“Bryn!” Nox flagged down the first available hellhound and pointed at Merlin as he rushed over to help.
“I got it,” Bryn answered and grabbed the giant’s foot, easily yanking it off of Merlin and heaving it at a gross little púca bearing an axe that was taller than he was.
The Fomorian hit its target, crushing the púca and killing it. Everywhere Nox looked, he saw the destruction of Dùbhghlas’s army. The ground was littered with dead and thrashing giants, the remains of various dark creatures, and their burning encampment. He did a headcount and all of his team were on their feet and fighting or racing through the air.
They werewinningand Nox was relieved and confident as he headed for the cabin, then was stopped in his tracks when the front doors opened and Hugh Dùbhghlas stepped out to face him.
Chapter Twenty-One
The shrill cry of a valkyrie shook the cabin and was Nelson’s first sign that help had arrived. He laughed under his hood and listened for more sounds of chaos. Footsteps and bodies clattered in the hallway outside of his door and the distant booms and desperate roars were music to his ears.
I’m alright. Please be careful. I’m alright. Please be careful. I’m alright. Please be careful…
Nelson put all of his energy and attention into that message. They were so close, Nelson couldn’t bear it if he lost Nox now or any of their friends were taken from them.
He heard the door open and Nelson’s immediate priority was to create as much distraction and confusion as possible from the inside.
“Hey, what’s up with that basket of wings I ordered? The service here stinks and I want to take it up with the manager.”
“You’ve caused me enough trouble!” Dùbhghlas yelled before Nelson was hit hard in the face.
The right side stung like hell but Nelson clicked his teeth and shook his head. “Didn’t anyone tell you that the customer is always right?”
“I saidenough!”
Nelson was punched again, hard enough to knock the chair onto its side. It took a moment for Nelson to recover from the shock and the pain but he sighed dramatically. “That’s going in my review too.”
“You won’t live to write a review,” Dùbhghlas growled and suddenly, he was on top of Nelson. A knee pressed into his ribs and Nelson’s throat was gripped tight. “How did you tell them where to find you?” Dùbhghlas demanded with another ear-ringing blow to Nelson’s face.
“This little light of mine…” Nelson sang and laughed, letting his joy rise. “I’m gonna let it shine!”
“Get up!”
Nelson didn’t stop singing as the bindings around his wrists and feet were cut and he was pulled up and onto his feet roughly. He was cuffed with his hands in front of him and something tightened around his neck before Nelson was pushed and ordered to walk. After several stumbling steps, Nelson was thrown against a wall.
“How did you contact them? Did you have help?” Dùbhghlas panted against Nelson’s ear, keeping his voice down.
“Maybe it was that bird bitch of yours. Maybe she ran into your mother when she got to Hell and maybe your mother put an ad in the paper, telling everyone how disappointed she is and where to find you.”
The beating that followed was swift and severe and had Nelson crouched against the wall until Dùbhghlas’s kicks and punches stopped and he was hauled upright.
“How did you contact them? You are nothing more than a bodyguard and his gateway,” Dùbhghlas said as something hard pressed against Nelson’s temple and he heard a pistol cocking.
There was a flash of fear but Nelson bottled it, reminding himself that time was infinite on the other side. “Then pullthe trigger,” he dared Dùbhghlas. “This little light ofmine…!” Nelson sang as loudly as he could.
“Move!” Dùbhghlas hissed and pushed Nelson to get him walking again.
“Whoa!” Nelson tripped comedically, crossing his feet and throwing himself on the ground and rolling until a wall stopped him. “Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine! “Although, a little light might have prevented this,” he murmured as he flapped his bound hands vaguely.
“Get up! We don’t have time!”
Nelson’s arm was yanked hard and the cord around his neck pulled tight, dragging him up and onto his feet. “Do we have an appointment? Is something happening?” he asked cluelessly.
“You know!I don’t know how you did this but I will make you pay!” Dùbhghlas was seething.
“Actually, I thinkyoudid this, you nitwit.”
“Me?” Dùbhghlas slammed Nelson into another wall and grabbed his face through the hood. “I have been masterful and would have succeeded if it weren’t for you.”
