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“Now, JP!” I yell and follow Knox, Levi, Ryker, Knots, Zeke, and Lynx behind the other wall we had constructed.
If JP can make water fill up, he can also drain water. I watch in sick fascination as the water slowly drains out, and the Demons in the water dry in the mud and die in their solid grave. JP climbs down from the platform Levi made and joins us behind the second trap. We weren’t sure if we would need it, but since Slayer was buying us time and led the Demons on a wild goose chase, we took advantage of it.
“Do you think we should do the same to the dirt for the other Demons that were in the tunnel?” I ask, looking up at Knots. His chest is heaving and sweat is pouring down his face. “Knots!” I say, concern lacing my tone. I wipe the sweat from his face as he leans against me, almost crippling me with his weight.
Levi looks at Knots and back at the destruction behind us. “I don’t think we have time. Moni, think you can seal up that passage? We can just leave the wall and Rez’s shield. If they fall, hopefully it takes them out, but I think we need to move,” he says.
And I completely agree with him. Lynx meets my eyes and rolls his, before shifting back to a human and coming over, taking Knots’ weight. I give him a quick kiss on the cheek before helping Moni set the last trap, thickening my shields around the trap and Knots before grabbing Reaper.
Please be okay, Knots. I send up a silent plea to the Fates once again.
CHAPTER 51
The Beast
Lynx
I must be crazy to volunteer to help this fool. Nah, not crazy, just fucking in love with my mate, that’s what this is. I’m a fool in love.
‘You’re no fool, Lynx,’ Knots declares.
‘You got that right; you are. You noob,’ I tell Knots.
‘Thank you. I know you’ll treat her right when the time comes,’ he mumbles.
‘When what time comes?’ I ask. I swear this guy is too heavy to be completely filled with hot air. He’s not making any sense. The only good thing about carrying this sack of rocks, or wood in his case, is that I’m up here next to my Rezzi-Bear. She doesn’t want him out of her sight, which means she’s in my sight.
‘I’m not going to last down here, and she’s going to need you,’ Knots rambles on.
‘Well, you’re gonna have to. If you break my woman’s heart, I’ll tear yours in two,’ I growl out.
‘Can’t help it,’ he mumbles.
Ugh, this guy is infuriating!
“I think we’re almost there,” Rez calls out right as we turn a bend.
I almost drop the bastard as the Door comes into view. It’s nothing that I would imagine seeing in Hell. It’s an all white door with figures moving along the surface.
“Well, I don’t see no fucking beast,” Ryker scoffs. “So this will be a piece of cake.”
“Ryker!” Rez chastises him. “Don’t you know you’re going to jinx us?” Rez spits out.
Cue karma. The ground starts shaking, and I quickly set down Knots so he doesn’t get hurt falling from higher ground. Taking position in front of him, I quickly shift into my tiger form.
A screech rings out from the door, and the sound drops me to the floor. My fucking sensitive ears ring, but I don’t cry out like my friends around me.
A spiraling jet of water as thick as a tree trunk shoots out of the ground. Tentacles branch out from the bottom of the water and whip back and forth as the rest of the monster materializes. A watery ribcage forms, and spikes erupt from where the shoulders would be. Out of the water, arms form into solid bone with razor sharp claws at the end, paired with armor over the joints. A head raises out of the water with seaweed draping down the back of its head, resembling hair. As the head turns our way, I get my first look at its face. There’s no nose, but a thick metal forms above their mouth, extending over their eyes and down to their neck. I assume it’s a protective layer of some sort. Their underbite is impressive, and I wish I could send them to my old dentist.
The monster turns and roars, its earthy breath rolling over us. Digging my nails into the dirt, I’m able to hold my place but something about the smells hits me.
“Fuck!” Ryker yells. “JP, can you suck the water from that thing?”
“Ugh. I’m not that powerful, but I can try,” JP says.
JP starts to drain some of the water, and the monster screams before it suddenly shudders and shifts into another creature.
This one is one I know. A Manticore. The body of a Lion, bat wings, and scorpion’s tail. Except this one has porcupine quills all over it, so you can’t get close. Shit. I focus on their eyes, and that’s when it dawns on me.
“How the fuck are we going to defeat that?” Knox yells, back in his human form.
I shift back into my human self and quickly sweep the Manticore’s image, trusting my instincts. I’m our only chance. Not even Knox’s new form can take this on, and who knows what else it has in store for us. With my mind made up, I step before him and shift into a clone of his form. I crouch down to pounce despite Rez’s protest in my head to retreat and come up with a plan. The beast’s head jerks in my direction, rearing back slightly at the sight of my identical form, and I don’t waste a moment. I launch myself at the monster and extend my claws. I have a clear shot when I hear the group scream, “NO!!!”
Movement has me checking to my left, only in time to catch sight of the venomous barb aimed right for my unprotected flank. I was taught better than this, but at least I rocked my woman’s world and I’m not going out a virgin.
