1. Gabby

The Spear of Destiny lives up to its name in every way…but one.

It's the most impressive thing Gabby's ever seen. Taller than her, its silver weight rests heavy in her palm, the etchings along its length intricate and captivating. The leaf-shaped tip is just as ornate and beautiful, befitting the only weapon that can end the Grigori. The delicate scrollwork, the formidable blade, the way it glitters in the light, all left her in awe for days after she and Colt almost lost their lives retrieving it.

But now…

Now, it's losing some of its luster.

Gabby scowls at the Spear, twisting it one way then the other. No matter what they've tried, she hasn't been able to power it. To use it.

Right now, it's more use in her mother's garden as a tomato stake.

Colt enters the reading room she's sequestered herself in, and the scowl dissolves. This is the demon who stopped her in her tracks the first time she saw him at the gates of Mercy Academy. This is the demon who was willing to die for her.

The demon who should be her enemy, yet has her heart, is undeniably her soul mate.

He smiles the instant he sees her, as if, just like her, any pressure to save the world feels totally surmountable just because he's in her presence. They gravitate toward each other, two hearts who are only whole when the other is near.

Gabby slips into the strong arms that wrap around her, angling her head up to meet the lips coming down. They kiss, their mouths molding and melding into the familiar sweet sensations, the room of Veritas, the world beyond fading away.

Colt's hands rise, his fingers threading through her hair in a touch that's both tender and igniting. Gabby twists her hand in his shirt, trying to pull him closer, wanting to hold on to these feelings for as long as possible.

Their moments alone are scattered. Precious. The only thing that fuels her, no matter what they face.

"I thought there was some urgency in this situation?" comes an irritated voice.

Gabby doesn't pull away immediately, not caring that it's her father who's just appeared in the room. In fact, a part of her doesn't rush on purpose. The Archangel Gabriel is the one person who needs to see this the most.

She loves Colt.

It doesn't matter that she's an angel, he"s a demon.

In fact, it's because of Colt's heritage, his Hell-born blood, that they've achieved everything they have. Their soul-deep connection is proof that anything is possible.

Colt pulls away, his chocolate eyes twinkling as he gazes down at her as if he knows exactly what she's doing. "I suppose there is some urgency…" he murmurs, lips twitching.

"Well, not according to this lump of lifeless metal," Gabby grouches, turning to gaze at the Spear she's still holding.

Her father grunts as he crosses his arms. "So you're willing to accept the inevitable?"

Gabby's scowl is back, and this time she directs it at him. "Not yet."

Using the obsidian to fuel the Spear of Destiny is beyond dangerous. They'd be activating a shard of Darkness. Sure, that's powerful. But it's also one step closer to unleashing that evil on Earth.

Gabby's father sighs. "I've given you several days," he points out.

She lifts her chin. "I did find something." The endless trawling of the books in Veritas lead to one ray of hope. "I learned that Primordial Light was sent to Earth centuries ago. It's definitely powerful enough to fuel the Spear."

And it's the force of good.

Except her father is already shaking his head. "I'm well aware of that. But when the Light was sent to Earth, it was infused into an artifact." His lips thin. "The Holy Grail hasn't been seen since."

Gabby blinks. The Grail is Primordial Light? "But surely?—"

Her father slices his hand through the air. "There's no time, daughter! The Grail has been missing for centuries. The Grigori are here now."

Gabby clamps her mouth shut, frustrated that he's right.

Frustrated that it means…

"We have no choice," Colt says, his voice heavy. "We have to use the obsidian."

Gabby takes his hand, needing his strength to anchor as a tidal wave hits her. She's not sure if it's adrenaline. Denial. Or inevitability.

"You'll need to be careful," her father says. "The obsidian is dangerous."

She shoots him a glare. "No way."

To her surprise, her father's lips twitch. "I'm glad to see you appreciate the seriousness of the situation."

Gabby turns to Colt, her mind trying to process what it would really rather not. "The obsidian's in seven pieces. And the location of each shard is outlined in the parchments we retrieved back when this all started."

He nods. "The riddles need to be deciphered. Then we'll have to retrieve each one."

A frown pulls down Gabby's brows. That will all take time. And as her father pointed out, time is in short supply.

The door opens and Gabby's aunt, Sierra, rushes in. "Gabby!" She comes to a stop. "Oh, hello Gabriel."

The faint echo of ice in the welcome is undeniable. Sierra's just as protective of Gabby's mother as she is. And Gabriel left her to raise Gabby alone.

The Archangel nods. "Sierra. How is…your sister?"

Gabby grits her teeth. Her father can't even say her mother's name.

"Shell's going well," Sierra says, her voice clipped. "She's stronger than you think."

"It's her strength that drew me to her," he says quietly, making Gabby's stomach tighten.

Gabriel almost sounds…wistful.

Gabby shakes her head—she doesn't have the headspace for this right now—then turns to her aunt. "Is everything okay?" she asks, tensing even further. People rushing into a room is generally a cause for concern in her world.

But Sierra smiles. "Good news." Her smile grows wider. "We've deciphered the parchments. Which means we have the general location of the seven pieces of the obsidian."

Gabby blinks. Colt goes still.

Her father arches an arrogant brow. "Fate has once again smiled down upon you."

It would appear so.

Sierra clears her throat. "There's a catch."

"Of course there is," Gabby mutters.

"We believe the Cult have accessed the information. Blaise detected a watcher spell right after we deciphered the parchments. It was faint, but there. Someone was using magic to look over our shoulders."

Colt mutters a word Gabby's never heard before, but can easily imagine its meaning. "We can't afford to let them get their hands on any of the seven pieces."

If the Cult gets hold of even a shard of Darkness… The thought makes Gabby shudder. "We need to get to them before they do."

"Except we don't know which one they'll go after first," Sierra points out.

Gabby repeats the curse word Colt just used, making his eyebrows shoot up. "Aramaic?" she asks.

His eyes twinkle. "Farsi."

"Of course it was," she says, her own smile sparking in her chest.

Her father clears his throat. "The Cult has a vast amount of resources at their disposal. They'll be able to divide and seek all seven shards simultaneously far more efficiently than we can."

Sierra shifts her weight. "Blaise found a spell. One that can locate the stones far more precisely."

Except her tone clearly indicates it comes with a caveat. "And?" Gabby asks, trying not to tense up.

"Well, the spell will actually cast a protective charm over the other six." Sierra's face twists. "Except the located stone will shine, becoming visible to all."

Colt lets out a slow exhale. "It will be a beacon to the Cult."

Gabby's father grunts. "They'll no doubt be hoping you use such a spell."

Gabby turns to face Colt, holding the Spear beside them. Without the obsidian, it's useless, they may as well face the Grigori with a toothpick. "We need the obsidian," she says, wishing it was otherwise, but it's the only way they can win this.

He nods, his brown eyes somber. "And we need it now."

Gabby gazes into his handsome face, searching the chiseled features, her hand coming to rest on his chest as she finds everything she's seeking and more.

There's the immutable truth this will be their greatest battle.

One where losing isn't an option.

There's the knowledge they've overcome so much. That they've done it together.

And there's the soft, solid presence of their love, underscoring it all.

Colt nods once. Gabby mirrors the action.

It's all they need.

"Tell Blaise to do the spell," Gabby says, not breaking her gaze from Colt. "We'll go after the first stone."

Colt's hand rises to rest over hers, pressing it more firmly against his chest. Beneath, she can feel his heartbeat. It's steady. Sure.

Her anchor.

It's time to find the seven pieces of the obsidian.

It's time to unite the shards of Darkness.

It's time to end the Grigori, once and for all.