So be you bound, as I desire.
Your power is found, your power I bind.
By moon and sun, my will be done.
Sky and sea keep harm from me.
Cord go round, power be bound,
Light revealed, now be sealed—”
A furious roar cut her off. She looked over at Claire—and before Claire could stop her she sprinted for the door.
“Annie—” Zach appeared, so sudden Annie skidded to avoid running into him. Rage coiled around him, white hot.
“What have you done?”
*
Before Claire could reach them, Zach caught Annie’s arm and they both disappeared.
“Annie!” She ran to the stairs. Hillary appeared in the bedroom doorway. “Get back inside the circle. Now.” She would deal with the hurt in the girl’s face later. Limping down the stairs, she heard Annie before she saw her.
“You are going to regret every breath you take if you hurt them—”
“Free me.”
Zach’s rage smacked her when she hit the bottom of the stairs. She held on to the banister, breathed through the pain that blasted through her. A reminder she was not one of the protected.
“You scared a little girl half to death.” Annie nearly spat the words at him, fury swirling around her. “Trapped us in here when we only wanted to help, and you’re asking for a favor now. That takes nerve, asshole.”
God above, Annie. Claire waited for retaliation. She knew her own kind, and guardians were simply a step below angels in pride and temper. Zach didn’t disappoint.
With a shout he flung one hand up. Claire pushed off the banister, tried to get there first. But the flame of gold shot straight at Annie. She let out a surprised cry and dropped to the floor, the denim over her left hip smoking. Claire skidded to a halt in front of her, ready to take the next volley—and watched as Zach collapsed, clutching his hip. The same hip Annie curled over, cursing like a sailor.
Furious blue eyes stared up at her. “I will harm, whatever the cost to me, until you release me from whatever heathen curse you laid on me.” He flinched, pressing his hand harder against his hip. Blood glistened as it slid down the black fabric of his trousers. “And I will continue to harm,” he raised his gaze to the ceiling. “Until I am free.”
Annie clapped her hands over her ears as his voice thundered around them. Swallowing, Claire approached him, reached out to touch him, willing to give herself away in order to be sure what she feared wasn’t true. Zach rolled to his feet and backed away from her. When she started to follow he threw a gold streak that burned a line across the wood floor. Inches from her feet.
“Help your friend,” he said, his voice low and calm. A voice someone in pain would respond to, believe in. Trust. “I am—sorry—”
“You should be.” Instead of placating, Claire let her temper take control. She crouched beside Annie, laid a hand on her shoulder. Annie glanced up at her, nodded. “What the hell kind of guardian are you, hurting people like that? People you are sworn to protect, at whatever cost.”
Remorse crossed the angular face, quickly followed by suspicion. “How do you—”
“How long before they punish you? Why haven’t they punished you? It should have been immediate—the moment you threatened, never mind actually hurting a mortal.”
“Who are you?”
Heat flared in her amethyst. Ignoring it, and the warning, she stood, kept herself between Annie and Zach. “Your worst enemy, if you do not—”
Before she could finish he sprang forward. Pain tore through her the moment he made contact. His arms caught her in an embrace—and Annie’s scream cut off as he thrust them both into breathless darkness.
They tumbled to the floor. Claire cried out, her bad leg slamming into bare hardwood. Strong hands lifted her, settled her against the wall.
“Forgive me,” Zach whispered. He brushed hair off her face, lifted her chin until she met the fierce blue eyes. Shame and anger fought each other in their depths. “I will not step back, or give in to your demands. I mean to stay, to live. Whatever it takes to have this, I will do.”
He laid his hand on her leg. Claire couldn’t stop him, prayed he couldn’t see, couldn’t feel her power through the widening cracks in Azazel’s wall. Warmth spread from his hand, through her skin and into bone. She had no idea guardians could heal physical wounds—their realm had always been healing the spirit. The pain ebbed, faded, and she let out her breath.
“Thank you.”
“I am not a monster.”
“Someone looking in from the outside would think differently.”
He stood, temper flaring around him like an angry storm. “They will not have the chance. This must end today. I will have my life today.”