18. Van

18

VAN

My gut tells me this isn’t a smart move. But I’m me, and I always take up the challenge. Always.

Shoren’s a behemoth with about two brain cells. This should be a quick and easy fight like last time, but my stomach twists. Bad idea. Bad idea. Maybe it’s because Gabe begged me not to fight. Maybe it’s instinct.

Shoren stands opposite me. His gray skin is streaked with deep mustard yellow scars where I’d fought him before. Black horns thicker than my forearms grace his head. Fangs mash as he tries to look intimidating, but I find it hilarious.

A crowd’s gathered in the cornfield. Word gets around Hex fast. Even Poe showed up. He doesn’t say anything to me, but I know he’s disappointed. Why wouldn’t he be? I’m fighting. Again .

A witch sets a perimeter spell to protect Hex. Smart.

Shoren slams his beefy hands together and roars. My heart pounds and I push back the bile that threatens to come up. This is a bad idea. Bad. Bad. Bad. But I agreed and I’ll follow through.

Wick appears, bringing Gabe with him. My angel rushes toward me, but the perimeter spell stops him.

“I love you, Van,” he shouts for all of Hex to hear him. He presses a hand to the perimeter spell.

Fuck. What am I doing? Am I truly so selfish to put this sweet angel’s heart on the line? Put everyone in Hex in harm’s way? “I love you, Gabe.” I turn to Shoren. “I can’t. I forfeit. You win! Tell them you?—”

I choke as my chest tightens. Something’s wrong. The countdown device burns through my shirt and I drop to my knees as it falls away. My wings spring from my back as I grin at Poe, who tips his head and disappears. I guess my punishment is over. But I still have a massive demon staring me down.

Shoren rages and storms my way.

Gabe screams like a banshee and races towards me. Before I know what’s happening, he’s clutching me, massive black wings wrapped around me. Protecting me .

But he’s not my tiny angel, no, Gabe is taller by several feet and keeping me safe from Shoren. His wings are like steal, not letting Shoren’s blows through.

The demon screeches and rips out feather after feather as Gabe trembles around me. My beloved’s cries tear at my heart and I turn in his embrace. “Let me go, Gabe. We can send him back to the Hellrealm together.”

“I couldn’t let him hurt you. I think I destroyed the perimeter spell.”

I kiss him over and over, noticing a halo of stars around his head. “Ready?”

Gabe nods, and on the next breath, he releases me. My magic is back in full force, letting me teleport, popping around Shoren to confuse him. Gabe yanks out one of his feathers with a grimace. I have to keep my surprise at bay when the feather turns into a sword and he charges Shoren.

“You can not have Van. He’s mine!”

“Send him my way!” I open a portal and hope it stays open long enough to send Shoren through it.

Gabe doesn’t get a cut in with Shoren’s thick skin, but he does force the demon my way with each swing. “Be gone. You’re not welcome in this realm and if you try to come for Van ever again, your life will be forfeit.” At Gabe’s words, a spell, or perhaps a curse, burns into Shoren’s forehead and he tumbles into my portal.

My portal seals behind Shoren, and I drop to my knees panting. Gabe throws down his sword, where it turns back into a feather the moment it touches the ground. He rushes to me and I have to look up at him.

The crowd around us roars, but all I notice is Gabe. My Gabe.

“You know, this changes things, angel. I’m going to need you to fuck me with that big nephilim cock.”

He burst out laughing. “You don’t care that this is the nephilim me? A giant?”

“No, babes. I love you every way I can get you.” For once, I have to stand on my tiptoes and pull him down for a kiss. “But seriously, how big is that cock, because it’s a need.” I press against him, forgetting the crowd altogether.

He pulls his wings in. “Take me home and I’ll show you,” he whispers.