When Eddie had last stood in the small, dark, and cramped room that housed the wrath seal, she’d been terrified and uncertain. She’d just discovered Wrath was her father and been battling her growing feelings for Shade. On top of that, she’d been trying to process the fact that she was Nephilim, and that meant she had powers she’d never dreamed of.
Just like now, waves of wrath had emanated from the seal and buffeted her. Then, if it hadn’t been for Shade’s steadying presence, she would have run for her life. Now, she breathed deep and reached for her power. It responded to her touch like kindling to a match. She built a quick shield around the seal.
The room breathed a sigh of relief. The dungeon-like room was crowded with three hell princes, two archangels, a seraph, and an upper order demon. All of them looking at her.
She held out her hand to Wrath. “Link with me.”
Wrath stared at her hand. “Are you sure you can do this.”
“Dad.” She loved that he cared enough to try to protect her, but she couldn’t hide from her task in this fuckery.
Heaving a big sigh, he clasped his hand around her wrist. She would need her hands free for the seal. “Okay.”
Eddie lowered the guards around her mind, and her father’s astringent, brusque mental touch brushed against her mind. She allowed him admittance. It still felt like the worst sort of invasion, but she breathed deep and let him seep into her inner being.
“If you will permit me?” Ramiel stood on her other side and held out his hand. “As your sire’s balancing force, I can balance whatever power he is unable to transmute.”
Eddie held out her wrist and he took it.
His mental touch was cool and clinical, the ice to Wrath’s fire, and the temperance to Wrath’s fury. She had a harder time allowing him past her barriers and into her being.
“Haziel?” Ramiel held out his hand to his former second.
Haziel took it, and Eddie admitted a third being. She was warmer than Ramiel, but still on the cooler side. There was a kindness in Haziel that ran through her soul like a muted, silvery light. It drew Eddie to her, and she was comfortable allowing the seraph into herself.
“And me.” Vexia waited for Eddie’s nod before she took Wrath’s free hand.
Why not? Eddie had a bloody convention going on inside herself.
Vexia was more alien than Wrath. The demonic side of her nature dark and mysterious, but also mischievous. She had some of Wrath’s fiery nature, but hers was tempered with a watchful quality and a keen intelligence that made Eddie want to know her better.
“I’m going to lower the shield,” Eddie said.
Ramiel nodded. “Ready.”
“I’ve got you.” Wrath sent a pulse of reassurance through their link.
Four power signatures swelled inside her and mingled with her own power. Eddie dropped the shield.
The seal pulsed unadulterated rage. The merge stretched to absorb the pulse and then resumed its former barrier.
Shade’s hands on her hips steadied her, and his voice in her ear anchored her. “Let’s move closer.”
They all shuffled closer.
The low buzz from the seal increased. As if sensing them and resisting, it sent a stronger pulse into the merge.
Eddie rocked back on her heels.
Shade’s chest connected with her back, holding her in place.
Ramiel winced and Wrath grunted.
Haziel and Vexia had gone paler.
Another step, another stronger wave of fury that almost drove Eddie back a step.
“Fuck,” Wrath murmured.
Ramiel shot him a grim glance. “Quite.”
Sweat broke out over Vexia’s forehead, and Haziel went a mint green.
Eddie waited for the merge to stabilize. It was slower recovering this time.
Then she took another step closer.
As the power blasted her, Shade grunted, struggling to keep her upright.
Wrath’s grip tightened around her wrist, almost cutting off her circulation.
Ramiel was sweating now.
Closer they went. Before she even reached for it, Eddie’s power surged and met the incoming pulse. The two forces met with a violent blast that whipped her hair back and rocked through her frame.
“Hold it.” Shade’s hands tightened on her hips. His strong body behind her kept her standing.
The power blasted into the merge. It took longer for the connection between them to stabilize.
“Almost there.” Eddie panted. She stopped in front of the seal.
Wrath spoke through gritted teeth. “Do it, Eddie.”
“Now,” Ramiel rasped.
And Eddie placed her palms on the seal.
The seal lashed back, throwing its force at them like a battering ram. Her ears rang, and her muscles quivered.
“Hold it,” Shade yelled. “All of you hold it.”
The power ran through them like she’d grabbed hold of a live electric cable.
Haziel whimpered but stayed with her.
Vexia’s pain was a palpable presence within Eddie.
