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“Die now, or get out of here and hide, hoping Paimon wouldn’t find me.” Thierry rubbed at his chin. “I think I would take option two.”
“What’s going on?” the waitress asked. She had Soghen’s burger and beer in her hands.
“Nothing that concerns you,” I snarled.
She dropped the burger and the beer on the nearest table and dashed to the bar in the back. I was sure she was now calling the police or something like that. We didn’t have much time if we wanted to avoid more trouble.
Ariella took two steps closer to Soghen. “Where’s Paimon?”
The demon shook his head. “I don’t deal directly with him. I deal with his second in command, Rotgar.”
Ariella frowned. “I heard his second in command is a woman.”
Soghen snorted. “Ivy? Paimon favors her because she’s his daughter, but he pretends to give her control. At least, that’s what Rotgar says.”
“That’s enough bullshit,” I snapped.
Ariella nodded. “Just tell us where to find Paimon. I’ll settle for Rotgar.”
“I-I can’t.”
Losing my patience, I grabbed the demon’s throat and squeezed, pulling him up. He grabbed at my forearms and rose on his tiptoes.
“Answer the lady,” I snarled.
“I … said … no!”
In a flash, the demon shifted. His human form melted away, giving way to gray, rough skin, a shaved skull, two curling horns, black eyes, and razor-sharp teeth. His neck became twice as large and I lost my grip on him.
I gaped at him. He was still short, but he looked ugly and built like a bull.
And just like a bull, he charged me.
I shifted my arm and swiped at his face. He ducked under my strike and twisted away, avoiding Ariella but facing the demon hunters and their Dawnblades.
Around us, the patrons screamed and fled. The waitress disappeared inside the kitchen and closed the door.
The demon called upon darkfire, the magic wrapping around his arms. I felt the familiarity of his magic tugging at my Shadow Wolf. No, I wouldn’t lose control now.
Ariella lifted her hand and flashed a bright light at Soghen’s face. He blinked and stood still. Thierry and Doreen grabbed his arms, holding him in place.
I loomed close to him and he pushed off the floor, hitting me in the stomach with both his feet. I stumbled back three steps, bumped into a chair. With the force of the impact, Soghen took Doreen and Thierry down with him, over two tables and a few chairs, breaking most of them.
Groaning, Doreen and Thierry let go of the demon and he ran.
I jumped and shifted midair, my clothes ripping apart in the process. The demon ran from the bar and I followed. He was ten steps out when I jumped and landed right on his back. The force took us down, but I stayed on top of him. When he tried to turn, I bit down on his neck and pressed my teeth around his throat.
He stilled.
Two seconds later, Doreen and Thierry were by our side, their Dawnblades pointed to the demon’s head. I backed away, snarling at him. Slowly, Soghen turned around. He sat up on the rough ground, his hands raised.
Ariella walked toward him, her fingers poised with dancing light. “Now, tell us where the hell Paimon is hiding?”
9
RAIKA
It tookus more than an hour to leave.
