Winter's War (Her Guardians series Book 4)(18)

“That’s what your kings are for,” Wyatt says and lifts both his swords, and runs towards the demons. Jaxson runs over at his side and Leigha smirks at me before following them, throwing knifes at the demons that get close. I glance up to see Dabriel fighting with an angel, and I catch a glance at his face, recognising him from the meal.

“What’s Dabriel’s brother’s name?” I ask Atti, who is looking up as well.

“Zadkiel,” Atti tells me, just as Dabriel tackles Zadkiel to the ground right in front of us. They both get up quickly, both of them weapon-less from the fall.

“You got them all killed, thousands of them must have died because of you. You are their prince, and you betrayed them all. I always knew you were a selfish bastard, but this . . . this is unbelievable even for you!” Dabriel shouts as he holds Zadkiel up by his white shirt and throws him across the field.

“No! Govan did!” Zadkiel shouts back as he stands up, and Dabriel shakes his head, the cuts on his face disappearing.

“Where is Govan? What do you mean?” Dabriel asks, but his tone is so sharp, I doubt that he believes a word his brother says, and I don’t blame him.

“Dead. I killed him when he told the demon king where we lived. I never told him that, I just wanted an alliance for my people,” Zadkiel says and glances at me. The fear in his eyes when he sees me is clear, and it almost makes me want to attempt to kill him myself. I don’t know if his words are true, but he knew the demon king couldn’t be trusted. You should never make a deal with the devil. I grew up knowing that and even most humans wouldn’t be stupid enough to make the decisions he did.

“They are not your people, and they will never be.”

“You’re not going to kill me, brother,” Zadkiel laughs.

“I am, and then I’m taking my throne. I’m going to kill you for treason. I’m going to kill you because I don’t believe a damn word that comes out of your mouth. I hope the Goddess forgives you when you die,” Dabriel says, his words echoing around.

“It wasn’t me!” Zadkiel protests, his worried eyes glancing between Dabriel and me.

“As a child, you always blamed Govad for your mistakes, and it seems like nothing has changed. You want the throne, then fight me for it!” Dabriel shouts, and calls his marks, which glow on his skin so brightly that I can barely look at him. I glance behind them both to see the battle is over, and Wyatt is walking back to us, unharmed and throws a sword each to Dabriel and Zadkiel.

“Good luck, my brother,” Wyatt says as Dabriel lifts Jaxson’s green, metal sword and swings it around his hand a few times. He clearly knows how to use it.

“What is left of the angels is here to witness this fight. Whoever wins takes the throne, and as a member of the council, I decree it,” Lucifer says after he flies down and lands next to me. The rest of the hundred, or so, angels stand behind Wyatt, Jaxson, and Leigha on the other side of the fight.

“Don’t, you can’t interfere. Believe in your mate,” Atti whispers when I try to take a step forward as Dabriel smiles at me. He mouths “I love you,” and I do the same. I watch as both Dabriel and Zadkiel bow low and then lift their swords.

“I remember beating you in sword lessons, you never had that skill, Dabriel,” Zadkiel taunts and does some complicated show with his sword before dropping into an attack position.

“No, I just refused to kill innocent angels for fighting practise, like you did. Always trying to prove something to someone, Zadkiel. What were you looking for in the demon king?” Dabriel asks, and I watch as Zadkiel’s face tightens in anger.

“Do I get your pretty, little, demon bitch to fuck when I become king? Does she come with the throne?” Zadkiel asks, and Dabriel charges at him as I hear Jaxson’s wolf growl and feel Atti tighten his grip on my hand. I watch as Dabriel strikes hit after hit on Zadkiel who is only defending from the hits and not getting any of his own in. Dabriel slashes a cut across Zadkiel’s leg. I watch as fear fills Zadkiel’s eyes, and he tries to fly away, but Dabriel grabs his injured leg and slams him onto the ground. I watch as Dabriel lifts his sword and swings it down on Zadkiel who doesn’t move as his head is cut off. The fight is quick, and it wasn’t even a fight at all. There was no chance for Zadkiel; Dabriel would never have let him get away with speaking to me like that.

“King Dabriel wins,” Lucifer shouts out, and Dabriel stands straighter, throwing his sword on the floor and walking over to me. Dabriel pulls me into a kiss the moment he can, and there’s silence as he breaks away from me, linking our hands.

“We have a place that is safe, and we will bring back witches to bring you there. War is coming, and we need angels to help win this. We will never win this apart, now what do you say?”

“May the queen and her kings rule true,” a male angel shouts out, and then the rest of the angels repeat the words.

“My Queen,” Dabriel says to me gently before he kisses me once more.





12





Winter





“You are no God,” Demtra’s cold-sounding voice flitters through my mind as I open my eyes and see my own bedroom, but it’s from the past, when it was my grandmother’s bedroom. Elissa’s body is on the ground where I have a rug now, blood pouring out of her mouth and stomach. I look up to see Demtra and the demon king standing close together, just outside the door. The demon king has some kind of white ward wrapped around his body, so he can’t move, and only his head is visible.