Page 235 of Harbinger

One final kiss.

One last vow.

Then I lower her to the stone, and I stand.

Below us, the sea slams against the cliffs and breaks. Again and again. Like it doesn’t know how to stop, either. Somewhere behind me, Hero lets out a low growl.

The balcony’s stone railing is at my brother’s back—the same one he went over the night I lost everything. Cassiel smirks. “Did you miss me?”

I study him like he’s already dead.

There is only the echo of her unfinished words in my ears, and the unbearable silence where her heartbeat should be.

Cassiel’s smile sharpens. He thinks I’m broken.

I draw my sword without looking away, something ancient and hungry bleeding into the edges of my sight. This power freed won’t stop for mercy or reason. Not even love. It will devour whatever is in its path, like a star collapsing and swallowing everything it touches into a blinding void.

And for a minute, I let it take control.

“There it is.” He tilts his head, watching me like I’m a wounded thing. “For a minute, I thought I was wrong. That my friend didn’t finish the job that night. You put on an admirable show of being mortal. Then again, you’ve always been good at hiding, Bishop. I wondered if you’d awakened yet, but I couldn’t be sure without coming home … Aren’t you glad to see me?”

He’s speaking to me like we’re still brothers. Whatever I was before is gone. Killed alongside her.

I raise my sword. “Let’s have a fucking party.”

I fly at him. Our blades meet with a crack like splitting bone, the impact vibrating up my arm. Cassiel twists, regains his footing, but I’m already swinging again. Power leaks into every strike. But I rein it in, keep it barely leashed. I won’t give in. I won’t be like him.

I won’t choose the easy path.

But I don’t stop.

Strike. Again. Again.

Until time slows. Until I can’t see my brother anymore.

Only her—falling heavily into my arms.

“I needed a vessel,” Cassiel grunts, throwing his weight behind a parry. “No hard feelings, I hope.”

His sword catches my cheek and slices my skin. “You killed her,” I snarl, not feeling the cut. “I’ll fucking end you.”

Cassiel rolls his shoulders like we’re still kids playing knights.

“Attachments are a liability during the cycle. I’ve made certain we have none. You’re welcome.”

Like he’s done me a favor.

Then it hits me.

He’s removed all our attachments, starting with—

“That night. You killed them.” My throat tightens. The words tremble out, then explode. “Every one of them.”

“That’s a long story.” He laughs.

He fucking laughs.

“I will rip your heart out with my bare hands.” I mean it.