And I remembered the day in the high school—when the Shadow Person had slammed into Teller, knocking him out. It had gone into him, and it had never come back out.

I snapped out of it first, flipping the dagger in my hand. Cocking my arm back, I threw the dagger as hard as I could. It struck true, hitting in the base of the skull. Teller went down before he could even reach Zayne.

There was no time to celebrate that or to find that damn blade in the mist-covered ground. Gabriel came at me.

I ducked as his fiery blade sliced through the air. Shooting forward, I dipped and twisted, kicking out and catching him at the kneecap. He stumbled, swinging out with his fist as I popped up. There wasn’t enough time for me to avoid the blow completely. I tried, jumping back, but a flare of pain streaked across my stomach. I sucked in a sharp breath, gritting my teeth. “I think it’s time you gave this up. It’s over.”

“It is?” Gabriel laughed as Lucifer appeared behind the archangel. Gabriel sneered. “You’re already dead.”

“A bruise,” I said, ignoring the burn traveling up my stomach and along my back. “Can’t say the same for you, though.”

His brows furrowed as Lucifer saw his opening.

And took it.

Lucifer shot forward just as Gabriel spun around. I saw the impact, and almost fell to my knees in relief when Lucifer yanked his bloodied hand back. Even I could see the thumping, fleshy mass in his fist.

“Now!” Lucifer shouted.

Zayne swooped in from above and landed, the twin sickle-shaped swords flaming as I shot forward. The Sword of Michael felt heavier than before as I lifted it, the weight not as welcomed. Clasping the handle with both hands, I jabbed out with a shout as Zayne whipped his swords through the air.

The Sword of Michael pierced Gabriel’s back and cut straight through. The archangel spasmed, arms flinging out. His sword collapsed and he dropped the dagger. A heartbeat later, Zayne’s crescent swords sliced through Gabriel’s neck, severing his head.

Oh my God.

My next breath punched out of my lungs as I watched the archangel’s head fall.

Intense light poured out of the stump that was Gabriel’s neck, so bright that I was blinded until I reached up with one hand, shielding my eyes. Even then, they watered as I watched the funnel of light stream upward. The light...chunks of black swirled inside it. That really didn’t look right. My grace retracted and the Sword of Michael evaporated. Gabriel’s body erupted in flames, leaving nothing behind as the light smashed through the sky, stretching up and up, farther than I knew even Zayne could see. Streaks of midnight oil twisted and pulsed inside the stream of light.