“Layla—”
She held up a hand. “Do not forget, I’m a badass.”
“There’s about forty-plus demons out there.”
Forty-plus? God.
Zayne towered over me as he spoke. “If you need to use your grace, do it. You got it? If you tire out afterward, I’ll make sure nothing gets between you and me.”
Heart thumping, I nodded. “Got it.”
“If you’re staying, you should get ready, Layla,” Zayne advised as the things in the fog stilled ten or so feet from the house.
Layla shifted then, drawing my attention, and I didn’t understand what I saw. She looked like she normally did, except she had wings—black, feathered wings.
“Feathers. You have feathered wings,” I said dumbly.
“I do.” Layla’s left wing twitched as she grinned at me. “It’s a long story, but the gist of it is that I almost died and, well, this is what happens now when I shift.”
I stared at her. “You look like an...an angel. If an angel had black wings.”
“I’m no angel.” She lifted a shoulder. “I’m just...unique.”
“That you are, babe,” Roth replied, extending his hand to her. She took it, and they stood side by side in front of the window. He leaned down and whispered, “I know you’re a badass. Won’t ever forget that.”
I looked away from them just in time to see one of the tall forms come toward the window. It stopped too far out for me to make out details.
“It’s an Upper Level demon,” Zayne explained, knowing the features were nothing but a blur to me. “It’s not Bael. I’ve never seen this one. What about you, Roth?”
“Like I said before, I’m not friends with all demons.”
Zayne snorted.
“Hello?” the demon outside the house called out, sounding like he was there to sell Girl Scout cookies or something. “We know you guys are in there.” He lifted an arm and waved. “Hiya! What do we have? A...half-breed daughter of Lilith. A demon prince who’s been very, very bad. A Warden who keeps strange company, and an actual, living and breathing...Trueborn?”
“Well,” I said, brows lifting. “Is there a breed of demons that have X-ray vision?”
“Not that I’m aware of,” Roth muttered.
“Are you wondering how we know?” the demon called out, and I rolled my eyes. “I’d be happy to tell you guys, and I hope we can make this a pleasant experience for everyone involved. Let’s start by me introducing myself. I’m Aym, but some know me as Haborym. I’m a handsome little devil, but don’t let my pretty face and charming disposition fool you. I’m a Grand Duke of Hell, ruling over twenty-six legions of demons, and half of them are here with me tonight,” he purred. “I’ve burned castles and entire cities to the ground, leaving nothing but ash and death in my wake when I don’t get what I want. Just, you know, a heads-up.”
Roth yawned.
“Oh, and you could consider me...Bael’s personal assistant,” Aym continued. “So, now that we know who I am, do you have any questions?”
“Yeah,” Zayne called out. “Why did we have to get stuck with such a damn talkative demon? This makes killing you so much more time-consuming.”
“For once, Stony, you and I actually agree on something.” Roth laughed.
There was a deep, rumbling laugh that rattled the windows, causing my eyes to widen. “The Warden speaks first. Interesting. You don’t want to chat? Fine. We’re here for the Trueborn.”
“No shit,” Roth muttered.
“Give her to us and we’ll let you all go about your merry little ways.” Aym paused. “Pinkie swear.”
“Not going to happen,” Zayne replied. “You might as well move on to option B.”
“Well, option B is you all die. Starting with you, Warden. I’m going to burn you alive.”
My stomach twisted sharply while Zayne seemed not at all affected. I stepped forward and called out, “What do you want from me? To cut me up and give to the witches?”
“Ew,” Layla murmured.
“Not at all, my dear little nephilim,” cooed Aym, and I stiffened. “We just want to love you and hold you and become the very best friends ever.”
“Wow,” I said, hands tightening on the dagger as Layla and Roth exchanged a look. “Where is Misha?”
“Your Protector?” he asked. “Why, he’s right here, waiting for you.”
My heart might’ve stopped in my chest. It felt like an eternity that I was frozen, and then I reacted without thought or hesitation.
33
It all happened so fast.
Zayne spun and I heard him shout as he launched himself at me. Roth and Layla both turned, but none of them were as quick as me. Not when I didn’t want to be stopped.
