Shattered Souls (Guardians of the Maiden Book 3)

Cassiel landed on the mountain with a scatter of cerulean flames. The last of the witch’s bangle crumbled off his wrist as he withdrew his Seraph fire, and it vanished, leaving his black clothing untouched. He completely ignored Malakel and strode to his mate. Dyna looked up at him from where she knelt by Asiel.

“He will live,” she said.

Stupid human.

The only one he cared about right now was her. He marked only a few scratches, and her lack of shoes, but she was otherwise unhurt. Chest heaving, he had to swallow to hold himself back from snapping. His heart still hadn’t calmed from the moment he realized she was taken. No, his mate chose to put herself in harm’s way.

“Are you all right?” Cassiel asked once he got ahold of himself. Dyna nodded and took his offered hand. He wrapped her in tendrils of his fire to warm her body until she stopped shivering. Do we need to discuss your tendency for recklessness, lev sheli?

A faint smile touched her lips. I came to find out who our enemies were.

Yes, well, she certainly did that.

His thoughts stalled when he saw the brass bangle on Dyna’s wrist. Sickness rolled in his stomach. It matched the one that had been placed on him. He would think about that later. Cassiel pinched the bangle between his fingers and it turned black with a coil of flame, before collapsing in his palm. Dyna gasped softly.

Apparently not even ensorcelled trinkets could hold him back anymore.

“Did you hear me, Cassiel?”

He idly glanced at Malakel over his shoulder. “I heard you quite clearly—as did all the Realms.”

Dyna looked past him at the hundreds of dots of color hovering by the castle. Some in white, others in blue, or gold. Celestials he had woken when he tore through the corridors on a rampage, and others he had called. The tiny purple glow of Lucenna’s power showed where she stood on a balcony with Zev and Rawn.

He ordered no one to interfere.

If Malakel hadn’t shouted for a challenge, Cassiel would have disintegrated him within seconds. He was infuriated enough to do it. But the law was the law, and he couldn’t back down from a challenge when so many were watching.

Forfeiting was the same as defeat.

Not even his uncle could stop it.

Lord Jophiel and Lord Gadriel flew in front of the gathered crowd, with the Valkyrie keeping anyone from getting close. Malakel had also called his own witnesses. Celestials in purple and red stood watch below by the Hyalus tree, Lord Raziel and Lord Hallel with them.

Everyone silently watched.

It didn’t shock him to find they supported Malakel. Lord Gadriel was most likely on his side, as well.

But why do this?

This is what Malakel wanted, Dyna said through the bond. A grand audience to watch him overthrow you.

That had always been him. Someone who demanded everyone’s full attention. Then I shall not disappoint him.

Removing his jacket, he passed it to Dyna for her to wear. Instead, she returned to Sarrai and covered her with it, then levitated Asiel to join her side. “I’ve got them. We will be fine here.”

Cassiel drew Esh Shamayim free from its sheath. Cerulean flames sparked to life and coated the blade. It danced in his vision as he walked to the edge of the landing and faced his half-brother dressed for war.

“What is the purpose of this challenge, Malakel?” Cassiel called up to him, because he had yet to understand why he had to be driven to this. “Is your hate for me so deep that you refuse to allow me any peace, or do you seek any excuse to merely get rid of me?”

Malakel’s mouth curled. “The plan was always to get rid of you.”

It shouldn’t have hurt the way it did, not after living for years with his brother’s spite. But to hear there wasn’t even a shred of care sent a bitter pang through his chest. Despite everything he’d said, Cassiel still searched his face for some wavering. For some strand of what bonded them as family.

But it had never been there.

How different would their relationship be if he had been born a pureblood?

“I am not without decency,” Malakel said, his white wings flapping gracefully in the wind. “I would have allowed you to live with your little witch, but the moment you came after my throne, it accelerated your removal.”

Cassiel stared at him, dumbfounded. “What?”

Your father…he still plans to make you High King, Dyna said through the bond.

The news gripped his lungs. That can’t be right. He was made Lord of Hermon Ridge.

“I always knew Father favored you,” Malakel continued. “I endured your presence long enough. All will bear witness to your defeat tonight. The prize will be everything you own. Your wings. Your title. Your place in the Realms. I will erase you, and reclaim everything you own.”

Erase.

As if he were a blight to remove.

Fire crackled around Cassiel’s feet, licking along his arms.

This challenge called for them both to put it all on the line. Losing meant losing Dyna. And that was one thing he would never allow.

“Those are the terms you are prepared to gamble?”

Malakel put on his helmet, eyes like sharp crystal. “Yes.”Còntens bel0ngs to Nô(v)elDr/a/ma.Org

And that sealed their fates.

Whatever came of this night, Cassiel sensed it would change something for the Soaraway House, and it was out of his hands.

Exhaling, Cassiel spread his black wings. “I accept.”

He leaped into the skies and their swords clashed. His fire gave him the speed of a falling star. Cassiel invaded Malakel’s airspace, thrusting them through the sky.

“I question why you thought it would be a splendid idea to challenge me knowing what power I have now,” he snarled at him.

Malakel only laughed. He headbutted Cassiel in the face, throwing him off. “I have trained all my life for the throne,” he said. “How to rule. How to fight. How to strategize.” Malakel reached over his shoulder for what Cassiel had first thought was wing armor, until the moonlight glinted off the sharp edge of the Skath shield. “It’s you who underestimates me.”

