Page 68 of Knight of the Sword

Her muddled brain tried to absorb that information. “You…want to rape me?” She looked from one young man to the other. “Why? Either of you could have your pick of girls your age—”

The shadow man laughed again. ‘Well, maybe Landon could pick up a girl his age, but you have no idea how old Lucifer is.”

Lucifer? His name was Lucien. Wasn’t it? Lucifer was the devil—Her blood chilled. The guy in the shadows had called him brother. Was he…Balor?

Demons had her! She tugged frantically at the steel collar, but it held fast.

Balor stepped out of the shadows and walked toward her, adjusting the patch over his eye. “You’ll be needing this to unlock the collar,” he said as he held up a key, “but we’re not ready for that just yet. First, we’ll have a little fun.” He reached down to jerk the chain, sending Sophie sprawling face down into the grass. Balor placed his boot between her splayed legs. “Don’t make this too easy for us, okay?” He laughed as she scrambled away. “That’s better. The reason you aren’t bound is because we—at least Lucifer and I do—like a woman with a little fight in her. Regrettably, for you, you won’t be able to get too far away.”

“Why are you doing this?” Sophie asked when she’d backed as far away as possible from him.

“That should be obvious. For Excalibur, of course. Landon did a fine job of getting the warlock out of the way so we could hold you for ransom.”

“We haven’t found the Sword.”

Balor adjusted his eye patch, lifting it just a bit, and Sophie doubled over in pain as if a knife had seared her.

“I’d suggest you don’t lie to me,” he said. “You’ve been followed everywhere by Landon and by Lucifer, and by my pet, Sigurd.”

A low snort came from behind a stand of trees and Sophie swung her head in that direction just in time to see a white hide slide past the trunks. Another low roar sounded, accompanied by smoke.

“Sei still!” Lucifer commanded.

Balor picked up the chain again and tugged. Sophie dug her feet into the soft ground and grasped the collar to avoid being choked. Balor tugged harder and she stumbled forward. “It’s too bad your warlock won’t be around to watch the three of us rut with you,” he said, “but you can tell him how good it was after we get the Sword.”

“Rape isn’t my idea of fun!” Sophie hissed as she was forced to take another step forward.

“She’s right,” Lucifer said and stepped forward. “Let’s make this more exciting.” He took the key from Balor and unlocked the collar. “There now. You can run. We’ll catch you, of course, but this is a little more sporting. I’ll even give you a head start.”

Sophie rubbed her neck. “Like a fox in front of hounds?”

Lucifer grinned. “The chase always arouses me.”

Sophie didn’t wait to hear more, but turned and fled, running faster than she even knew was possible. Behind her, she heard him laugh and then he was on her, knocking her to the ground. She twisted around, pummeling his chest.

He laughed again. “Fight me, bitch. It makes me hard.” His eyes glowed red as horns sprouted from his head.

Sophie screamed and thrashed and then felt a surge of power in her fingertips. Forcing herself to concentrate, she sent the purple light at Lucifer. He cursed and put his hands around her throat. “You damn little white witch,” he hissed. “You dare—”

He stopped suddenly, tossing Sophie aside, as a mighty roar filled the air. Sophie rolled, gasping for air and looked up.

Pendragon, in his full, lethal size, flew straight at them, Michael riding astride, holding a flaming Excalibur high. He leapt to the ground as the dragon swooped low and then rose again.

A snarl sounded from behind the trees as the white dragon rose into the air, shooting a flare of fire at Pendragon. The red dragon roared back with a fiery volley. Leather wings flapping furiously, they flew at each other, claws extended, jaws open. Their thunderous clash shook the earth as they grappled with each other, talons ripping into metal scales.

Silver light shimmered around Michael as he stalked toward Balor, Excalibur in hand.

“Showtime,” Balor said and lifted his patch.

Heavy, black air surrounded them, so dense it made breathing difficult. Sophie squinted, able only to see the flickering light around Michael and the strange flame that clung to the Sword. She tried to concentrate on where Balor was. Her magic might not be strong, but maybe it would help.

Lucifer morphed into demon form, horns steel-tipped and fangs exposed as he circled around into the blackness behind Michael.

“Your back, Michael!” Sophie yelled and shot purple light toward Lucifer, who turned, hissing, caught the light in one clawed hand and was ready to hurl it back in the form of a cannonball when Tanio manifested.

“You will stop!” he said.

Lucifer sneered at him. “You no longer control me, god.”