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“I’d have to agree,” Carmen cut in. “If you can think past all that overprotectiveness, so will you.”
Maddox pulled in a breath through his nose. Hadn’t Raini already been through enough tonight? He didn’t want her here, where she could be hurt again. He also didn’t want her being targeted by Castiel or halo-bearers ever again, but she was right—none of this would stop until the archangel was dead. And so far, Maddox hadn’t been able to take him out. This had to end today—even his demon could acknowledge that.
Grinding his teeth, Maddox said, “Fine. But once you’re done here, you let Carmen take you off this damn battlefield and back to the cathedral’s attic with Euan.”
“I will, I promise. Staying here, I’d only distract you. I don’t want to do that. Tell the Black Saints to scamper in exactly four seconds so that they’re out of range of the blast. We’ll then make our move after the count of three.”
Maddox quickly gave Viper a telepathic heads-up, knowing he’d spread the word to his brothers. “Done.”
Raini blew out a breath. “Three, two, one.”
It all happened fast. The Black Saints disappeared. He shrunk the forcefield. An orb of crackling gold energy headed straight for her. The air rippled and shimmered as the psychic hellfire blasted outwards and smacked into Castiel and his minions. And the fucking orb hit her dead center in the chest.
Biting out a harsh curse, Maddox enlarged the forcefield and caught her before she could crash to the ground. He slammed his palm to hers and watched as her skin reknitted and the blisters disappeared. Only then did he look at the battlefield. The halo-bearers were sprawled on the ground—some unmoving, some convulsing.
Castiel was on his knees, his hands gripping his head tight.
“Wow,” Carmen breathed. “They dropped like stones.”
“Fucking good,” muttered Raini, now steady on her feet once more.
Maddox squeezed his mate’s nape, dancing his gaze from her to Carmen. “The moment I drop this forcefield, you go and take that shit-stain with you.”
“We will,” Raini vowed.
Maddox whirled to face Castiel and lowered the forcefield. “Go.” He sensed the wave of energy in the air and knew Carmen had teleported them out of there. He took slow, deliberate steps toward the archangel just as the Black Saints reappeared. Maddox didn’t look at them. He only had eyes for Castiel, who flexed his hand, clearly trying to conjure another orb of energy. He failed.
Halting in front of him, Maddox said, “I wouldn’t bother trying to fight what’s now inside you. You can’t. It’s working its way through your mind. Much more slowly than it ate through theirs,” he added, briefly glancing at the dead halo-bearers, “but it’ll consume yours sooner or later.”
Castiel blinked up at him, the epitome of confused.
“I’d imagine you’re wondering what’s happening to you. Have you ever heard of psychic hellfire?”
Viper let out a low whistle. “Oh, he’s dead for sure.”
Castiel’s eyelids flickered, his gaze lost focus, and his face drooped.
Maddox slanted his head. “You know, there’s something almost … dishonorable about taking advantage of your weakness and killing you now. The thing is, well, I don’t really give a shit. Not only did you hurt my mate and start a battle with my lair, you’ve done it to others. So many descendants have died because of your ambitiousness. Even one death is too many. So, on behalf of all of them … ” Maddox fisted Castiel’s hair, wrenched his head back, and forced an ice-cold energy orb down his throat.
The archangel choked, heaved, shook, swayed, arched. Then he slumped to the ground, his skull caving in.
The crackling forcefield around the monastery winked out. The crushing power that had held Celia in its grip must have released her, because she cried out and fell to the ground.
Sidling up to Maddox, Viper winced. “Archangels can heal from a lot, but he ain’t coming back from that.”
“Just to be sure … ” Maddox lit up the body with hellfire, planning to ask his lair—who were now filing out of the monastery—to do the same with the other corpses. None of the dead were Black Saints, which was no surprise, given how goddamn quickly they healed and how the angelic blood seemed to strengthen them.
Viper hummed. “That psychic hellfire sure did come in handy.”
Maddox turned to face him. “I appreciate you honoring our agreement and joining this fight—I won’t forget it. If you ever need to call on me for backup, I’ll provide it. But my mate won’t. She’s no weapon.” His demon nodded, in full agreement.
“Not sure she’s the type to sit at home while you fight. Just saying.” Viper saluted him. “I guess I’ll see you at the club.” He disappeared, and his brothers then did the same.
Hector materialized beside Maddox, his jaw hard. “We all watched the whole thing through the windows. I’ve never felt so goddamn helpless. No matter how hard we attacked the forcefield, it wouldn’t go down. I nearly lost my mind when I saw Carmen on the ground. I saw you heal her. She’s okay?”
