“I don’t think it’s a fight you want.” A cruel smile twisted his lips. “It’s me.”

My skin flushed but I lifted my chin. “Maybe it is you I want. Maybe not.”

His head twisted from side to side and then his jaw hardened. “Can’t say I didn’t try to warn you,” he growled, and he moved so fast that he was nothing but a blur of gold and white.

But I saw the moment he entered the trap.

Golden, shimmery light pulsed low to the ground, in the shape of a circle. Zayne skidded to a stop, his chin dipping as he stared at the fading light—at his shirt.

He lifted his head. “What did you do?”

“Leveled the playing field.”

His lips pulled back, and the sound that came from him sent a bolt of fear through me. It was inhuman. Terrible. He charged forward, and I braced for the trap to fail—

He jerked to a stop, hands balling to his fists, and he was close enough I could see the fury etched into his features. His upper body tipped forward. Tendons stood out from his neck. Muscles flexed along his shoulders as he fought, but he went down on his knees, just like the Crone promised.

Vivid, burning eyes lifted to mine. From his heaving chest, his voice rumbled, “You cheated.”

“I did.” I brought the sword forward, wrapping my other hand around the hilt.

His eyes narrowed. “You going to use that? On me? Thought you loved me, little nephilim?”

“I do,” I whispered, throat and eyes burning.

“Love,” he spat as his wings lowered and his chest rose, as if he were daring me to do it. “Do your worst, nephilim, but strike true. If you don’t, I will get out of this. Then I will destroy you and I won’t care.”

“But I think you would,” I told him as tears blurred his features. I stepped forward. “I love you. I love you now and I’ll love you forever.”

I moved before he had a chance to respond to my words, unable to truly allow myself to consider what I was doing. I drew the Sword of Michael back.

I love you.

My heart stuttered and then cracked. The next breath I took went nowhere as a violent storm of emotions erupted out of me in a scream.

I love you.

Thrusting the flaming, golden sword forward, I shoved it deep into Zayne’s chest, into his heart.

15

Time slowed and then seemed to stop as his gaze met mine and held. His were wide with what looked like shock, and in the mess of tumbling thoughts, one became clear. I didn’t think he believed I would do this. Did the shock filling those stunning blue eyes come from the part of him that had been lost when he Fell or from the part of Zayne that remained inside him?