Fallen Academy: Year Four (Fallen Academy #4)(52)

A sob lodged in my throat at her use of the word sister, at her loyalty to what made me happy, even if she didn’t understand it.

Dropping her hands, I pulled her in for a bone-crushing hug. “I’m so lucky to have had you by my side all these years.”

She squeezed me harder. “Stop it. We’re not saying goodbye.” Her voice pinched with restrained tears, and we both pulled back to face each other. “I’m getting married next year, and you’re going to be there.”

I nodded, swallowing down my emotions.

‘She’s my favorite person. Out of everyone,’ Sera confessed, sounding emotional too.

I internally grinned. ‘Even more than Michael?’

‘Okay, she’s my second favorite.’

Footsteps pulled my attention behind us, to the amassing army, a few thousand in all. Some were in buses, some in cars, but most were on foot. This was it. This was our last shot to save Angel City, and it all rested with me.

I swallowed hard.

“Shea, I think we’re ready now.” Michael approached with Lincoln and the other archangels.

Darren and Blake nodded and stood off to the side. They had strict orders in the event we lost, to help evacuate as much of the city as possible. They hadn’t received discs from Metatron, so they wouldn’t be able to sustain life down there. Raphael said it was for the best, that some Celestials needed to be left behind to look after things.

Shea nodded, squaring her shoulders before looking over at me. “You got this.” She winked.

My best friend was going to have to open the portal, and stay until every member was through before closing it, so this would be the last I saw of her until it was over.

I nodded once and that was that.

The final war for humanity had begun.

‘I’m still trying to decide if I want to cut Lucy’s balls off first, or pluck out his eyes,’ Sera stated.

I grinned. I think we all underestimated just how savage my blade could be.

Lucy, I’m coming for you.





Twenty-One





The moment Shea opened the portal and we all stepped inside, a somber mood came over our crew. There were a few demons milling about where we crossed, and we ended their life quickly without issue.

Our plan was to follow the directions under Demon City, where I’d come through Mathias’s apartment when I escaped, and that would lead us to Lucy’s castle. We estimated it was about a two-hour walk for those on foot, and the longer our large group stayed in Hell, the greater the chance that word would get to Lucifer. I was half hoping he would come right to me—I knew his ego was big enough—but he also might see all four archangels and go into hiding. It was a risk we had to take.

Since Lincoln, the archangels, and I could fly, we would. Michael estimated once we took flight, it would be only about twenty minutes before we were at the gates of Lucifer’s castle.

We passed a few spectral ghost forms, which I knew were tortured souls. Upon seeing us, they hid behind the straw huts that dotted the land.

“Being here is…” Lincoln swallowed hard, trying to find the words.

“Incredible,” Michael offered, staring at his own arm band. The technology Metatron had given them, making it possible for them to come down here with me, it was incredible.

“That’s one way of describing it.” Lincoln looked at a smoking pile of trash, and two Snakeroot demons fighting over a half-eaten apple and shook his head.

Once we’d walked a few minutes, we spun around to face the army and my jaw dropped. Four armored buses, over a dozen SUVs, and rows and rows of Fallen Army soldiers stood with us. The last of the portal was closing us all in, together.

Michael flapped his wings and shot up into the air, hovering over the crowd. “Today we fight for freedom! We fight to end a war over fifteen years in the making.” He couldn’t even finish his sentence before the army went wild. Michael placed a fist across his chest. “May you all find peace in your heart, and keep it there always. It’s been a pleasure to lead this army and my greatest life’s work.”

The silence spread out through the crowd until Raphael kicked up dust, flying straight up to be by Michael’s side.

“Each and every citizen of Angel City owes you a debt of gratitude. You are the real angels, and it’s been a pleasure to be a part of your education at the academy.”

When the massive army did one big salute to the two archangels in the sky, I thought I might cry. Whether I wanted to admit it or not, we were all saying goodbye.

“Shall we?” Lincoln looked over at me. Uriel and Gabriel had taken flight as well. It was our turn now.

I nodded.

Lincoln and I flapped our wings and rose above the army, taking one last look at them before flying right into Lucifer’s den.

“Brielle, lead the way,” Michael encouraged me.

With the busloads of Fallen Army soldiers making their way to the front to follow us, I set off in the direction I prayed Lucifer’s castle was. The air turned smoky, and I knew visibility was going to shit after only a few minutes of flying. The sharp scent of sulfur burned my nose as smoke mingled with the air.

“Is something burning?” Michael called over the wind.

“It’s Hell!” I shouted back. “Something’s always burning!”