Page 74 of Wolf Trap

Nodding, Lucifer sheathed his sword. “We’ll take his body, but we must do it now. He is dying. We cannot promise you anything. Seraphim are...tricky.They’re more likely to send his soul, what’s left of it, straight to Hell. But we can plead his case for mortality, and Gabriel will help. In fact, we can, if we must, get all our brothers to plead. If we’re successful, we will deliver him to Nathaniel. You should go. Let Nathaniel know.”

A deep, grating voice came from behind them. It was Ubraz. He lumbered forward. “Heaven restoring a vampire’s soul? Perhaps there is hope for us all?”

I smiled at him. It was good to see him, even though I, we would need to watch our behaviour around the gargoyles. “Perhaps this is the beginning of new alliances, new friendships? Perhaps something good may come from this, after all?” Ubraz shrugged his massive shoulders.

We checked on the others, whose weariness seemed to lift with Adara and the wraiths gone.

A copper light on the horizon melted across the fields, and around it a beam of silver, much like the radiance from the Spear of Destiny, when it tore through Mattie.

Had her soul found salvation?

As for me, I shivered in the morning air, glad to see Conor and Austin taking charge and ensuring that they transported the victims to safety. On the roof, the gargoyles watched over like silent guardians. I wondered if they’d return home now?

The angels had left, and for now, Bren huddled closely with Conor.

Striding over to me, Austin yawned. “Those soul creepers in the compound were some freaky shit! I know you saw them, I saw them, too! I’m pretty sure Anthony did. I’m going to recite a blessing on this place, then chuck all our grenades in. You got any left?”

Nodding, I hugged him. “That’s a good idea. I have two left. Need a hand?”

“That would be great. I’ll get the shifters and go to Conor’s place for now. Once everyone’s recovered, well, they’ll take cover, I suspect. Did you...” his eyes darted to my neck. Without asking, he grabbed at the chain, the pendant Mattie had gifted me. He yanked it and it dissolved in his hands.

“There! I don’t believe this is the end of Adara, but it’s a start. A dent in their organisation. Soon, we’ll need to regroup. How about you?”

“I want to sleep. And check Luna and my mum are safe. And I think you’re right. Those piles of dust from where the Adara members stood, a cheap party trick. They seem good at those.”

He nodded. “Stand by. I’ll get these people to Wychwood forest first. Then we’ll blow the place up.”

I wandered over to Lycaon, who was talking to Conor and Dolph.

“So, Elsa, how about staying with me for a while?”

“That sounds great. But also, a bit too rustic for me. I need showers, flush toilets and my bed. And my stuff.”

Lycaon nodded. “I understand.”

“You’ll stay, though?”

A smile etched on his lips as he responded, “Absolutely. A shower sounds like bliss right about now.”

I couldn’t help lookingup. Michael carried Anthony’s body as he and Lucifer took to the wing and ascended up beyond the cloud line.

Would Anthony live? What would happen to him if they made him mortal?

And we had to tell Nathaniel.

Eventually, Austin transported everyone home, including me and Lycaon. My poor mage friend was exhausted, but Hakon gave him a little blood to sustain his energy. I would need to ask Austin how to create a portal, and train so I could use them, too.

A heavy feeling tugged at my shoulders. I knew something dark lay ahead of us.

I could just feel it, like an impending storm. But for now, I was home, people were safe, and I needed a shower.

After washing, I got dressed and went downstairs. Smiling, Lycaon planted a kiss on me, then shuffled past to wash.

We still had to see Nathaniel and Austin had agreed, thanks to Hakon’s blood fuelling him, that he’d come back here in an hour and take us to Nathaniel’s home in Bath.

I made some coffee and found some tinned soup for me and Lycaon.

We ate it in comfortable silence, both of us too exhausted for conversation. I knew he felt uneasy. He twitched and was jumpy. Just like me. I’d need to teach him how to use his magic. It was a miracle that it hadn’t killed us.

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