Mitry and Weni (20 page)

“Ladies, to me,” Krysta yelled loudly so they could hear her.

She and her mates took out the last of the shadow demons in front of the opening and she hurried through before anymore demonic could come pouring out.

“Krysta! Wait!” Wen shouted.

Krysta sent her mates her love but she couldn’t stop now. They were so close. The evil was so thick she was almost choking and the heat was unbearable. It felt as if her skin was being singed and was going to melt right off her bones.

She heard the scrape of feet on the rock floor behind her and spun around, ready to take down more demons, but quickly moved aside when she saw the other women had managed to catch up and follow her into the cavern.

She met Mit’s and Wen’s gazes as they were about to enter but the entrance closed, black, thick, oily sludge blocking the door.

“So glad you could join us, ladies.”

Krysta searched the shadows looking for Apep but he was using his powers to conceal where he was hiding and she couldn’t get a lock on him from his voice because it seemed to echo all around them.

“Krysta?” Nina whispered in a shaky voice as she moved closer to her.

Krysta’s hand touched Nina’s and she slid it down until she was clasping Nina’s hand, giving her an encouraging squeeze.

“I see you still like to use your minions to do your dirty work,” Zara said in a calm voice as she stopped beside Krysta and held her hand.

“Why are you here? Surely you realize you’ll never get out again,” Apep said.

Krysta glanced toward Nina and almost sighed with relief when she saw that Lavinia was holding her other hand. All that was left to do was complete the circle. She rolled her shoulders when her shoulder blades itched, biting down on her tongue to hide her grimace of discomfort. The itching was so bad it was driving her batty but she pushed the sensation to the back of her mind. She couldn’t afford anymore distractions. She’d already learned her lesson from the mistake. Blood was running down her back and soaking into her pants.

“Do you think so?” Krysta asked. She tilted her head and stared at the handsome visage of the evil demigod as he moved from the shadows. It should be sacrilege that someone so evil could look so good.

“I can’t feel them,” Nina whispered.

Krysta didn’t have to ask who and what she meant. She was worried about her mates, too, but she had faith in them, faith that they would fight the evil shadows and remain standing. The moment the thick sludge wall dropped into place, the link that she had with her mates was no more. She knew it wasn’t broken but the evil here was so strong it was counteracting the bond she and the other women had with their men.

“That’s because they’re dead. My demons killed them.”

When Nina’s hand trembled in hers, she squeezed it once more. Nina took a deep breath, pushed her shoulders back, and held her head up before saying in a clear confident voice, “You’re lying.”

“How can you be sure?” Apep asked. “You can’t see or feel them anymore. Doesn’t that prove that they’re dead?”

Krysta tugged on Zara’s hand, hoping the other woman would realize what she wanted. Then she did the same to Nina, hoping she would pass the silent message on to Lavinia.

“Why are you doing this?” Lavinia asked angrily, stepping forward and decreasing the distance between her and Zara.

“Why?” Apep laughed. “Why you ask. Because I can. I’m a god. It’s my right to rule over those weak, pathetic cattle you call humans.”

Krysta’s skin crawled when his gaze speared on her. It took every ounce of her control not to show her revulsion. When he moved forward, she had to stop herself from taking a step back.

“You have the stink of a god.” He scowled at her as he inhaled deeply and took another step closer. “But there’s something else, too. Could it be? You have human in you, too.”

Krysta didn’t react and was glad when none of the other women did either.

“Oh, this is priceless. Is Ra too much of a coward to fight his own battles? He and that prick Amun need to die.” Apep slowly lifted his hand as he took another step closer. “And so do all of you.”

“Now!” Krysta yelled.

Zara and Lavinia completed the circle as they joined hands. Apep’s palm pointed toward them and Krysta closed her eyes, bringing her mates and the six other male sentinels into her mind. Warmth, love, friendship, and happiness filled her heart to overflowing. She didn’t need to open her eyes to know that they were all glowing brighter than they ever had before.

Her shoulder blades itched like crazy and when Apep blasted her and the other women, she staggered but held tight to Nina’s and Zara’s hands. All would be lost if the connection was broken, but that couldn’t happen if they were going to win.

Screams of agony echoed around the dank, smelly cavern and ash rained down on top of them.

The pain in her chest was phenomenal, and although it hurt to draw the tainted air into her lungs, she breathed deeply, expanding the organs to capacity. Just as Zara’s and Nina’s grips began to weaken and they were slammed with another shot of power from the snake god, something erupted from the itchy spots below her shoulder blades.

Apep’s roar of fury and agony assaulted her ears and while she knew she probably wouldn’t be able to see a thing through the bright light they were emitting, Krysta opened her eyes.

Her mouth gaped open and she blinked in shock. The illumination behind the other women drew her gaze. Zara, Nina, and Lavinia stood with calm expressions on their faces as they, too, pictured their mates and called forth the love they had in their hearts. If they dared open their eyes they were going to be knocked from their feet.

Each and every one of them, her included, had wings. They were the most magnificent thing she’d ever seen. The rounded curves at the top were inches above their heads and they stopped at about knee level. She could see each and every strand of the white feathers and hollow-boned structure, and the outer edge was lined with glowing gold.

“Open your eyes,” Krysta ordered. This time the light didn’t hurt her eyes. In fact she felt as if she was wearing sunglasses or some other protective eyewear, but when she glanced at the other women’s faces, she didn’t see any covers.

She released Zara’s and Nina’s hands, lifted her arms with her palms out, and nodded to the other women to do the same.

“You’ve had too much power for way too long, Apep. You knew what the consequences would be if you continued on your evil path.” Krysta could hear the words she was speaking but she knew they weren’t her own words. Someone was using her body to speak to the snake god. “This is your last chance. If you fail me again, you will die.”

