“We have to give it a try,” Steve said.
“On three,” CJ said and I closed my eyes, concentrating. “One,” CJ breathed low over the bellows of fighting angels and demons.
“Two,” I said and felt the tight coil in my chest.
“Three!” Steve said.
My eyes snapped open and the wave rolled across the field, leaving only a bloody mist in its wake along with four stunned angels.
Ty glanced at the three of us with a maniacal grin.
Lucifer stood at the edge of the field, scanning the gory remains of his army.
Michael and Gabriel stared at the mess with open mouths.
Only the sound of blood rain filled the space and I realize we’d annihilated demons and angels alike. Only archangels remained and my gaze landed on Ty. A shiver caught my soul, turning my blood as cold as the frigid water behind me.
We moved closer to Ty, Michael and Gabriel, squaring up to Lucifer, but he wasn’t done with his arsenal of tricks. Naomi howled and I blinked down at the writhing cat before my gaze jumped to Lucifer.
I charged without thought and got one hit in before his backhand hit me, spinning me onto the ground. The howl turned into an ear-piercing scream snapping my gaze to my wife. Naomi lay in a ball, in human form, holding her stomach, screaming in pain.
The black power moved from Naomi to CJ, dropping him to his knees as he held his chest. His head dipped and his hands balled into fists. When he snapped his gaze from the ground back at Lucifer, the devil stumbled back, nearly falling on his ass.
CJ stood, his breath coming in shallow bursts and I scrambled to my feet, retreating to Naomi and falling on my knees next to her. She turned her head and shock filtered through me at the gaunt face that peered at me. She was too pale, too thin and my heart pounded in my throat. I put my hand on her swollen belly, praying for signs of life and the moment my hand touched, a foot found it, but with it came the writhing struggle inside the womb. My children were alive, but they were in as much pain as Naomi.
“It hurts,” she whispered and I pushed her hair away from her face, planting a kiss on her cheek.
“It’s going to be all right,” I said, even though I didn’t believe it, not with our dwindling numbers. Michael and Gabriel went on the offensive, launching a fistfight with Lucifer while we tended to Naomi.
“Can you fix her?” I whispered and then sent a glance in Lucifer’s direction in time to see Gabriel fall. He went down hard, the side of his face marred by a red welt where Lucifer had connected. He met my gaze for a moment and then returned to the fight.
Steve bent down and delivered a kiss to Naomi’s forehead and light danced over her form, rejuvenating her body, filling her hollow cheeks with a healthy glow. She blinked at him and then her eyes rolled back and she went limp.
“What did you do?” I asked, alarmed by her slip into unconsciousness.
“She’ll be fine,” Raven said, “But we need to get her out of here,” she added, watching the movement of the three archangels. “The path isn’t blocked anymore,” she said pointing.
I didn’t hesitate, I picked Naomi up and headed for the open escape and the group followed me. I ran as fast as possible with her limp form in my arms, praying I wouldn’t slip. When I reached the back door, I used the power growling inside me to open the locks to the house and burst inside, heading toward the nearest soft surface. The couch sat on the sidewall in the family room with a view of the front yard and lake beyond. I laid Naomi on the soft cushions and pushed her hair away from her face.
“Come on, baby,” I whispered, pressing my lips to hers. She didn’t respond and I turned, looking at the crowd behind me.
Raven stepped forward, her gaze averted, but she forced eye contact. “She’ll be okay; her life force is still strong.” She touched my cheek. “Your babies shine just like you.”
I dropped my head to my chest, my relief choking me for a moment before I inhaled and stood, shaking off the momentary lapse. The dull ache in my arms reminded me of my human frailty and I scanned the beautiful view, wondering who would win the battle in the blood-filled clearing.
My answer came a few minutes later, when Lucifer stalked onto the property. The severed heads of my father and uncle dangled from each of his hands and he held them up for me to see. His roar of triumph painted my skin with a burn I hadn’t felt since I watched Athena die.
I wanted vengeance and the power inside me screamed for justice.
“Shit,” Ty said from behind me and I turned, staring down the only other angel standing.
I pointed to Naomi. “Keep her safe. That’s all I ask,” I said, moving my gaze across the faces in the room, then I turned and crossed to the door.
“What do you think you’re doing?” Steve asked.