Page 96 of Judge of Saints and Sinners

Nephesh released me, turning to block me from her attacks as he spread his arms wide. I knew that pose in a second. I looked from him to her and back again, suddenly so sure of what I was seeing.

“No, Nephesh, don't! She can't help herself.”

I looked around Nephesh’s arms at Faye, who, while her arms moved in a sort of starlike motion at the whirling blue air in front of her, her face was lifted, staring right at us.

“Faye…” I whispered. I could see the tears slipping down her face from here.

Her lips moved, her entire body quivering as the magic in front of her continued to build. Bits of ice broke away, flinging themselves at Nephesh as he shoved me back behind him, before dropping with an eerie ease into this creature form, one immense leg pushing me back as yet more ice flew our way.

“Nephesh,” I screamed, begging. He was going to kill her. She may be my friend, or maybe just an ally, but I understood her the same way I understood him. I knew her. I would’ve been her if my parents hadn’t given me that extra time.

Nephesh couldn't hear me, and one by one his massive feet carried him towards Faye. I could see her face fall, her magic falter for a moment, before the whirling wind grew ever larger in front of her.

“Nephesh,” I screamed. Desperately I clamped my eyes shut. For whatever reason, maybe the connection to my magic, but I could connect better with the creature who ruled Nephesh right now while I was using my magic. I held my hands wide, my eyes shut fast as I focused on the bond in my chest, at the soft flicker of red that bloomed there whenever we were close.

“Nephesh, please,” I whispered aloud and into that bond. “Don’t make me. Please. I don’t want to hurt you.” Knowing what this might mean and asking him to do it anyway. I could only pray we were strong enough to weather it.

The creature’s gait broke, and Nephesh slowed to a halt as he cast one glowing eye in my direction before swinging around to stare at Faye once again. I could see the shudder that ran over his body as he leaned forward, bracing himself against the onslaught of power that suddenly snapped free from Faye’s hands and covered the demon in front of her.

I felt each stab and slide of the icy daggers that flew into his pelt. Screaming, I fell to my knees as Nephesh’s great form let out a scream, rearing up and then falling to the side as the daggers continued to fall. Just as suddenly, Nephesh shoved me away from our bond, the magic of our connection tight, as I could no longer feel his pain.

Rolling to my feet, I took off running, making it to Nephesh as Faye stumbled back, her face bright white and her mouth open in shock and despair. Behind her, Niko moved forward, his handsome face twisted in fury as he leveled his weapon at us.

“Good job, Faye,” he said, his voice smug as two of the uniformed souls that were left appeared from behind him, wrapping their arms around the other witch’s slender body and dragging her back into the hallway behind them. Faye was slumped over, more tears running down her face as she was dragged out, her stare on me for as long as she could see me.

“As you can see, witchling, the Drude truly does know each of your weaknesses.”

I couldn’t answer. My hands shook as I stroked Nephesh's form, at the soft muzzle, the eyes that were no longer glowing red, but rather wide and black and more afraid than I’d ever seen before. His chest rose and fell, but only barely. And I knew then that his limited magic was gone. Even with his soul reunited, he needed time to regain that power. And I’d ruined it by interfering. I’d ruined everything .

The only thing he could do was to remain in this form and try to protect us that way. But nothing could protect us from the array of bullets that were coming for us. Niko nodded at his group, and three more soldiers stepped into the room.

“Ready.”

“Aim.”

“No!” Something deep inside of me shattered, and the men in front of me roared, two dropping their weapons as they clamped their hands over their ears. And the sound kept coming, splitting me wide as my magic was released from the years and years of withholding, of holding back. It was now free. It manifested in the form of fire, the flickering flames crawling down my arm and igniting the ground around us. It needed no fuel because it was as much a part of me as my own arms. I could feel it thrumming around my body, reigniting the bond in my chest, and even curling over Nephesh’s body as I took a breath then screamed once more. This time an order. Not a plea.

An order.

“Save us.”

And the world around us shattered. I threw myself around Nephesh’s body, covering as much of him as I could. My flames did the rest, blanketing us as we fell straight out of the living world…and into somewhere that I could’ve never imagined.

31

Justine

“She’s waking up!”

“You’re hovering, Kadmiel.”

Feet shifted, boots scraping against something as I pushed a hand out, feeling for something. Anything. All I felt was something soft, a blanket maybe, as I slowly pushed my eyes open.

I was staring right into a pair of curious blue eyes, one dark brunette braid slipping over a shoulder as she leaned over me. I blinked then started again.

“Hi,” she said. Her voice was soft, almost a whisper, but it rang through my mind like a gong. I cringed, sitting up slowly as she retreated. First to an elbow, then all the way as I cradled my head in my hands. “Move slow.”

“Ugh. I don’t have much of a choice,” I mumbled into my hands. “My head is killing me. “