Court of Sunder (Age of Angels #2) - Milana Jacks Page 0,48

lineup.

“I will drain you all and commit you to my service. Flee back to Michael, or remain in my service for the duration of your lives, for I need new wings to defend my Court.”

The Command Fleet remained. I expected nothing less from them. There was a time when I’d fought alongside every one of these males, including Uriel. I didn’t know what Michael had ordered them to do, and knew I could be out here for nights and days holding vigil over my Court. Meanwhile, they could hold this still position a lot longer than most, but they couldn’t hold it forever, only long enough to terrorize the mortals in my Court. My people had gone through enough.

I spread my arms and spun with the wind, fueling the energy funnel until it became a tornado, lifting the earth beneath me, disturbing the sky above me. The fleet as one lifted, then separated, avoiding the tornado’s path, but it was too late. I dispersed the energy, which exploded, silent yet deadly, and their bodies crashed onto my lawn. I stilled, counting about one hundred and fifty. A fleet unit of one hundred and fifty finest trained angels would be mine.

The expanded energy ripped a hole in my belly, kidneys, liver. My knees wobbled. Cayen joined me and threw his hand over my middle and my arm over his shoulder to help me stand. I bent and vomited blood. My wings weighed a ton, and my legs wouldn’t carry me. Cayen spun away as if to carry me inside, but a familiar power brushed my senses, warm and threatening at the same time. Michael. Coming in fast.

“Get inside, Cayen.”

“I am getting us inside.”

“Leave!” When Michael came with another fleet unit and saw his males defeated, he’d slaughter every last one of my people. I would secure my angels inside the House of Sunder, reinforced with my own bones. I pushed Cayen, and he flew back into the house. Just as I was about to lock it and reinforce it, Nevaeh stepped out, barefoot and wearing a long purple dress. My colors were wrapped around her entire body, not a speck of white or gold or anything else. Of all the times she’d decided to show loyalty to me, this had to be it. I’d hoped she’d sleep through it, and I’d hoped she wouldn’t see the fleet in this condition all over my lawn. I would have collected them and fixed them before I’d let her see them.

Horror registered on her face as her gaze swept the garden.

I turned away from her, healing my ripped insides with whatever strength I had left. When I couldn’t, I reached for more earth, watched the plant life wither, felt the Highland Majesties up on the tower fold their petals and die.

Lighting cracked across the sky, and Michael appeared, beating his wings furiously. He was coming in too fast. He would crash-land. I didn’t feel her until I saw her. He had Julia in his arms. Why would he bring his soul’s mate here?

Michael landed, hurtling forward, and I sent a jolt of power at his wings to steady him. This disconnected me from my self-healing, and blood pooled in my mouth. His golden eyes shone like beacons, all the feathers on his wings standing on end. He folded his wings and approached, carrying the girl, her light brown hair draped over the crook of his elbow. She wore a beige dress and had a bump on her belly.

“Help her,” he ordered. Michael knew only one tone: ordering. It made him the male he was today and established clear authority in his army, but I didn’t like it.

I shook my head, again trying to patch my insides. Feeling Nevaeh approach us, I warned, “Stay back.” Blood trickled down the corners of my lips. Quickly, I wiped it away so she wouldn’t see.

“Your Court will fall,” Michael said. “I can conquer it in an hour, but I will not if you help her.”

I chuckled. “My Court would’ve been fine had you not imprisoned me. I will drain all the fleet and take them for myself.” I spread my arms. “Look around you, Michael.”

“You wouldn’t dare,” he bit out.

“Try me.”

He stepped forward, and so did I.

Nevaeh took my hand.

Michael caught the movement and thrust Julia at my chest. “Do you believe in soul mates now?”

“I do,” I said.

“Then you will heal mine.”

“I owe you nothing, Michael. You owe me my Court.”

“You tried to kill my mate, Raphael.”

“I