Krysta’s whole body tensed as power surged through her muscles, veins, and blood. Her mouth opened on to scream but nothing came out. The purest light she’d ever seen shot from her palms toward the snake god, singeing the skin from his body. Apep screamed as he fell to the ground, writhing in agony as his frame seemed to disintegrate before their very eyes. From her periphery, Krysta saw the other women were shooting at Apep until all that was left was the shadowy outline where the snake god’s body had lain on the dirt and rocky floor.

The light coming from her hands disappeared and her arms dropped to her sides. There was nothing left. No shadow demons, no snake god, no fiery heat, or stench of sulfur. When she inhaled all she smelt was clean, fresh air as a breeze washed over her, blowing the ash in the air and on the ground away.

“Krysta!”

She turned just in time to watch the sludge door melt and her mates rushing toward her. The other sentinels followed and all the men stopped and stared at them with gaping mouths.

“When the hell did you get wings?” Mit asked.

Krysta shrugged and as she did so the wings, which seemed to have a mind of their own, folded and compacted and retracted back into the spot beneath her shoulder blades.

“Guess we don’t have to ask about the angel tattoos anymore,” En said with a chuckle as he pulled Lavinia into his arms.

“We’re not angels,” Krysta informed them.

“Of course you aren’t, baby.” Mit swept Krysta from her feet and into his arms.

“We’re not.”

Wen cupped her face in his hands and kissed her on the lips. “I don’t care what you are, honey. All I care about is that you’re ours. Our mate.”

“Is Apep dead?” Set strode toward them with Zara in his arms.

Zara smiled, winked, and rolled her eyes at Krysta. Even though the other woman would never admit it, she was happy to be back with her mates. Just as they all were.

“There.” Krysta pointed to the dark shadow on the floor and gasped when it moved.

“Shit! He’s not dead.”

“No, but it will take him centuries to gain enough strength to form another body to move around in. And even longer to accumulate another evil army.”

“Are you sure we can’t kill him now?” Men asked in a growly voice, his scimitar ready in his hand to strike.

“That won’t work on his shadow. He’s not ours to kill.”

“Can we please get out of here?” Nina asked with a shiver. Pen lifted Nina higher against his chest and kissed her forehead. “I hate this place.”

“We all do, love,” Paser agreed as he took hold of Nina’s hand.

“Can we blow it up?” En asked without taking his eyes off of Lavinia.

“No! You certainly may not. Leave! Now!”

“Who the hell was that?” Sab glanced around, looking for a threat.

“Uh, are you sure you want an answer to that question?” Krysta asked as she looped her arms around Mit’s neck.

“You know who that was?” Wen frowned.

Krysta bit her lip and nodded. When she felt a surge of heat, she knew it was time to depart. “Let’s go.” She closed her eyes and didn’t open them again until Mit told her to. She hated teleporting.

“Who healed you, baby?”

“Let me shower first. I feel so dirty.”

“Let us help you.” Wen waggled his eyebrows at her.

“Uh-uh. Not this time. We need to meet the others in the kitchen. Go use the other bathroom. You know we won’t leave this room if we shower together.”

“Okay.” Mit sighed reluctantly and left the room with Wen on his heels.

Twenty minutes later they were all sitting around the dining table, eating Chinese takeout Set had “popped” out for, and drinking wine.

“So which one of you lovely ladies is going to tell us what happened when we got cut off?”

Krysta sat back in her chair, watching the others as she ate. Her life had changed so much in such a brief amount of time, and although she’d faced adversaries and been injured she wouldn’t have changed any of it if she had been given the chance.

She was mated to two of the most wonderful men she’d ever met and loved them with her whole heart, body, and soul. And they loved her right back. She had a father who also loved her and while she knew she probably wouldn’t see him very often she knew he was watching over all of them.

She still didn’t know if her dad sent her mates to her, or she to them, but what did it matter? As long as they were together, that was all she cared about. They had so much to look forward to. Centuries of love and happiness were in the cards and although she knew they would end up fighting evil again, they would be ready.

Thanks, Dad.

You’re welcome, my daughter.

Krysta smiled as her body was enveloped in warmth and love. She sent her love back to her dad, knowing he’d felt the emotions she was pushing at him when she felt his lips brush her forehead.

“Krysta?” Mit nudged her shoulder with his.

“What? Sorry I was lost in thought.”

“Who told us to leave hell?” Nina asked, looking worried as she gnawed on her lip.

“Who do you think?” Krysta raised an eyebrow, waiting for the penny to drop.

Lavinia gasped and covered her mouth. “You don’t mean…”

“But I thought…” Zara began only to fade away.

“Once Apep’s powers faded to practically nothing as his body burned, his hold on hell fell, too.”

“Do you mean to tell me that was Lucifer’s voice?” Set asked incredulously.

“Yep.”

Mit rolled to his side and stared down at Krysta. She looked so beautiful, innocent, and peaceful in sleep.

“I don’t think I’ll ever get over seeing her and the other women with wings,” Wen whispered.

“It was certainly an amazing sight,” Mit agreed.

“Do you think we’ll ever see them again?” Wen asked. “Now that Apep has been defeated.”

“I don’t know. Maybe. I hope so.” Mit brushed the hair from Krysta’s face and couldn’t resist kissing her lips.

She moaned in her sleep, a smile gracing her lips before she snuggled into his chest.

“Do you think Lucifer is going to be a problem now that he’s been released from whatever prison he was incarcerated in?” Wen shifted closer to their mate, spooning her against his body.

“I don’t think so. He’ll probably lie low for a while. Apep’s actions brought too much attention from the gods and the big man Himself.”