Zayne lifted off the deck like a rocket. The Seeker demon didn’t make it very far.

I glanced at the other demon. He started forward, clearly not as affected by me.

“You’re coming with me, nephilim.”

Now I was kind of offended.

“Don’t make this hard,” the demon ordered. “You’ll just hurt yourself in the end.”

“Really?” The Sword of Michael pulsed intensely. “God,” I muttered, stepping to the side. “Tonight is the worst.”

I swung the sword. The Seeker demon was fast, but I was faster. He jumped back, but I spun, slicing the sword high, catching him in the midsection. The fiery blade cut through him as if his bone and muscle were nothing more than tissue paper.

“Dammit,” the Seeker demon muttered just before the flames rippled over his body...parts.

“Stimulating final words,” I said, turning around.

The other Seeker demon met the same end. Sort of. There were sounds of a whole lot of...ripping and tearing that I didn’t even want to think about.

My arms trembled as the grace throbbed in the center of my chest. I shouldn’t be burned out yet, but I was getting close. Normally I could last longer, but again, wasn’t like I was getting much rest. There was enough juice in me to do what needed to be done. My heart started racing again as wet warmth gathered under my nose. Zayne already felt my grace, so me pulling on it wouldn’t alert him to what I was doing.

Now was a better time than any. That’s what I told myself as I started across the roof to where Zayne stood. I wouldn’t even need the Crone. Zayne was here, and even though I wanted to punch him really hard, he was in there. He had to be. Why else was he watching me? Why else had he showed not once but twice to back me up? He was in there, and I was going to free him, one way or the other.

Pressure clamped down on my chest as those magnificent wings soundlessly swept back. He looked over his shoulder at me. One side of his lips curled up as he dragged his lower lip between his teeth.

My stupid, stupid heart skipped, and my steps faltered for only a heartbeat.

And that was all it took.

He was just so fast, too fast, and even if I was in tiptop shape, it wouldn’t have made a difference. He caught my arm before I could even lift the sword.

The glow under his skin increased as he lowered his head, coming within mere inches of the Sword of Michael. “You’re bleeding.”

I didn’t get a chance to respond.