I was at the door that led outside before any of them could reach me. There was no sense of reservation as I gripped the doorknob and turned, snapping the lock into pieces as I tore the door open.
Humid night air washed over me as I flew outside, scanning the line of demons. I didn’t see Misha, but then again, I wouldn’t have been able to see him in the first place in fog even the full moon couldn’t penetrate.
“Where is he?” I screamed, spinning toward Aym.
The demon was suddenly in front of me, and he was handsome. Tall and blond, impeccably groomed. “He said you were impulsive,” the demon said, and my breath caught. “Gloriously so.”
He reached for me just as something large slammed into him, knocking him back into the fog.
Zayne.
A tremendous shift to the air took place as the mist scattered. The liege of demons charged, so many so fast that for a moment I was stunned.
Nightcrawlers.
Hellions.
Imps.
Ravers.
It was a damn demon party.
Roth shot passed me, catching what appeared to be a Hellion. He flew into the air with the creature, tossing it back into the side of the house. Layla sprang up beside a Raver, catching it by the shoulders as she brought her knee up to the creature’s chin, snapping the neck back, breaking it. A Nightcrawler charged Layla. She spun, but he was fast.
But I was faster.
I let the dagger go and it struck the Nightcrawler in the face, knocking it backward. It was nothing but ash when it hit the ground.
Layla spun toward me. “Holy crap, thank you.”
Darting forward, I couldn’t see the dagger in the grass. It was too dark, and there was no time to search it. “Misha!” I shouted, darting across the lawn, straight toward a Hellion. It grabbed for me, but I dipped under its arm and spun around, slamming the dagger into its back. A hot spray of blood hit me as I whirled around.
Thick tendrils of mist scattered as Zayne flew backward, hitting the ground with enough impact that I stumbled. I turned to him as he flipped to his feet.
He sent me a quick look. “This demon is as annoying as I thought. Find Misha and get out of here.”
“Not without you.”
Zayne gripped my shoulder, pulling me toward him as he lowered his head so I was at eye level with fierce, pale blue eyes. “You find Misha and get the Hell out of here. I’ll find you. Wherever you go, I will find you.”
I let out a ragged breath as our gazes connected. Too many unspoken words surfaced. Too much I needed to say to him, and there was no time.
His claws caught on my shirt and then he let go, shoving me back as he flew forward, hitting a fully transformed Aym with a closed fist in the stomach, doubling the demon over.
The demon... The demon had two heads.
Spinning around, I caught a Raver in the knee. It swung toward me, mouth open and teeth snapping as I jumped back. I feinted to the right and then whirled around, thrusting the dagger into its hairless chest.
Jerking the dagger free, I whipped around as a Nightcrawler headed for Roth. Another cut in front of me, rushing the demon prince. A Nightcrawler leaped over me, rushing toward Layla. She rose, her wings lifting her high—
The Nightcrawler’s claws caught her in the midsection. He spun, throwing her sideways. She screamed as she fell backward, landing on a wing with a crack that sickened me.
No.
A roar of anger shook the ground as Roth launched into the air. I turned as Zayne spun. I saw the moment he realized Layla was down. His jaw hardened and then he turned back to Aym as Roth landed behind the Nightcrawler. Roth was like a cobra striking. His hand shot out, cutting through the demon’s back. He jerked his arm back, and the Nightcrawler folded into itself, crumpling like a ball of paper.
Imps screeched as they dived low, aiming for Zayne. I shouted his name, and he spun, tossing Aym over his shoulder as he shot into the air, catching an imp by the neck.
On the ground, Ravers rushed past me, their claws digging into the soil, kicking it into the air as they went for Roth and Layla. Imps circled like buzzards.
There were too many.
They surrounded Roth and Layla, swarmed them as Roth struggled to get Layla to her feet. One of the imps snagged Roth’s wing. He shook them off, but they kept coming. Two had ahold of his wings again and they start to pull. The demon prince howled as Layla tried to gain her footing.
I had to do something.
Layla and Roth were demons, but I couldn’t let this happen. I couldn’t. If the imps tore Roth’s wings, he would be down for the count, and Layla, God, she was already done. Her arms were streaked with inky darkness, and her wings were gone. She’d shifted back into her human form, and now she was as vulnerable as a newborn kitten.