Emily
Daring to wrench my eyes away from Hiram for the first time, I whirl around to fix on Azriel. Just in time to see him stagger forward, unleashing a devastating roar. One of Hiram’s magic-wielders catches Azriel’s fist across his jaw, sending him flying. Only to be caught by Thomas and Leander. Every bit as stunned by Azriel’s wound as I am, they recover quickly enough to assure the villain a quick death.
Az drops to one knee, a nasty, sputtering steam rising from his ribs. Dark blood slicks down his side, seeping away from the wicked-looking dagger wedged between his ribs. The handle snakes with carved symbols, and the bit of blade sticking out of his sizzling skin pulses black and silver.
The silver is mortal to nearly all supernaturals, but whatever venomous power impregnates the blade saps his power with a merciless hunger.