And then another inhuman shriek as the female fell facedown to the rock with a sword sticking out of her back.

Cassius’s and Elena’s lieutenants stood beyond her, the man called Mac clearly being the one who hurled his sword, for he was still bent forward with the effort of doing so.

Instantly, fire blasted at Daemon while wind took the she-creature up and Elena reached behind her to snatch up her bow.

And one after another after another, with a swiftness that was impossible to believe, she strung it and let fly, each arrow that embedded itself in the female Beast making her body jump with the impacts before small coral and purple explosions burst from each wound.

But this time, Ha-Lah did not call her creature.

A wave rose up over the cliff, arched down in a pointed gush, sucked the body into its torrential wet, and then it fell to the rock with a crash, water mixed with black sludge shooting out where it landed.

With the end of the third Beast, there was no pithy repartee.

The prophesied immediately turned their powers on the final one.

But Daemon raced away, one step, and then two, and he was back to Beast, darting this way and that.

The men put their women to their feet, and the instant they had them on land, the witches hurled their magic at him.

The skies grew light, such were the streaks of blue, red, green and white as wind, fire, water and magic flooded the space, coming so quickly, Teddy couldn’t keep track of it.

The angmostros heads descended and snapped wherever the flash of the Beast could be seen.

The dragons sent ruptures of flame.

“They have to get him, they have to get him, theyhavetogethim,” Moira chanted.

And suddenly he took form.

As his human self.

Right at the edge to the abyss.

And when he did, the magic being hurled by the queens stopped immediately.

And Teddy’s blood froze in his veins.

“Does one of you care about this one?” Daemon called.

And he held Faunus aloft by the throat.

“No,” Teddy whispered.

“Let him go!” Mars roared.

Moira’s arms came around Teddy.

And Teddy’s eyes grew scratchy, he stared so hard at his warrior in a demon’s clutch.

And memories of words said in the past surged into his head.

You have my love.

And you have mine.

You have my devotion.

And you have mine.

And adoration.

You can be quiet now.

“No,” Teddy whispered again.

Moira held him tighter.

You will come home. To Firenze. Where it is warm and where you will know affection and respect. You will be Teddy’s sister. He will see to you. Through Teddy, you will be my sister, and I will see to you as well.