how it is.”
Suddenly, she couldn’t take it anymore. She tossed her napkin on the table and rose. “Fine. I’m going out for a little while.”
Neither man said anything, so spinning on her heels, she marched to the door. Looking back, she glared at them. “Do you have any idea how crappy it feels to feel like the three men I love are hiding something from me?”
Both turned to stare at her, but she didn’t wait for their response, she slammed the door instead. Rushing down the pathway through the garden, she felt her anger grasping her like rough hands. But as the autumn winds swept over her, teasing her hair, she calmed slightly. Going to the little door on the wall that led out into the city, she pushed it open and slipped out onto the sidewalk.
Shoving her hands into her pockets, she didn’t look at the people she passed. She felt… lost. Maybe it was because their strange behavior came after the Immortal who didn’t want to trust her for being an angel, but she was angry. Maybe she didn’t have her memory. Maybe she was still kind of an angel. But she was also Surcy, the woman they’d fought so hard to prove she
