Page 29 of Gargoyle Reaper

As if summoned by her words, a dark shape plummeted from the sky. Lysander hit the water with a massive splash, sending waves rippling outward.

“Go!” shouted Cassiel, but he refused to abandon her. Slayers - true Slayers - fought for each other no matter what. He might not have the use of one wing, but he still had the other one along with his claws, fangs and sledgehammer-like tail.

As Ezekiel surged through the water, Cassiel dove down to engage Lysander. The two gargoyles collided in a flurry of claws and wings, churning the dark harbor waters around them. Ezekiel's heart raced as he swam toward the battle, determined to aid his friend despite his injuries.

Lysander’s mocking laughter rang out over the sounds of splashing and snarling. “Two against one? How unsporting ofyou, Cassiel. I thought Shadow Slayers prided themselves on honor.”

“As if you knew what honor was, you pathetic fuckwad.” Cassiel raked her claws across Lysander’s chest. “Go to hell where you belong and stay there!”

Ezekiel reached the fray, his good wing helping him maneuver through the choppy waves. He lashed out with his tail, catching Lysander off guard and knocking him back. The traitor splashed and sputtered, spitting out a mouthful of seawater. He whirled upward, a spray of water shedding from his wings. He hovered over them, batting his wings, tail flicking, his claws wiggling impatiently.

“You'll pay for that, Reaper,” Lysander snarled.

He lunged toward Ezekiel, claws extended. Cassiel intercepted, grappling with Lysander mid-air. They tumbled back into the water with a massive splash. Ezekiel's heart raced as he searched the churning surface for any sign of his friend.

Suddenly, Cassiel burst from the waves, dragging a thrashing Lysander by the throat. Her face was a mask of brutal fury as she ascended, wings beating powerfully.

“Ezekiel, get to shore! Malachi is on his way!” she yelled. “I'll handle this filth.”

He hesitated, torn between helping Cassiel and following her orders. His injured wing throbbed painfully, reminding him of his limited usefulness. With a frustrated growl, he turned and began swimming toward the nearest dock, his good wing and powerful tail propelling him through the icy water.

Behind him, the sounds of Cassiel and Lysander’s battle filled the air - snarls and shrieks, the clash of claws, and the whoosh of wings. Ezekiel clenched his teeth, fighting the urge to look back. He had to trust in Cassiel's abilities and focus on reaching safety.

As he neared the dock, a familiar figure appeared at the edge. Malachi's imposing form stood silhouetted against the night sky, his wings spread wide.

“Ezekiel!” He called out. “Over here!”

With a final burst of energy, he surged forward, reaching the dock's edge. Malachi's strong hands grasped his arms, hauling him out of the bay. Ezekiel collapsed onto the weathered wooden planks, gasping for breath as his body shook from pain and exhaustion.

“By the Divine Spark, what happened?” Malachi demanded, his eyes widening as he took in Ezekiel's battered state.

Ezekiel struggled to sit up, wincing as pain lanced through his injured wing. “Lysander... he's a traitor. Working with Raziel. They lured me out here...” He broke off, coughing up briny seawater.

“Fuck me.” Malachi gritted out. “We got here as fast as we could. Fortunately, we were already on our way back from Shasta to meet with you and Archer, so we were fairly close.”

A stab of worry hit him at the mention of Archer. “My mate, he’s safe?”

Malachi smiled. “Perfectly safe. But Darius told me he’s being a pain in the ass about knowing howyouare. Should we return you to him so he leaves poor Darius alone?”

Ezekiel drew his eyebrows together. “What about Raziel, the others…” He tried to push himself up from the ground but failed miserably. He groaned. “We have to kill them first.”

Malachi shook his head as he reached down to help Ezekiel stand. “You’re a mess.” He draped Ezekiel’s arm over his shoulder. “I know you can’t morph all the way back to your human form because of your jacked-up wing, so this should be interesting getting you back to the lair. Too bad it’s not Halloween right now.”

“Raziel…”

“Fuck, Zeke. Do you have a hard-on for the freak?” Malachi snorted. “Don’t worry about him. The Slayers with me ripped the shadow gargoyles to shreds. You might’ve noticed that demons aren’t known for being team players. Once our boy Raz saw how the wind was blowing, he disappeared in a poof of sulfur.”

Ezekiel chuckled and immediately regretted it. He must’ve cracked a rib or two. Before he could respond to Malachi, Cassiel landed on the planks with a thunk.

“Hey fellas, how’s it hanging?” she curled up her top lip and pointed at her mouth. “Do I have any gargoyle between my teeth?”

Malachi and Ezekiel burst into laughter, but once again, Ezekiel was filled with regret. “Ow, ow, ow. No more joking. I can’t take it.”

“What’s the matter, sport? Rough night out with the boys?”

Ezekiel rolled his eyes. Once she got going, she’d never stop.

“Malachi, take me home. I need to see my angel.”

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