Page 62 of When Monsters Rise
“Whatdo we do?”Miracried. “Whatdo we do?”
Myheart sank, and icy terror filled my veins.Therewas nothing.
Thiswas the end.
Beetook my free hand as we faced the beasts, aware that more were at our back.
“Rue!”Shemcried from the distance, flying toward me.Thewatchers fought rippers on the road behind him, their forms dark silhouettes against a moonlit sky. “Rue,I’mcoming!”
Buthe wouldn’t make it in time, and even if he did,Icouldn’t, wouldn’t leave my friends to save my skin, and the look on his face—dark and filled with a mixture of horror and regret—told me he knew it.
“It’sokay.”Bastianwrapped his arms around bothBeeand me. “It’sokay.”
Everyonehad stopped screaming, huddling together as the threat closed in.
Moments.Andit would be over.
Lightninglashed down and incinerated a ripper, another blast hitting a crabine.
No.Notlightning, but celestial rays of power.Sentinels?
“Rue!It’sGabriel!”Beecried.
IspottedGabrielhigh above us, surrounded by armored reapers, their helms gleaming in the flashes of celestial light that jettisoned out of their scythes and smashed into the monsters, turning them to ash.
Gabrielscanned the ground, and his gaze finally fell on me.Theflutter in my chest became a steady vibration, and a sob broke from my throat because it was him…of course that flutter had been him.
He’dcome for me.
He’dfound me.
Theworld dimmed, the screams and growls of the monsters died, and the reapers landed around us, huge monolithic beings exuding power that made the hairs on my body tremble with awareness.Butmy attention was focused onGabriel, the cocky celestial with the stunning emerald eyes that were fixed intensely on me.
“SorryI’mlate,” he drawled. “Igot held up for a while.Butprison cells are not my thing.”
Maybeit was the whole near-death experience, but a wave of emotion washed over me, and beforeIcould check myself,I’dbridged the distance between us and thrown my arms around his neck.
Hehugged me back. “Ah, so you did miss me.”
Ichoked back a laugh. “Yeah…yeah,IguessIdid.”
Erelimapproached, dark hair mussed, helm tucked under his arm.
Hedropped me a nod, andImouthedthank you.
“Weneed to move.Now,”Shembarked. “Youcan have your reunion later.”Histone was cold, and a finger of ice slid up my spine.
IreleasedGabriel, swallowing the lump in my throat.Hesmiled thinly before taking in the two males who stepped forward to flank me.
“We’reheaded to the old farmhouse twenty minutes down the road,”Shemsaid. “We’vecleaned out the barn and set up traps to prevent access.”
“We’llprovide aerial support,”Erelimsaid.
“Becareful,”Bastiansaid quickly. “There’ssomething odd going on.Themonsters are appearing out of thin air.”
Erelimnodded. “Iknow.I’llexplain everything once we get to safety.”
Shemturned to me. “You’llfly with me the rest of the way.”
