Page 46 of Vayn

Blue flames rose from the edges of the huge hole the cannon left in the wall at the end of the hall. The blast range wasn’t large. If it had been, we would be in bad shape right now.

“They have angel fire,” Charm whispered, sounding just as shocked as I felt.

Angel fire was what witches called a spelled flammable powder that was created with voodoo. It required the crushed bones of Fallens or descendants to create the spell. The Changelings had found a deadly way to weaponize it.

“We can’t teleport out,” Rage reminded me. “We have no choice but to fight.”

“Our mate can’t be caught up in angel fire,” I told him. “Her vampirism has manifested. But she’s young, not an ancient one like us. Plus, she’s part human. She wouldn’t survive being burned by angel fire. Even we will be weakened if it hits us.”

My shadows stared at me, looking for answers I didn’t have. I’d commanded armies. I’d fought against the most powerful demons that ever existed. Yet, I’d never felt real fear. Not until this moment. Not until I realized there was nothing I could do to protect my mate. I stared down at her. My poor mate.

Her eyes were shut. Her skin was pale. Her body was cold. They must’ve drugged her. I heard them rolling the cannon down the hall. They were closer now. If they fired at us, I would survive. I’d be too weak to flee and would end up captured. But I’d survive. Beastie and my mate would die.

“We will not let her die,” I growled, blinking back fucking tears. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d teared up. “I’ve just found her. I haven’t had the chance to tell her what she means to me. I haven’t had a chance to apologize for the way I treated her in the past.”

I tried to keep the tears at bay. I was unable to stop a couple from dripping down my cheek. Me, crying over a human. Who would’ve thought a day like this would come? Yet, I wasn’t ashamed. This half-human meant the world to me. And I would die to protect her. The cannon had almost reached us.

What to do? The only good thing was that the blast range of the cannon was short. If they blasted a hole in the wall, it would rock us but not kill us. However, that all depended on the blast site.

I could hear the wind blowing outside from the hole they’d blasted in the hall wall. The wind was whistling in a way that signaled we were at the corner of the building. This meant if they blasted a hole in this room’s wall, it would lead to the outside, instead of another hall.

“I have a plan,” I told my shadows. “Charm, take on your full Fallen form.”

Charm’s clouds dispersed. Seconds later, I was staring at a paler version of myself.

“The rest of you, return to me.” Before they could protest, I continued. “When the time comes to protect her, you’ll know it. Return to me now, or our plan will fail. We’re running out of time.”

They returned to the abyss to await further instructions. I stared down at Beastie.

“Stay with me. Don’t run off.”

He barked. I moved to the side wall, where a large white cabinet stood. I positioned myself on the side of it, facing the back wall, where the incoming guards wouldn’t see me.

“Stand on the other side of the room,” I instructed Charm. “As far away from us as you can, with your back against the wall. If they ask where Destiny is, say she got away. As soon as they fire, return to me. Understood?”

Charm nodded. But instead of obeying my orders, he cast a worried glance at Destiny.

“Don’t worry,” I told him. “We won’t let her die.” When he still didn’t make a move, I added, “We have to hurry, Charm.”

For the first time in my life, I watched my shadow blink back tears.

“I’ve never loved before. I never knew I could,” Charm whispered. “Not until I met her. I love her. I love her with everything that’s in me. I don’t know how to not love her. We must keep her safe. I don’t want to live if I have to live without her.”

His words nearly broke me. However, I had to be strong for her and for my shadows.

“I know, Charm. Me too. Let’s protect her. Get into position.”

After casting another longing glance at our mate, Charm did as he was told. The cannon reached our end of the hall. I heard the screech of it as they aimed it in Charm’s direction. Through Charm’s eyes, I watched the four guards clad in riot gear.

“Where is the traveler?” one guard yelled.

They knew of Destiny’s ability. No wonder they wanted her. I stared down at my mate. Though her eyes were closed, her face was fixed in a grimace. What was she dreaming about that had her in distress? I leaned down and pressed a kiss to her forehead. The tension in her features eased a little.

“I made sure she got away,” Charm yelled, answering the guard. “She should be finding her way out of this facility as we speak.”

The guard yelled back, “My team will find her. There’s no leaving this facility. The wards surrounding the property may have let your kind in, but they won’t let you out. There’s no escaping. You’re now our prisoner. Surrender and live. Or fight and get blasted with angel fire. Those are your only two options.”

Charm smiled. “The Fallen never surrender. And those who harm us, our bloodline, or our mate, will feel our wrath,” my shadow growled.