Jaral was edging closer to the battling threesome. Darcy watched his approach, wondering which side he would choose to fight with. If he joined his father, Kerilyn was in trouble.
With a burst of speed she launched forward. Racing through the throng of monsters, she tried to make it to Kerilyn’s side. Demons threw themselves into her path but met swift ends as she plunged her blades through vulnerable tissue. As she fought, she saw Arawn draw a blade that pulsed an eerie blue.
The valar blade, she realized in surprise. Their way out. If one of them could just drive it into Abaddon, the blade would do the rest of the work for them. The king would be trapped, helpless. They all might survive the night.
But as soon as her hope crested, it was dashed to pieces. A demon jumped at the spirit lord. Though Arawn burned the creature to ash with his black fire, the knife was knocked from his hand.
Everyone watched as it hit the foot, only to be kicked by a careless demon. The blade slid across the floor, jostled by the battle raging around it.
Changing her course, Darcy fought to get to that dagger.
Teeth flashed before her face. Claws raked at her, barely missing sensitive flesh. On she pushed, her eyes never leaving the knife.
One demon stood between her and salvation. She drew her dagger across its throat with vicious glee before scooping up the valar blade.
The magic knife pulsed in her hand as if it had a life of its own. A faint blue shimmer ran along the metal edges, glowing with its own internal life.
“Darcy!”
She turned at Kerilyn’s cry. Abaddon was beating the hunter back, gaining the upper hand. Darcy broke into a run. She was so close. Just a little bit more…
A blow to the back of her neck sent her flying. She held on to the valar blade as she slammed into the floor. Her instincts screamed at her to plunge the blade into her attacker but it would be a wasted use of its magic. Under no circumstances could it touch blood before she made it to the demon king.
She fought off the attacking demon with her left hand but the creature was pressing its advantage. She’d have to drop the blade to save herself.
“Darcy.” Her name was cried again but this time by a far different person.
She saw Jaral in the distance, stretching out his hand to her.
“Throw me the dagger.”
Time seemed to slow. She saw Jaral’s grasping fingers and felt he blade pulse in her hand. One toss and he’d catch it. He could end this all.
Or he could side with his father and use the blade against them. Their one shot would be gone. All because she’d followed her heart instead of her head.
Trust me. The words echoed in her mind. Such easy words to say yet so hard to do. She’d run from him twice, not wanting to take a risk on being wrong. But every time she’d doubted him, he’d come through for her. He’d fought for her, protected her, healed her. He had done everything she’d asked of him and he’d wanted only one thing in return.
Trust him. If she was making a mistake it would be her last. But she’d rather go out fighting for what mattered than playing the coward. She loved him. Time to prove she could trust him.
With a cry she threw the valar blade. The demon on top of her snarled before she grabbed her dagger with two hands and drove it into the creature’s heart. The monster slumped down on her with enough weight to pin her in place. As she fought free, she saw Jaral stride toward his father.
Red fire shot from his palms, hitting Abaddon with full force. The king turned to face his new attacker. There was no mistaking the surprise in the king’s eyes when he realized it was his own son battling against his defenses. The shock quickly drained away as rage filled the bloodred gaze. Abaddon moved forward to engage his new enemy, leaving him open to the spirit lord. Arawn matched his attacks to Jaral’s. Together they battled the demon king back with magic and flame.
Darcy kicked free of the corpse on top of her and ran toward Jaral.
“Traitors,” Abaddon yelled. “I am your king.”
“You betrayed me first, brother,” Arawn said. “And you treated your son no better.”
“Jaral, name your price. I will give you all the power you desire.”
“No,” Jaral snarled, slamming his father with deadly fire. “I kept your armies together. I ran your kingdom. I kept you on the throne because I was loyal.” He voice was filled with self-disgust. “And what did it win me, Father? You plotted against me at every turn.”
“For the day you’d betray me.”
“The day never would have come had you not gone after me first.” Jaral cast out a hand and the demon king gasped for breath.
Darcy watched in awe as her lover used the same trick on his father that he had with her on their first meeting. He pulled the air from Abaddon’s lungs, forcing the king to his knees.