A grinning head rolled toward me, its eyes glazed in death. I stared in horrified fascination for a moment before vomiting up every morsel of the fish I’d eaten earlier.
The memory of that awful day had faded over time, but seeing the creatures we faced now brought it all back. Fear threatened to paralyze me once again, but I shoved it down and stiffened my shoulders to prepare for what lay ahead.
I couldn’t afford to be afraid. Not today.
We followed the path around the side of the main building, stepping over the body of a decapitated witch. When we turned the corner, I saw the bear shifter PT instructor battling two ugly-as-fuck demons. I was relieved to note the bear appeared to be holding its own.
Hulder growled and flexed his brutish arms. He seemed unafraid, which I was grateful for. I had a feeling I’d need my friend’s help.
There was no sign of my witch. The tether in my chest told me she wasn’t far, but I could see nothing through the thick shadows cloaking the trees.
“Kai!” Hulder’s urgent warning made me look up. A small, winged demon with a mouth full of razor-sharp teeth dove toward us. I summoned my trident and thrust it up, skewering the thing. Black blood rained down on us, nearly blinding me.
Before I could yank my trident free, Hulder had torn the creature’s head off with a grim smile.
“Score one to me,” he said with a smirk, like this was a beach volleyball tournament.
“Asshole,” I muttered, but he just grinned.
I wiped the gunk from my face and focused. Two more winged demons headed our way. What the fuck was happening, and where were the security mages?
Gripping my trident and summoning my net, I stood my ground and waited for the winged monstrosities to get within throwing distance. Seconds later, I had the first trapped in my magical net, shrieking in rage. The second flapped around desperately, lashing out with its claws and barbed tail.
Hulder caught a blow, but his armored skin protected him. I wasn’t so lucky. My shoulder tore open, but I ignored the pain. I’d heal. And if I didn’t, then at least my mother could boast I’d not died a coward.
Once both demons lay dead with their heads removed, I finally dared relax for a moment, only to see the bear diving into the shadows. The tether tugged me forward, urging me to follow him.
“Go,” Hulder grunted, grimacing as he swiped a chunk of demon entrails off his chest.
“Stay safe,” I said before running at full pelt into the swirling mass of inky-black shadow.
4
Zane
Darkness cloaked me, the shadows so dense I could almost taste them. Raven vanished from sight. I called her name, but the shadows swallowed my words, echoing them back to me like we’d fallen into some fucked-up carnival attraction.
Fear and I were strangers, but for the first time in years, unease sank its claws into me.
What the fuck was happening?
The grass under my feet felt real, and if I listened hard enough, I could hear faint screams and yells, which suggested we were still on campus. But the hellhounds had vanished, along with Raven, the storm mage, and the sour-faced witch.
My hand flexed as I tried to pull my angel blade from the pocket realm where I stored it. But it failed to materialize. Whatever fucked-up magic this was, it had successfully blocked my access to the in-between.
Oh well.I’d been in worse situations before. Few, granted. But it was fucking difficult to kill an incubus like me.
A demon appeared out of the blackness. Like the one that had stolen Raven from me, this was also a higher-level demon. Not an archdemon, but still powerful.
It stood tall, smirking as it flexed its clawed fingers while wielding a vicious blade. I tried once more to pullmyblade, but still nothing.Fuck.
Shit just got real.
The demon cocked his head to one side and frowned. A second later, the kitsune popped into view, carrying my angel blade. He dropped it at my feet and vanished again. The demon snarled in fury and lunged for me, but I grabbed the blade and rolled sideways out of reach.
Claws scraped my arm, slashing through my shirt, leaving shreds of fabric hanging loose. I huffed in annoyance as blood dripped down my arm. I’d paid good money for that shirt!
My angel blade sliced through the demon’s upper arm like a hot knife through butter, leaving the appendage dangling by a single tendon. This time the demon roared in fury.
