Page 121 of The Silent

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“Can you make a spear of it?” Niranasked.

Rith shook his head. “It has to be held by my hand to make akillingblow.”

Damn the rules of magic, Leo thought. The Fallen obviously hadn’t heard of them, otherwise he wouldn’t havewings.

“How do we make an angel fall?” Leoasked.

Alyah seemed to be having the most luck annoying the creature. Leo could tell by the amount of fire being thrown in her direction. He’d heard the Irina’s battle song rise above the fire. It was the first sound of it that had wiped out the Grigori. They’d stumbled and fallen to their knees, only to be taken out by Niran, Rith, and the others. Since then, Alyah had aimed her voice at Arindam, making the angel waver but not quite fall. Every now and then, he’d lift and rise from the temple, trying to locate the source of her magic, but Alyah remained hidden, guarded byNiran’smen.

Niran’s eyes shone when he looked her direction. “I wish my sisters coulddothat.”

“They’d be untouchable if theycould.”

“Is it possible?” Niran said. “If they learned the rightmagic?”

“I think so,” Leo said. “My sister Ava has Grigori blood. She’s mated to a scribe and learned magic from olderIrina.”

“So it’s possible.” Something relaxed behind Niran’s eyes. “Thereishope.”

“Not if we don’t kill this angel,” Leo said. “Because if he loses interest in us and goes after the women Sura took,they’relost.”

* * *

“Iam ready,”Prija said, situating herself on a low cushion Kyra had found in another room. She’d draped Intira’s blanket over her shoulders and washed her face. She looked serene andpowerful.

If only Kyra knew what she neededtodo.

I can think words to you, she thought.But I don’t know how to copy his song. I can hardly make senseofit.

“Do not copy.Seeit.”

She huffed out a breath. “That means nothingtome!”

“Then think.” Prija closed her eyes. “I will try tohurthim.”

Kyra felt it when Prija struck. It was a wild jab, her energy shooting out in all directions, just like when Prija tried to hurt her during meditation. She felt the blood drip from her alreadyswollennose.

A red bloom rose in Prija’s eye as a blood vessel burst. “Think!”

* * *

“What was that?”Leo yelled as the monster fell from hisperch.

“Prija!” Niran rushed the creature, joined by Alyah and Niran’s men. They leapt on the angel, but he twisted away, backhanding one of the free Grigori and grabbing Alyah by thethroat.

“No!” Leo roared, rushing to the aid of his sister. He flung a knife at Arindam’s eye. The creature screamed when it found its mark, and Leo’s ears started tobleed.

Arindam dropped Alyah, who rolled into a ball and ducked her head down, protecting her throat while her Grigori protector stood over her, punching and kicking the Fallen, trying to beat him back. The angel reached out with one arm and grabbed the Grigori by the throat, twisting his neck totheside.

Niran’s brother fell silently to the ground, and Arindam took to the air. The body dissolved, gold dust rising in the red glow of the fieryhilltop.

The angel perched at the top of the temple andscreamed.

Leo felt Niran’s rage and held him back. “Wait! Sacrificing yourself with a rash attack will donothing!”

“Letmego!”

“Wait,” Leo said again, wrapping his massive arms around Niran. “Take a breath.Andwait.”