Angelbound

Nothing happens.

Around us, the stadium breaks out into full-bore pandemonium. Screams echo through the air. Demons, angels, and quasis scramble about, their bodies a jumble of bloody, hand-to-hand combat. Lincoln’s caught somewhere in that tangle of war. My chest tightens. We all have to escape, now.

I search Walker’s face, panic swirling through me. “What’s wrong?”

His features contort. “Give it a moment, there are so many—”

But Walker’s interrupted. Two dark and nasty Crini demons step in front of us, making for sixteen giant octopus legs to fend off at once.

Unholy moley.

The first Crini grabs Walker around the belly and squeezes. Now, Walker can barely breathe, let alone open a portal.

I round on the first Crini, my eyes blazing with fury. How dare you lay a tentacle on my Walker?! I dig in my heels, ready to leap up and kick in its face, when the second Crini takes a swipe at my back.

Dammit! Walker will have to wait.

I duck low while my tail goes to work, slicing through two of my attacker’s arms. I quickly shoot a glance at Walker; his arms and legs are braced between the creature’s long black beak and huge red eyes. It’s taking all his strength not to get stuffed into the Crini’s mouth.

That gives me an idea.

My Crini lunges at me again; this time I hold stock-still. The creature’s arm wraps about me, pulling me toward its snapping jaws. I play possum until I’m inches away from its beak, then stab my tail through its eye and brain. The demon howls, then falls over dead. Hah!

I’m dropped in a heartbeat, only to get scooped up by Walker’s monster. Fresh rage blasts through me. This slimy monster picked the wrong girl. The Crini wraps two massive arms wrap about my body; a third holds my tail firmly in place.

Dammit, this one’s clever.

Panic zooms through me. I can’t move my arms, legs, or tail. The Crini’s great eyes flip between me and Walker, debating the better meal. Its gaze locks on me. Not good. With a curl of its tentacle, the demon moves Walker away from its mouth. After that, he pulls my head toward its jaws instead.

I writhe and struggle, but it’s no use. The Crini opens its long beak. Green razor-sharp teeth line its mouth. Saliva drips from its huge pink tongue. Everything takes on a dreamlike quality. I seem to float outside myself as the monster drags my head deep within its jaws.

This is it. I’m about to get killed. Somehow I feel numbed instead of terrified.

I wince, my hands balling into fists. I struggle to break loose from the monster’s grip, but it’s no use. All I can do is wait for a CRACK as its teeth sink into my skull.

Instead of biting down, the creature’s jaws loosen. Its tentacle-arms fall slack, allowing me to twist out of its grip. I gain solid footing and scan the Arena.

Holy crap, what happened there? I scope out the Arena’s floor. Lincoln stands nearby, his baculum sword blazing. The Crini lies in two neat halves by his feet. I exhale a long breath, relief filling every cell in my body.

“I owe you one.” I smile.

He grins, wagging his eyebrows suggestively. “I know.”

I chuckle, more than thankful for the smile.

The Prince grabs my hand; his fire-sword disappears. “Walker’s free, let’s get out of here.”

Relief washes over me. Walker’s okay and we can leave! I scope out the stadium floor. Walker stands nearby, his arm gripping his belly, his face writhing in pain. A portal lays open beside him, its shape flickering in and out of focus.

We don’t have long. Walker’s so hurt, he can barely keep a half-portal open. We need to get him help and us to safety. Lincoln and I race toward the opened portal.

A high-pitched scream rattles our eardrums, freezing us both in place. Lincoln winces. “I know that voice.”

“I do too. It’s Adair.” My heart sinks. Why didn’t that high-maintenance dip leave with the Scala?

Squinting, I see Adair standing beside the lifeless hulk of a Manus demon. The creature lays face-down on the Arena floor, its body a mound of bloody wounds and matted black fur.

As I watch Adair scream and flail, my mouth scrunches onto one side of my face. This is what you call a ‘classic moral dilemma.’ On the one hand, I have Walker, clearly injured and struggling to open a portal so he can save himself, me, and the man that I love. On the other hand, I have Adair, who walked into this situation like a dumbass and arguably deserves to die. On top of everything, I’m part demon. Nobody really expects me to do the right thing here. I could grab Lincoln, shove us both through the portal, and easily talk my way out of it later. Uh-oh, I totally panicked. My bad! Inside my soul, my wrath demon growls, encouraging a fast exit.

A fast exit? Not a bad thought, really.

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