White flames spread across its surface, glowing brightly in the night. It was made of the most powerful steel of the Heavens, the same one used for the Valkyrie armor–and Cassiel realized—so was Malakel’s armor.

It was the one thing his power couldn’t penetrate.

Malakel came prepared for battle.

Cassiel had arrived with nothing but his anger, but it cooled at seeing this would be a true fight.

He soared into the sky. Malakel chased him among the clouds, and he spun, throwing out a ball of fire. Malakel dodged it and they came at each other, blade against blade. They fought and parried blows, fire roaring as it swiped inches from taking out their throats. Black and white feathers scattered through the sky with every brutal attack.

Cassiel pivoted around and slashed, his sword clashing against Malakel’s shield. He threw himself back to avoid the blade thrusting for his chest. He met him hit for hit, white fire against blue. But Malakel was faster, more experienced. He moved with a lethal dexterity that beat against him.

Perhaps it was his determination to win that gave him the upper hand, or Cassiel’s own hesitation.

Because as much as he despised Malakel, he was still holding on to some fiber that told him this was his brother.

Cassiel parried the next attack and called on his flame, throwing a volley of fire. Malakel flew out of the way. He threw another fireball at his retreating form. Malakel spun and swung his shield. The fireball ricocheted off of it and collided into the mountain side.

Cracked rocks and snow came barreling down—burying the cave.

Dyna! He bellowed through the bond.

I’m here! We’re all right. Green magic blasted a hole through the snow. Asiel appeared there, helping Sarrai and Dyna climb out of the opening.

Dyna looked up. Cassiel!

He whipped around—

Malakel sword slashed through him. The blow sent him plummeting back to earth and he slammed onto the mountain’s ledge, his body rolling until his back crashed against a rock wall. Bones snapped and white-hot pain burst through his wings, spearing his back. He must have blacked out a second or two. Cassiel couldn’t move. His vision dimmed. Smoke wafted from his burned stomach. His wings—they were broken.

Without them, he couldn’t heal.

He barely heard Dyna’s cries through the ringing in his ears. All of his strength had drained out of him. His hands sparked uselessly with his power. She stumbled for him, whimpering from the agony impaling her, too.

Malakel landed and strode to him with a cold smirk that held only victory. He crouched in front of him and jerked up his chin, forcing Cassiel to meet his hard gaze through the fog clouding his mind. “It’s finished.”

Sharp pain burst in Cassiel’s chest with startling intensity, stealing the air from his lungs. Dyna’s scream echoed over the mountain, sending a cascade of shivers through his numb body. The taste of copper rushed up his throat and coated his mouth. He choked on it, and red splattered on Malakel’s armor. Shocked and confused, Cassiel glanced down at the knife hilt sticking out of his chest.

“Since the moment you were born, you took from me,” his brother said stoically. “My birthright. My father.”

Cassiel couldn’t think clearly to respond. How could he accuse him of taking something he never once had?

“Now it’s my turn to take from you.”

Dyna reached them and Malakel’s hand shot out. He shoved her clear off the mountain’s ledge.

There was no time to scream. No time for nothing as her eyes met his for the briefest of seconds—then she dropped from his view.

Cassiel threw himself after her.

The wind rushed to meet him, ripping painfully at his broken wings. All he saw was Dyna dropping through the sky.

Even if they died now, they would go together, because he couldn’t do it.

He couldn’t imagine the rise of tomorrow if she wasn’t in it.

But his mate didn’t look afraid. Her eyes were on his, full of trusting and fortitude–because this was not their end.

Cassiel’s fire ripped out of him with some indescribable instinct. A rageful power rushed through his veins that refused to lose her. His speed increased and he dove for Dyna. Green light spiraled from her hands. It shot out like leashes of light around his body and she yanked herself to him. Cassiel caught her with a grunt.

Blue flames flared behind him. They came to a stop midair. Divine blood seeped through broken bones, numbing his pain to a duller ache as it wove his muscle and tissues. His fire wrapped around the blade in his chest and disintegrated it to nothing.

Dyna awed at that, and she ran her fingers through the flame. Then her eyes widened when they landed on something past his shoulder. “Cassiel…” she breathed. “You have fire wings…”

He turned his head to look at them. His black wings were now glowing bright blue with Seraph fire. They flapped gracefully, sparking embers into the night. He would process that later. There was something he had to finish first.

Cassiel flew her to the ground coated in snow. Wait here.

Sowmya and Yelrakel were already on their way to get her.

Dyna nodded, her gaze flickering with magic. Every facet of her was strong and fierce as he knew her to be. Go. Do what must be done.

She was the light to his darkness, the one who chose compassion over violence, but not now. Not when it came to defending what they had. Because their future, their lives together, that was worth spilling blood to defend.

With another flap of his wings, Cassiel shot back into the sky up the mountain. Adrenaline induced wrath burned through him, his mind filled with every torment he lived in Hilos. Malakel was the one who took from him. His childhood. His sense of self-worth. And he very nearly took his mate.

All of his pent up hate and anger fueled his speed to the ledge where Malakel lurched back in disbelief to see him. Cassiel snatched him into the air and continued flying high into the atmosphere. Malakel shouted and tried to break free, but he had an iron grip on him.

“There’s something you should know,” Cassiel said when they reached the brink of the world. “You missed my heart.”

He slammed his flaming fist into Malakel’s stomach, and the sky exploded with a supernova of light.