Chapter 15 Discovering Her Mother's Betrayal
MIREYA'S POV
I dive toward Celestial Tower alone, the demon army behind me.
Seraphina watches me come. Her blade presses harder against Kael's throat. The boy whimpers but doesn't cry. He's trying to be brave.
Through the bond, I feel Azraeth's terror. He knows what I'm doing. Knows I'm repeating history.
Don't, he sends desperately. Please. Not like this.
Trust me, I send back. I'm not Morwenna. I'm not sacrificing myself. I'm buying you time.
The difference is splitting hairs!
Then split them fast and save everyone while she's busy with me.
I cut off the bond before he can argue more. He'll try to save me if I don't, and that'll get everyone killed.
I land on the tower's highest platform, twenty feet from Seraphina and Kael.
"Let him go," I demand.
"Surrender first." Seraphina's beautiful face is cold. "Your demon king. Your army. Everything. Surrender, and I'll consider mercy."
"You don't know the meaning of mercy." I take a step forward. "You murdered an innocent woman five hundred years ago. Called it divine justice."
"Morwenna was corrupted! I saved her soul!"
"You killed her because she didn't love you back!" The accusation echoes across the tower. Every angel can hear. "You were jealous. Obsessed. And when she chose someone else, you murdered her and blamed him!"
Seraphina's face twists with rage and pain. "She was supposed to be mine! We were supposed to change the world together!"
"She didn't want you. Get over it."
The blade cuts deeper into Kael's throat. Blood drips. "Surrender. Now. Or I'll kill this boy the way I killed her!"
Through the bond, I feel Azraeth moving. He's using my distraction to position rescue teams. Just need a few more seconds.
"You know what's funny?" I say, taking another step. "Morwenna died five hundred years ago. But her soul came back. We found each other again. And there's nothing you can do to stop that. We're bonded. Permanent. Eternal."
"I'll kill you too!"
"Try it." I spread my wings. "But you'll have to come through me to do it. And that means letting Kael go."
Seraphina hesitates. She's calculating. If she drops Kael to fight me, someone will grab him. But if she keeps holding him, she can't defend herself properly.
Come on. Just a few more seconds.
"You're just like her," Seraphina says quietly. "Same reckless bravery. Same foolish loyalty. Same weakness for demons who don't deserve you."
"Azraeth deserves me. And I deserve him." I call shadows to my hands. "Something you never understood—love isn't about deserving. It's about choosing. She chose him. I choose him. Deal with it."
Seraphina screams and lunges.
She drops Kael, sword blazing, coming straight for me.
Below, I sense the rescue team moving. Grabbing Kael. Freeing other prisoners.
My distraction worked.
Now I just have to survive Seraphina without Azraeth's help.
Her blade slashes. I dodge, but barely. She's faster than before. Angrier. More dangerous.
"I'll send you to join her!" Seraphina's strikes come faster. "And this time, I'll make sure your soul burns! No reincarnation! No second chances!"
I fight back with everything I have. Shadows against holy light. My wild chaos against her perfect control.
But she's stronger. More experienced. Trained for centuries.
I'm losing.
Her blade catches my wing. Pain explodes. I fall to one knee.
"Just like last time," Seraphina whispers, raising her sword for the killing blow. "History repeating. Morwenna dies. Azraeth watches helplessly. And I win."
The sword descends.
I close my eyes, reaching through the bond one last time. I love you. I'm sorry.
Then everything stops.
A blade blocks Seraphina's strike. Not mine. Someone else's.
I open my eyes.
My mother stands between us, holding a witch-forged sword. Helena Ashcroft, wearing expensive clothes and terrified expression, protecting me from an archangel.
"Mother?" I breathe.
"Get back, Helena," Seraphina snarls. "This doesn't concern you!"
"She's my daughter!" My mother's voice shakes but holds firm. "I know what I did. I know I failed her. But I won't watch you kill her!"
Through the bond, I feel Azraeth's shock. He's freed the prisoners and is fighting his way up the tower. Minutes away.
"Stand aside," Seraphina commands. "Or die with her."
"Then I die with her." My mother meets my eyes. Tears stream down her face. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry for everything. For the curse. The necklace. Choosing Celeste over you. All of it. I thought I was protecting you, but I was just afraid. Afraid of your power. Afraid you'd become something I couldn't control."
"Mother, what are you—"
"I sold you to Lilith." The confession bursts from her. "Before you were born. I knew you'd have demon-bonded blood, and I was terrified. So I made a deal. Suppress your power, and she'd protect our family from supernatural threats." She's sobbing now. "But I see now. I didn't protect you. I crippled you. Made you think you were weak when you were always meant to be powerful."
Seraphina's blade swings at both of us.
My mother throws up a shield. It cracks under the holy magic but holds.
"Run!" she shouts at me. "I'll hold her off! Just run!"
"I'm not leaving you!"
"You have to! You're the key to everything! The prophecy! The revolution! If you die, it all dies with you!" Her shield shatters. Seraphina's blade cuts through. "I failed you as a mother. Let me succeed as a sacrifice!"
"No!" I throw myself forward, shadows exploding from my hands.