Page 195 of The Trials of Ophelia

“Lovely to see you again, Mystique.” The fae female grinned wider, indulging in my confusion like it was her own little game.

“What are you two creatures doing here?” Kakias spat. Tendrils whipped around her, as if suddenly unsure where to aim their power—my Angellight or these new opponents. It lashed at the veil, and the pain of that strike slid along my bones. It rattled my skull.

I groaned under the pressure, and Kakias smiled. Fucking Angels, I shouldn’t have let that weakness show.

Lancaster and Mora flicked controlled gazes across the scene, cataloging the blood spilled around me and the magic roaring through the air. “Interesting,” he said, glancing at the female.

“Lancaster,” I gasped as another stream of darkness slammed into my Angellight, and Kakias shifted her attention between me and the fae, “not the time for nonchalant observations.”

“There she is.” A voice that sounded like home rose from behind me, and my heart stuttered in my chest.

There was no way?—

But I whirled, and Tolek was there.

He emerged from the shadows of the courtyard with Dax beside him. Blood and dirt crusted their skin and leathers, but both held weapons at their sides, Tol’s bow and quiver across his back.

My Angellight flared brighter as he crossed to me. Kakias growled in response, and I flicked a glare back over my shoulder to catch the fae sinking into predatory stances. They circled the queen, her ire cracking, hints of nerves slipping through. Her tendrils pulled toward my light again.

Quickly, I returned my attention to Tolek, looking him over to be sure he was okay. “How did you get here?”

“Called in a bargain.” He flashed his ring at me with a crooked smirk, and the pieces clicked together.

“You summoned the fae?”

He had done this. He had called Lancaster—and somehow Mora—to come to my aid—used his deal with the tricksters for this. He had found his way here and not alone, but with reinforcements to see our mission through and ensure Kakias’s demise. He’d come for me as he had time and time again in my darkest hours.

“Don’t you know by now there’s no tool at my disposal I wouldn’t weaponize for you, Alabath? No line I wouldn’t cross if it meant helping you.”

Those words stretched out to my scarred and Angel-burning soul, the deep tenor of his voice wrapping around us with reverent, eternal vows.

“By the fucking Angels, I love you, Vincienzo.”

His eyes darkened. “Say that to me again when we’re alone so I can make good on my promise.” Heat rivaling the Angellight burned through me. I turned to face the queen before I could get carried away, but Tol’s hand wrapped around my wrist and tugged me back. “One second.”

His lips slammed against mine, so warm and familiar I nearly crumbled against him, but he bolstered me. I could feel my Angellight burning brighter, tingling along my bones. I was so much stronger with him around, like our spirits really were one. Tol’s hand came to the side of my neck, fingers tangling in my hair as he tilted my chin up with his thumb to kiss me deeper.

“I love you, too, Alabath,” he whispered against my lips, eyes flicking between mine.

Those words set me alight.

Spirits I wanted to sink into this moment, to let the Angellight burn through the queen and circle around this spot so it only embraced the two of us—shut us off from the world.

But Kakias’s animalistic snarl crashed through the bliss as the fae prowled around her. The walls they had blown open shivered, cracks reaching to the glass ceiling.

“Beautiful display of affection,” Dax said. “Now remove your tongue from her throat, Tolek, and let’s end this.”

Kakias cackled, the sound spiraling and unhinged, bouncing against the stone pillars and glass doors that still stood. “I should not be surprised to see you, Lieutenant Goverick.”

Dax’s eyes subtly flicked about the scene, clearly looking for his prince.

“It’s General Goverick now.” His hand tightened on his ax.

“How lovely—a promotion.” Kakias’s voice was as chilling as ever, but her eyes flickered around her, keeping track of her predators. “Too bad it is for the wrong side. Rank means nothing in death.”

I stepped back to the veil of Angellight and in turn sank back into my most predatory place. Tolek followed, his eyes dropping over my bloodied hand and the emblems I’d released to the floor. He nodded, and stepped sideways toward Dax. They exchanged low whispers before taking positions flanking me.

I assessed the queen—the harsh lines of her sharp face deepening as she tried to work a way out of this. The flutters of her fingers trying to contort her wild magic. The working of her throat as Mora slunk behind her and vanished from view for a blink.

---