He tried to dart left, but another soldier stopped him.
You did this to yourself, she said, and struck.
This time, he had nowhere to go. Her sword sliced through his stomach. Blood and intestines spilled out.
His knees collapsed, and he hit the ground. His mouth opened on a pained moan.
Finish him, Zacharel commanded.
With pleasure. Another slash of her arms, and his head was rolling toward her feet, minus his body.
Twenty-eight?
The Sent Ones erupted into cheers. Someone patted her on the shoulder, nearly drilling her into the ground. She let go of the sword, and it vanished.
Koldo, she said, and raced toward him.
* * *
KOLDO BLINKED OPEN his eyes. His pain was gone, his strength having returned. He frowned. How was that possible? He was no longer in the cave. Instead, the white walls of his ranch surrounded him.
And what was that warm thing pressed up against him? He looked down, and saw the spread of Nicolas strawberry curls over his chest. Her beautiful face was tilted up, toward his, and her eyes were closed. Her breathing was even. The confusion magnified. Hed been trapped in that cage with Axel.
Axel! Thats right. The warrior had been beaten, as broken as Koldo, and yet, after hearing the sounds of battle, he and Koldo had somehow found the strength to tear the cage apart. Together, they had walked out of the slave tent. Thats when hed seen what hed assumed was merely a hallucination: Nicola, holding a sword of fire, forcing his father to back down.
Then nothing. He must have passed out.
Then cheers had rung out, waking him, and hed heard little bits of conversation.
never expected a former human to fight like that, someone had said. And the fact that you have the tattoos, creating the force field, is even better. You better believe Ill be getting an outward sign of the Most Highs promise, too.
You can be my battle partner anytime.
Koldos a lucky man.
Nicola, Koldo said now, his voice rougher than hed intended.
Like him, she blinked open her eyes. Then, she jolted upright and faced him. Youre finally awake.
Wheres your sister?
Sadness caused her features to fall. She didnt make it.
No. He had failed her, then. Had failed the love of his life. And Laila, too. Im so sorry, Nicola. I tried
I know you did. She offered him a soft smile. Ill never be able to thank you enough for all you endured on her behalf.
I should have... I wish...
No. Dont do that to yourself. We dont even know if she would have accepted the gift. And shes happy now. Shes with Robby, and theyre both so happy.
Koldo reached up with a hand shaky from disuse and caressed her cheek. Soft, warm. I love you, he said.
I love you, too. So much.
He breathed her in, savoring what hed thought to never have again. Tell me what happened.
Well, for starters, the two demons you warned me about attacked me, trying to infect me with more toxin, and I killed them with a sword of fire. Then, the Most High adopted me. Or maybe He did before, and I just didnt know it. Then, I managed to kill your father and save the day. In a nutshell, I totally rocked it!
You...are a Sent One? Hed had that one moment of suspicion, and yet, he was still shocked to his soul.
She nodded, pleased. I am.
He could barely process the knowledge. It was just too amazing.
Thank you, he said, to the Most High, to Nicola. Like the sword of fire, she was a gift from above, and he would be forever grateful for her. He kissed the line of her jaw. Were in Panama, arent we?
Yes. She angled her head, ensuring the next kiss was on her lips.
How long was I out?
Two weeks, and a lot of things have happened.
I can imagine. But wait. You helped me, and you shouldnt have helped me, love. Its against the
She placed a finger over his mouth, silencing him. Its okay. Im a part of you, and youre a part of me. It was like you were helping yourself. Clerici said so. And guess what? Your hair is growing back.
He frowned as he moved his hand to his scalp, and sure enough, there was stubble on his scalp, tickling his palm. Thats impossible.
Nope. Clerici isnt fond of some of the rules the Council came up with. Rules that go against the Most Highs desires. So, hes cut a few. He even ruled that all sacrifices for the Water be returned.
As Koldo moved, something dug into his back. He reached around, felt
Wing buds, he said, his shock deepening. His wings were growing back, too. He would no longer be bald like his father. He would once again be able to soar through the skies, taking his woman wherever she wished to go. What could be better?
A slow grin lifted the corners of her lips, but her amusement didnt last long. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but you have to be told. Bjorn is missing. Thane and Xerxes are going crazy as they search for him. Zacharel and the others are helping. And some guy named Kane was spotted in New York, but then he vanished again, and its got everyone in a tizzy.
Kane. One of the Lords of the Underworld, and the keeper of the demon of disaster. Hed been lost in hell for weeks, though rumors of his torture had surfaced. The warriors friends had come to the Army of Disgrace, asking for help locating him. A promise had been issued, but no one had had any luck, until now.
I must help my people, Koldo said. With Kane, and with Bjorn. And the six demons responsible for Germanuss death were still out there. Finding and dealing with them, before they could infect all of humanity, had to be a top priority.
I had a feeling youd say that. Thats why I scheduled you a meeting with Zacharel in...two hours. Hell get you caught up on all the details I missed.
That was wonderful, but... How did you know I would awaken?
She grinned slowly. A feeling. So, what are we going to do while we wait?
Wonderful woman. Precious woman.
His woman.
He wound his arms around her, and rolled her to her back. Words without action mean nothing. Ill show you.
And he did.