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“Correct. So don’t let them get that far,” I say as we hit the foyer floor. “Kill them all.”
I take a moment to assess the situation, my eyes sweeping over the room. Azarius has barricaded the entrance with the sofas from the dining room, and the Malevs have broken the windows on either side of the door.
A Malev pokes its brown, snakelike head in through one of the holes, and Azarius promptly kicks it in the face.
It lets out a beastly shriek as it retreats.
“How do you want to handle it, boss?” Azarius calls as a second Malev attempts crawling through the window. He rakes his claws across its face, spilling black blood on the floor.
“If they get inside, they’ll destroy the place. Not to mention, it’ll be easier for them to get the human,” I say pointedly.
There’s no need to speak carefully because we all know why the Malevs are here. Not to mention, Devyn has spent every day of the last few weeks tromping around the mansion. Her scent is everywhere, and it’s probably driving the beasts crazy.
“Let’s meet them outside.” I extend my hand and draw all the nearby shadows to me, assembling them in an opaque mass that’s half the size of my body. I throw it at the window, knocking every remaining sliver of glass from the pane.
Azarius doesn’t hesitate, and leaps through the hole in a graceful bound.
Elio dives through head-first next.
Calling on my powers, I shift into gray smoke and swirl through the window, becoming solid again when my feet can touch the ground.
And it’s absolute mayhem.
Countless dark forms shift around us, some engaged in combat with Elio and Azarius, and others moving in my direction. A few skirt off toward the sides of the mansion, disappearing out of sight around the corners, and I make a mental note to go after them when I break through the mass ahead.
Out of sight means out of control, and we can’t let any of them get that far.
A broad Malev with a huge stomach and four arms steps in my direction, a guttural growl bellowing from him. I wait while his steps turn into a sprint, and when he grabs for me, my body turns to smoke, weaving through his grasp. I reappear to the left in a flash, grabbing it by the throat and squeezing until I feel bones crunch beneath my fingers. I shove him away, watching him stumble before he crashes to the ground where he stays, unmoving.
I look up and two more have taken his place, blocking my way from going after the stragglers. They’re easy kills, but this is still taking too long.
There’s an option that would make much easier work of these Malevs but tapping into that power is risky. Unlike Elio and Azarius, who can change into humans at will, I don’t have a human form.
The demon blood I possess doesn’t allow it.
I am a monster, and then I’m a bigger, more terrifying monster.
The Malevs continue closing the distance, hesitant after seeing what happened to fat one, and I succumb to the pull of my demonic power.
There’s no time for second guessing.
My body contorts, elongating and gaining mass. My nails stretch into claws. The blood pumping through my turns to liquid fire, burning its way through my body, and when I roar, I barely recognize the menacing sound that escapes my throat.
The approaching Malevs hesitate, obviously deterred by my transformation, and I lunge forward, my claws aimed for their throats.
ChapterNineteen
Devyn
The sounds drifting up from the ground outside make my stomach turn.
Growls.
Glass breaking.
And seconds ago, a brutal roar ripped through the air, making the hair on my arms stand up.
It’s killing me to not see what’s going on, but I promised Azarius I would stay buried in Elio’s armoire with a six-inch dagger after I barricaded the door. We hoped the smell of his clothes would be enough to mask my scent, but I’m not convinced. I never imagined wanting to bathe myself in nesda juice again, but that’s exactly what I find myself wanting as I shift my position to appease a thigh cramp.
