“Marcus Grekko,” Terri hissed, her eyes narrowing on the man. “I heard rumours you were dead.”
Marcus’ thin lips twisted into a bitter smile. “Those rumours would be true, my dear, but death has made me stronger and immensely more powerful.”
Terri shook her head. She was confused by his presence. “Serpent Mountain is gone. If you’re here for revenge—”
Terrie and Leah told Amber all about Serpent Mountain, how greedy mining tycoon Marcus Grekko came after the well of immortality on the property, threating the life of both her and Kaden, but after Terrie, Kaden, Slazzamar and Darren put a kink in the tycoon’s plans, Slazzamar blew the hidden chamber to kingdom come, so no one could go back. Marcus escaped and no one knew what became of him, until now.
“Come now, Miss Holbrook. Revenge is so petty. You have to look at the bigger picture, something I didn’t see until I was reborn.”
“Not many have the power to bring someone back from the dead.” Darren’s voice was breathless as he pushed himself up from the table. “My guess is you’re a walking corpse puppet for something or someone else.”
Anger flashed in Marcus eyes. Darren must have hit the nail on the head with his statement. “I am no one’s puppet. Every paved path to success has some stones you need to get around before you reach your destination.”
Darren groaned. “I don’t know what’s worse—my broken ribs, or his fucking fortune cookie dribble.”
“Kill the elf’s mate.” Grekko’s eyes narrowed on Darren.
Amber tensed. She needed to do something, she couldn’t let them murder Darren. “My dragon’s going to tear you to shreds! He’s worse and meaner than any other. They call him Brimstone the Crusher, killer of demons.” The advancing creatures hesitated only for a second.
Shit, shit, shit! You’re a writer, Amber, make something up. “We have a strong, telepathic link, and he already knows you’re here and he is coming. You’re all going to die!” God, she willed it to be true, sending out mental screams for help in any direction she could.
Grekko snorted. “Nice bluff, but I fear they are a little too busy to come to your rescue, so we’re taking you to them. You lot take the women to the camp. It’s time to win the battle. And you...” He pointed to one demon. “Finish the faggot, and make sure he screams.”
The creature in human form grinned. “A pleasure.”
Amber screamed, kicked and struggled, but they were teleported out.
* * * *
Breylla smiled in pure glee when several of her Mutti demons with human skins appeared on the side of the raging battle with four helpless, human women. Mates.
Marcus’ head bowed briefly. “One strikes at the heart when attacking an enemy.”
“Make them scream. That should grab their attention.”
A couple Muttis grabbed two of the women viciously, claws digging painfully into their tender flesh. One of the brunettes screamed; the other only whimpered, pain filling her defiant, blue gaze.
“Scream, human, or I’ll do worse,” the Mutti who held her hissed into her ear, but she clamped her mouth shut tighter.
Breylla stood in front of her. “Scream, my dear, or I’ll hurt this one.” She manifested a staff and placed it on the pregnant woman’s stomach.
The woman screamed long and loud, filling Breylla with immense satisfaction. The battle came to a halt when roars of outrage greeted her. The mated dragons rushed forward.
“Stop right there, or they die,” she said, not raising her voice but filling it with enough menace to make them skid to a stop, the promise of her painful death gleaming in their gazes. “All dragons will shift to human form, now.”
When they didn’t, she started to count while raising her staff. “Three, two…”
Each dragon returned to their human form, naked and more vulnerable, exactly as she wanted them.
“You dare take our mates?” one of them growled, taking a step forward.
“You leave them undefended, then why not?” She raised a challenging eyebrow.
“Grekko.” Kaden spotted her pet standing off to one side.
“Breylla, does your father know you’re out playing games with his army?” The once moon god was no threat to her, nor his twin. The two gods came up beside the dragons. “Easy, my friends.”
Now completely surrounded by her remaining demons, there was no way they could fight and win. Even if they did manage to rescue their mates, they were completely outnumbered.
Triumph bloomed in her chest. She’d won the day. “My father is long dead by my helping hand, and I helped myself to his powers.”