Just as I pulled my arm back for another strike, a gust of wind whipped past me—Tavira.She moved too fast to follow, her clawed hand slicing down in a deadly arc, aiming for my throat.I barely twisted out of the way in time, but her ghostly beasts were already upon me, their fangs and claws tearing through the surrounding shadows, snapping at my heels.
Another swipe of Tavira’s claws came for me, and I met her halfway, my daggers clanging against her strike with a jarring screech.I was losing ground, forced backward by each blow.The hellfire sputtered in my hands, the flames flickering as my concentration fractured.I couldn’t let it fade.Zera’s shadows were circling again, gathering strength, ready to strike the moment my fire faltered.
Tavira fought harder, attacking with a ruthless energy I struggled to match.Her golden eyes gleamed with predatory joy, the kind that made my stomach twist—she was savoring this.I tried to spin out of her reach, but one of her ghostly tigers pounced, its spectral jaws snapping dangerously close to my leg, driving me back into the alley wall.
My heart hammered against my ribs, breaths coming in ragged gasps.
Tavira’s next swing came down, but this time, since I couldn’t move back, I stepped in, slashing upward with my dagger to deflect her claws.The impact jarred my arm, but I held steady, driving her back a step.Her eyes widened, the glint of surprise flashing before it quickly morphed into something darker, more dangerous.
“Not so easy, is it?”I spat, reigniting the flames in my free hand.I refused to back down.
Her smirk faded, and she launched forward, claws extended in a vicious arc.But I was ready this time.I ducked low, pivoting on my heel to swing my dagger across her exposed side.Tavira twisted just in time, but not enough to avoid the edge entirely.My blade sliced a shallow cut along her ribs, and her hiss of pain was all the satisfaction I needed.
I pushed into the attack, refusing to let her gain the upper ground.I whirled around, about to drive my dagger through her heart when a voice I hadn’t expected to hear shouted through the alley.
“Lily!”
My heart dropped.
I whipped my head toward the entrance of the alley, and there he stood.Jack, wide-eyed and breathing hard, stood frozen at the sight of the chaos unfolding before him, clutching my winter jacket in his hands.What the hell was he doing here?!
His expression was one of pure shock, his gaze darting between Tavira, Zera, me—and the fire flickering in the palm of my hand.
No.No, no, no!
“Jack, get out of here!”I screamed, panic tightening in my chest.But it was too late.Zera’s eyes shifted toward him, and her lips curled into a predatory smile.
“Oh, now this is interesting,” Tavira mused, her golden eyes gleaming.“A human?Really, Lilith?How…quaint.”
Zera moved toward Jack, and cold panic burst through my chest.
“Run, Jack!”I shouted.I swung my dagger, but the disruption had cost me, and Tavira easily deflected my attack.She shoved me backward, into the path of her damn spectral beasts.They circled around me, teeth snapping and claws flashing.I fought wildly, trying to fight them off, but my blades passed through them like mist.
Zera advanced toward Jack, her shadows creeping toward him.Jack finally seemed to snap out of his shock, taking a step backward as Zera approached.
“Stop!”I shouted.I yelled, panic rising in my throat.My heart pounded as I fought against the ghostly creatures, trying to push my way through to get to Jack.
But Zera reached him first.
Time seemed to slow.
No.
Not him.Please, not him.
Zera’s pale, slender hand shot out, her claws catching the faint light as they wrapped around Jack’s throat.His eyes widened in terror, his breath catching in his throat as he struggled against the iron grip of the fallen angel.
“Zera!”I screamed, throwing myself forward, but Tavira blocked me, her fist colliding with my face.I dropped to my knees, blackness stealing my vision.Shaking it off, I pushed to my feet and sliced my daggers through the air, catching her just under the chin.
She screamed and jumped backward.
The distraction worked, her pack of wild cats flickering out of existence.Long enough for me to burst forward and race toward Jack.
Zera’s grip tightened, lifting Jack off the ground effortlessly as though he weighed nothing at all.His feet kicked against the air, his hands clawing at her wrist in desperation.
If I had my wings, I could have flown.It would have been faster.
“Please!”I yelled, my voice cracking.“He’s not part of this!”
