I spun to meet his blow, but he moved faster. His blade crashed into my left hand. I felt my fingers snap, the bones in my palm crushed under the pressure. White light filled my eyes and I felt my legs wobble beneath me. It had only been by luck that I’d turned his sword aside, the flat connecting with my hand rather than the edge. It made little difference in the pain, though I’d die with all my fingers.

No adrenaline to fight the agony that raged up my arm, I crumpled to my knees as the rebel angel closed. His gaze locked on mine and I saw him then for who he truly was; Jatar. We had been lovers once, and I’d believed friends after. He laughed as he stood over me, putting the lie to my belief. The remnants of my heart burst inside my chest.

“Gabriel will reward me greatly for slaying the demon-bitch who poisons the Kingdom.” His words were daggers, carving away the moments we’d had together. He drew his sword above his head and grinned as though we had never been anything but enemies. I couldn’t bring myself to try and stop him.

The hazel of Jatar’s eyes suddenly turned red, then an abysmal black, before bursting from their sockets. His face melted away like so much candle wax, his body dropping into a heap on the tiles. And for all his intended cruelty, I couldn’t help but mourn his loss.

Uriel stood where Jatar had just moments before, the sky ablaze behind him. He held out his hand to me. I could feel the heat of his sword as its fury washed over me.

“All that remains of Heaven is Eden, and I worry that too shall soon fall. I must close the gates before the battle bleeds into the Garden, but I would ask a sacrifice of you, Scarlett.”