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“Well, isn’t this charming?”
The demon emerged from the cave, one good eye glowing, smoke curling from his maw as he spoke. It was like he was made from lava on the inside, every crack and seam glowing with fire. She’d never forget the sight of him, like something out of a nightmare, for as long as she lived.
Even if that was about two hours.
“How romantic.” Grinn sneered. “To have you all tearing yourselves apart on my doorstep.” He took a step forward, the grass around his feet singeing and turning black as he stalked closer to them. “I just couldn’t resist the chance to get a closer view.”
Mordred was fighting his way back to his feet. But just as he stood vertical, Zoe touched the necklace around her throat, and he screamed and fell back to the dirt.
The sound of Grinn’s laughter was sickening.
“Stop it! Stop it, all of you!” Gwen let tears run down her cheeks. She didn’t care about hiding them anymore.
“I offer you a bargain, Ash King,” Zoe began. “You may kill Mordred, if you spare the island.”
Grinn thought it over for a moment. “You see…normally, that would be wonderfully tempting. But why would I sacrifice one goal when both are here within my reach?” He chuckled. “Now, Gossamer Lady—give me that necklace, and you may spend the next few hours in the arms of your lover.”
“No.” Zoe retreated a few feet. Galahad quickly moved to stand between her and the demon.
“I wish to ensure Mordred spends the last few moments of his life in agony—the barest hint of what he forced upon the rest of us.” Grinn lowered his head, prowling like a panther as he stalked toward Galahad and Zoe. “I wish to watch him scream and writhe in pure torment until the world burns around him.”
“Stop this, Grinn. Please, stop this—” Gwen begged. But she might as well have been saying nothing at all. No one was listening to her.
“Stay back, demon.” Galahad stood firm. “I will not let you harm her.”
“I do not intend to give you the option.” Grinn laughed.
Gwen almost missed the shifting of the brambles at the edge of the clearing. The forest itself came alive, fencing off the clearing on all sides. The branches of the bushes were thicker than her forearm, and the thorns were the size of her hand. They twisted and gnarled around each other. There would be no getting through them. Likely, not even by fire, with how quickly they were growing.
Lady Thorn stepped from them, emerging from the mass of brambles.
Before Gwen could open her mouth?—
All hell broke loose.
SEVENTEEN
Mordred managed to flick his cape over him and change the panels from fabric to iron just in time before the full weight of the demon came down, crushing him into the grass and dirt. The sound of his claws scraping on the metal set his teeth on edge.
The Gossamer Lady had stayed true to her word at least—the moment that Grinn attacked, the pain had ceased. He would have to thank her later if he survived.
If he lived to see the morning, he would be sore. An odd thought to have in the thick of battle. It was always amusing to him to see what his mind focused on when he was in combat. Never anything useful.
Grinn snarled, his weight shifting off from Mordred as he retreated a few steps. As Mordred stood, letting his cloak return to fabric, he quickly lifted his claw to summon iron from the ground and block the demon’s retreat. The coward was already running for the entrance to the cave, sensing that he was now surrounded and outnumbered.
Grinn roared, seeing his path blockaded. Fire burst from his nostrils as he turned back to face them, realizing that there was no escape.
Zoe vanished into a glimmer of light, which was wise. Battle was no place for the Gossamer Lady. Doc and Eod had already exited as well. Gwendolyn, however, remained.
Armor covered Galahad just in time for Grinn to spew fire from his lungs like a dragon, igniting the grass and underbrush. Gwen squeaked, throwing up her arms and promptly bursting into flames herself—as though she were once more a fire elemental.
While that was no longer wholly true, she was far more than that, he did have to admit that he adored her in red. Fire suited her.
Focus on the enemy, you idiot. Not her.
Grinn moved to run and escape into the woods. Briars and thornbushes, thick enough to block light, grew to block his path. He set them ablaze, but he could not destroy them and guard his back at the same time. Mordred moved to stand in the center of the clearing.
“Face me, coward.” Mordred held his sword tight in his hand. “We end this now, once and for all.”
