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Amell.
Jago’s soldiers unsheathe their swords, holding them angled before their bodies as they look around. Jago reacts swiftly, and before I know it, I’m spun, pulled back into his chest, and a knife is at my throat.
Everyone’s heads turn left, right. People spin in slow circles and tip their heads to watch the skies, expecting Amell to swoop down on his raven wings.
“There he is,” someone yells.
“The bridge,” another voice calls out.
I look up, and Amell is standing on the edge, wings flared, and staring down at us. His hands are fisted tight and I can’t see the expression on his face, but I don’t need to. I heard his tone when he called out, and I can feel waves of dark fury pulsing from him.
Everyone can feel it because several of the fae utter fearful cries, and they all push in closer. The demons gnash their teeth and snarl, too hardwired to kill without mercy.
“Steady,” Jago calls to the legions of his faithful and then looks up at the bridge to yell to Amell. “Keep your distance or your human will die.”
“What is it you want?” Amell merely asks, his voice booming with power and it bounces around inside my head.
“Open the veil,” Jago barks. “Let us through to the First Dimension, or your human dies.”
“That’s all you want?” Amell asks as he stares down.
“That’s all we want,” Jago confirms as he removes the knife from my throat and pushes me slightly forward, his hand gripping the back of my neck. “Let us through, and you can have her back.”
I hold my breath, waiting to see what Amell does, but I’m not prepared when he jumps from the bridge.
Not a swan dive with wings buffeting the air to make a gliding descent, but feet first, straight down, his wings extended upward.
Nothing to slow him down as he slices cleanly through the air. When he lands on his feet without even a wobble, the ground shakes like a major earthquake, and fae stumble from its force. I’d fall myself if Jago didn’t have such a firm grip on my neck. It was an intimidating move, and several of the fae break ranks and run. Amell’s eyes cut their way, and they burst into flames, screams of agony cut short as they dissolve into heaps of ash.
“Enough,” Jago growls, giving me a slight shake with his one-handed grip. “Or I’ll rip off her head.”
Amell’s gaze slides to him before slowly lowering to the inflamed gouges on my arm, still dripping blood.
“Who did that to you?” he asks quietly.
I don’t even think to lie. “Sorcha.”
Amell’s eyes fill with his apology, but within those burning-red pupils, I see retribution. Without his attention ever leaving me, I hear Sorcha scream in agony. My head whips her way, and she bursts into flames like the others, only to burn out quickly and collapse into a pile of black dust.
Jago jolts and pulls me back into him, knife again at my throat. A measure of protection for himself since Amell has made it clear he doesn’t mind obliterating others.
Twisting his neck, Amell looks up at the bridge. I’m stunned to see it packed with fae, their swords drawn. At the forefront stands Truett.
Did he see what just happened to his sister? Is he here to fight for Amell or against him?
“Open the veil now,” Jago screams, panic in his voice. “Let us through, or I’ll stick this knife through her. We only want out. We want what Kymaris promised us.”
“I can’t do that.” Amell stands casually, arms loose at his sides, but his feathers rustle nonstop, bristling with his rage. “I made a promise to Zora to protect the First Dimension from assholes like you.”
Jago roars and drags me toward the river’s edge. I dig my feet into the soft sand, but it’s no use. Hand at my neck again, he screams at Amell. “Open the fucking veil or she goes in. I’m not going to say it again.”
The lava bubbles and burps, shooting droplets into the air and when they hit the ground near my feet, they sizzle like bacon in a frying pan. I know to the very depths of any soul that remains within me that Amell will never give Jago access to the First Dimension, so my fate is ultimately damnation in the Crimson River.
Amell stares at Jago with hard, unyielding eyes. He has not only this realm to protect but the First Dimension as well. “I’m not opening the veil,” Amell says calmly.
Jago’s grip tightens, and I know the push is coming.
Then… I don’t feel anything but rushing wind and a disorienting spin as I whirl in nothingness.
