The blade dissolved before Marcus's body hit the ground.

For three heartbeats, nobody moved. The defenders stared at their leader, at the corpse bleeding across rubble, at the impossible speed of judgment delivered without trial or deliberation. The angels watched with predatory stillness, weapons still trained but fingers hesitating on triggers.

Kelean broke the silence with soft laughter.

"So much for freedom of choice."

The words hit like acid on an open wound. Azrael felt the Black ...