“Let’s get the children to the hell gate.” Eddie took charge. “If it comes to that, you and Dee take them through.” She sent Shade a hard look. “Make sure it doesn’t come to that.”
He saluted her with a grin. “Yes, ma’am.”
Ethan grizzled as they woke him and bundled him up. Eddie grabbed snacks, drinks, and an iPad to keep the children entertained.
Pale and wide-eyed, Emma clung to Dee’s hand.
A guttural roar broke the silence.
Emma flinched but went silent like a child who knew only too well when not to make a sound.
“It’s okay, sweetheart,” Dee said as they descended one flight and then another. “We’ll keep you safe.”
Xerxes and Cronus stayed with them until they were safely in the room beside the hell gate. Then they went to join Shade.
The hell gate flared. Wrath and Haziel stepped through, both dressed in fighting leathers.
“Daughter.” Wrath took in her outfit and grinned. “Do you need me here?”
“No, fight with Shade.” She hugged him and then Haziel. “Both of you.”
Wrath nodded. “If you say so, I will believe it, but keep the bond open.”
Eddie nodded.
Angelic power made Eddie’s skin prickle, and Ramiel appeared. Vexia materialized beside him a heartbeat later. Eddie hoped she looked half as kickass as Vexia in her gear.
Wrath glared at Ramiel.
Ramiel glared back. “Let’s keep the fight where it needs to be.”
All four of them disappeared.
“Was that another angel?” Emma whispered.
Dee was sitting on the floor with her back to the wall. She had Ethan on her lap and Emma snuggled beside her. “Two of them.”
“Then, we’ll be alright.” Emma’s voice wobbled. “Won’t we?”
Dee hugged her close. “We’re going to be fine.”
Frowning at his phone, Daniel approached Eddie and lowered his voice. “The guardians are on their way. I’ve been ordered to stay with the children.” Having an experienced fighter with her took a lot of the pressure off Eddie. “That’s good.”
With her bond to Wrath wide open, Eddie experienced the fight taking place outside the theatre.
Demons surrounded the theatre ten deep.
And Wrath remained calm and sure of victory. There was a brief discussion between the defenders, and then they threw themselves against the demons.
Wrath’s raw power left her breathless. Blood and limbs flew. Through him, she saw the hounds tear through demon after demon and growing bigger, deadlier, faster. Her nerves subsided as archangels and hell princes decimated group after group of demons.
Awareness crawled up her spine moments before light crackled through the basement. The air shimmered, and a group of demons stepped through.
“Eddie,” Dee yelled.
Eddie’s wrath power surged. Strength thrummed through her muscles. Her senses sharpened. Her daggers fit in her hands like an extension of her arms.
Dimly she was aware of Daniel fighting beside her as Eddie carved through the first demon and pivoted for the second.
Wrath sensed what was happening.
“Stay,” she commanded him. This was her fight.
Another two demons fell to her daggers, and she threw the second dagger at another.
On her left, demons were trying to flank her and get to the children.
“Left,” she called to Daniel and engaged her next attacker.
More demons tried to sneak past her right flank.
Eddie palmed her crossbow and sent a bolt through their leader. Dropping her weapon, she sent an arc of fire power and vaporized two more.
She preferred the daggers. More immediate and satisfying. A poof to her left told her Daniel had taken down one more.
Dee screamed.
Eddie spun and leapt. In two strides, she was between the children and the fucker who had slipped past.
She rammed a dagger through his chest plate and into his heart.
He disintegrated.
Daniel took out another.
Eddie recalled her crossbow and sent a bolt into another and then the final demon.
“Daughter?” Wrath’s concern thickened his mental voice.
Eddie cleaned house, driving her dagger into the downed demon. “All good.”
Wrath’s pride warmed her. “That’s my girl.”
The demon horde outside the theatre turned and ran.
It was over.
And Eddie wasn’t even breathing heavy.
