“Leave them out of this,” I snarl. “This is between us?—”
“We warned you not to return, little mortal,” Seraphiel interrupts, her eyes locking on Daisy.
I feel her go rigid beside me. Seraphiel takes a lazy step forward, her armour shimmering. “Yet here you are. You defied us. So… let’s choose your punishment, shall we?”
Her smile is almost vicious as she raises her hand to point a sharp tipped finger. Then she begins and all the warmth drains from my body. “Eenie…”
“No,” I say, voice in low growl. “Don’t you fucking dare?—”
“Meenie…”
Ezra steps forward. “No. Take me. Don’t touch her?—”
“Minie…”
Talia clutches Daisy’s hand and whispers something I don’t catch as I train my focus on Seraphiel.
“Mo.” Seraphiel’s grin widens, her finger landing on Talia. “Catch a mortal by the toe… if it screams…”
“Stop.” I step forward.
“We won’t let it go.”
“Don’t,” Daisy chokes out.
“Eenie. Meenie. Minie?—”
“No,” I snarl.
“—Mo.”
She points back at Talia, a vile, high-pitched laugh breaking from her. Talia blinks, going stiff with fear. Seraphiel nods once, and Calrix’s dagger flies before I can blink. It plunges straight into Talia’s chest, landing with a crunch of bone and a wet, sucking sound. She stumbles, gasping as she looks down at the dagger protruding from her flesh, then collapses into Daisy’s arms. Blood pours fast, a river of red soaking the throne room floor as Calrix’s laughter booms through the room.
“No. NO!” Daisy’s scream tears through the air as she clutches Talia’s body. “Talia, no. Please, no… please stay with me...”
But there’s nothing left to save. Her eyes are already dimmed, her body sagging and lifeless. I see red, everything in me screaming for vengeance. But I have my Queen breaking beside me, and I have Ezra?—
“Aran,” I bark.
Aran doesn’t hesitate for even a moment. He moves forward quickly and grabs Ezra, who’s stands frozen in horror, staring at his lifeless friend. Aran pulls him backwards as a portal rips open behind them, just as Talia’s body hits the floor. Ezra shouts Daisy’s name, but it’s too late. Aran shoves him through theportal with an apologetic look, sealing it shut before Ezra has chance to dive back through.
I offer a small nod to Aran in thanks. We could’ve run, we could’ve gone with them. But the Divine Six would chase us down, and bringing their power down on the mortal realm would be utter devastation. At least one of Daisy’s friends is safe.
Daisy lowers to the floor, cradling Talia’s corpse like a child, her entire body trembling as her gown pools around her, soaked in blood.
Seraphiel tilts her head mockingly. “Such fragile little things,” she tuts.
My voice breaks as I stand over Daisy. “Your first mistake was coming here,” I say, death in my tone. “Your second was murdering my wife’s best friend. I won’t let you make a third mistake, you fucking cunt.”
Seraphiel raises a brow in a way a mother would scorn her child. “Language.”
I bare my teeth, moving slightly to block Daisy. I can’t move to her, I can’t risk turning my back to them. I quickly glance around the room, the sight of the small children sobbing in their mother’s arms making my wings twitch, itching for violence.
“Let my people leave,” I say, voice like steel. “This is between us. Not them.”
Seraphiel, to my surprise, nods once. With eerie calm, the Divine Six turn to the crowd, and Amarithe lifts a hand, murmuring a spell. The realms’ leaders stay put, refusing to move. Even Aran stands his ground. Everyone else vanishes or is ushered out by divine pressure, the door sealing shut behind them.
I use those few precious seconds to move to Daisy’s side. She’s still kneeling, hands trembling on Talia’s blood-drenched chest. I kneel beside her, gently reaching down to lift the girl’sbroken body, to take her away from this place with some shred of respect.
