Calix’s lids fluttered open. His eyes widened in panic when he saw who was standing over him.

Ashe held his breath.

Bending, Indolex grabbed Calix by his throat and held him dangling five feet off the ground. “You have betrayed me, Calix.”

Calix shot a panicked look at Ashe. “No, milord. It is⁠—”

Closing his fist, Indolex crushed Calix’s skull. His face expressionless, he then ripped the heart out of Calix’s chest and ate it.

Calix’s body dissolved into thick, gray ash and drifted to the floor.

On a low, disturbingly sexual moan, Indolex absorbed Calix’s power. His body beneath the robes shuddered like he was climaxing.

The door behind Ashe opened, and demons poured through.

“You may not have betrayed me, Ashe.” Indolex wiped the dust that had been Calix on his robes. “But you failed to stop the betrayal.”

Ashe lowered his head and nodded. “Yes, milord.”

“And for that you will pay.”

This was going to fucking hurt. “Yes, milord.”

Unencumbered by carrying another being, Sophia flew ahead to the theatre. It still took the remainder of the day to reach Clayton. The hounds tracked Shade from the ground and remained close in case he needed them. Sophia had kept her senses wide as she tracked Shade’s route in her wake. Sophia hadn’t seen much of Eddie in those few seconds before she had ripped into demons, but she had gotten a fleeting impression of a thin, pale Eddie, barely able to hold herself upright.

Beside her, Dee couldn’t contain her restless energy and paced the small parking lot outside the stage door. Trying to prepare Dee for what she might see, Sophia stopped the other woman with a hand on her arm. Mellow orange streetlights cast macabre shadows over the empty space as they waited. “Dee. Shade is carrying Eddie, and we must be prepared for her to be injured.”

Dee paled. “What do you mean injured?”

“She’s been held for a while now.” Sophia counted her words carefully. “She may be in compromised health.”

Tears filled Dee’s blue eyes. “Oh, God.”

“But we will heal her.” Or drain themselves trying. “And Wrath should be on his way back. He is the best person to heal her. Ramiel will help him.” Or Sophia would snap his fucking wings.

“Did you call the gathering?” Daniel stood beside her and watched Dee with a frown.

Sophia nodded. “I did.”

“They should be arriving soon.” Daniel shoved his hands in his pockets. His concern for Dee simmered beneath the calm, implacable mask he wore.

Sophia did enjoy humans and their shifting cauldron of emotions. She wished she could assure him that everything was all right, but until Shade arrived with Eddie, she could guarantee nothing.

Eddie had been hurt. The seals were weakening. The horsemen were stirring. Nothing would be alright until they could turn the tidal wave of bad back.

Dee’s circular route brought her closer to them. “What’s taking so long?”

“He covered a lot of distance looking for her. Now he’s flying above the cloud cover,” Sophia said and tried to put as much assurance as she could into her tone. “It won’t be long now.”

Dee threw her a fulminating stare. “You’ve been saying that for twenty fucking minutes.”

“Shade loves her, Dee,” Daniel said. “He will only do what is safest and best for her.”

There would come a time when those words would not shred her innards, but that was not this night, and Sophia breathed deep through the pain. Being with Shade these past weeks, watching his desperation as he searched for Eddie had driven the point home that he could never be hers. She had waited centuries, sure that Shade would eventually turn to her. And now he belonged to a Nephilim, who Sophia really, really liked. Eddie was a special soul. One that deserved the being who now called her his. Envy turned a soul to dust. Sophia didn’t know how Leviathan dealt with it all the time.

Shade’s power built inside her. “He’s nearly here.”

“Thank, Christ.” Dee stopped pacing and stood beside her. “Did he say how Eddie is? Did he tell us if she’s all right?”

A winged figure shot through the thick, autumnal night and arrowed for the parking lot. “You can ask him yourself,” Sophia said.

Shade backwinged, sending dust and debris swirling around them, and then he was before them, Eddie tenderly cradled against his chest. “Get Wrath,” he rasped. “She needs his healing.”

“Yes.” Ramiel strode out of the shadows. “By all means, get Wrath. I would like to know where he has disappeared to with my seraph.”

Sophia was not prone to violence, but at that moment, she could have cheerfully consigned Ramiel to oblivion.

The stage door burst open, and Wrath strode into the parking lot. “Nobody needs to get me.” His gaze focused on Eddie lying like a broken doll in Shade’s arms. “My child is here, and that is where I will always be.”

“She’s so thin.” Shade’s granite demeanor cracked as he looked at Wrath. “She’s barely holding on. Her leg is broken, and she’s close to giving up.” Moonlight glinted off tears on Shade’s cheek.

Dee stepped forward, her face creased with concern. “Eddie-girl?”

“She can’t hear you,” Shade said. “She passed out about forty-five minutes ago, and I haven’t been able to rouse her.”

“Oh, Wrath.” Haziel stepped out from behind Wrath, her hand on his shoulder, her compassionate gaze on Eddie’s inert form. “She will be well. Shade got to her in time.”

Wrath seemed to draw strength from the contact, and his shoulders straightened. He held out his arms for Eddie. “Give her to me.”

Struggle played across Shade’s beautiful face as he looked from Wrath to Eddie.

“Please, Shade.” Dee touched his arm. “Wrath can help her.”

Shade’s internal battle tightened his features, until with a sigh, he held Eddie out to Wrath. “She needs you.”

“She’s my daughter.” Wrath cradled Eddie to his chest. “There is nothing that I will not do for her.”

Sophia felt like an interloper as the silent battle took place between Wrath and Shade. They both loved this Nephillim so much, and neither of them could trust another with her.

“I vow to you,” Wrath said, his voice quiet and gruff. “I will do all that I can.”

Shade finally nodded. “I wish I could do more.”

“You have done everything.” Wrath gave him a curt nod. “I am forever in your debt.”

Shade watched Wrath stride into the theatre with Eddie, and Sophia almost didn’t catch his quiet words, “As I am forever in your debt.”