She took it, and I scrambled onto the front platform and drew my blades from the ether. I hurled the first one, nailing the demon in the chest. No blood sprayed, and somehow, he kept standing.
Then he started running, pounding toward me on massive feet. He wore heavy armor that glinted in the light of the moon. My blade stuck out of his chest, but he didn’t seem to feel it.
He was twenty yards off and gaining.
I threw another dagger, hitting him just under the throat. He stumbled, then threw out his hand. A blast of flame hurtled toward us.
“Swerve!” I screamed, holding on.
Caro jerked the wheel, and the buggy veered right. But it wasn’t far enough. I called upon the dregs of my magic, envisioning a shield. It sputtered to life, deflecting the worst of the flame. Then it died.
But I was ready.
I chucked another blade, hitting him square in the middle of the throat. He was so close to the buggy that the spraying blood hit me in the chest. Caro jerked the wheel again, barely avoiding running him over.
“We have to be close!” Bree said.
“There’s activity up ahead!” Jude’s voice sounded from my comms charm. “A lot of magic just lit up the night!”
Rowan climbed onto the front platform with me, her dark hair whipping in the wind. I glanced back to see that Bree had taken the wheel, then turned to face whatever was coming.
“Right!” Caro called.
Bree turned, driving away from the dock. We weaved through towers of shipping containers. When demons began to jump off the towers, I knew we were close.
I drew my dagger and threw, aiming for a demon in front of us. It sliced him through the eye, and bile rose in my throat. That was my weak spot. I hated an eye shot.
My friends hurled daggers and potion bombs, taking out the demons who leapt down at us. One landed on the platform between Rowan and me. She was fast, stabbing it through the back, then grabbing it by the collar and heaving it over the side of the platform. The motion was practiced and smooth.
“Holy fates, you’re fast!” I said.
She looked at me, eyes bright. “I’ve been practicing.”
I knew she’d been obsessed with weapons training lately—she’d been living without her magic for longer than me—but she was seriously badass.
We took out a dozen more demons, then they stopped entirely. Up ahead, the piles of shipping containers stopped, too. It was like looking down a narrow alley that opened up to a large street. There was a clearing at the end, and it stank of dark magic. I breathed shallowly, nearly vomiting from the stench.
Magic glowed from the clearing. “Jude, I think we’ve found it.”
“I’m sending in backup.”
Bree slowed the car to a prowl. I turned around, and Caro handed me one of the shields we’d loaded into the truck. Everyone else grabbed one, and I turned to face forward, bracing myself.
“Backup will be there in two minutes,” Jude said. “But you’d better get in there. The magic is growing.”
“On it.” Bree stepped on the gas.
I braced myself against the stench.
When the buggy rolled out into the clearing, I got my first good look at what we were up against.
Eight mages stood in a circle, each guarded by two or three demons. They were facing the center of the clearing, where the rubble of an ancient site stood derelict. Fallen columns surrounded piles of stone. Magic radiated out from the place, old and powerful. The mages directed their magic at the ruins—trying to create a portal?
I’d put money on it.
This was why they were here. Something about the ruins made it possible to create the portal they needed.
The women that I’d seen in the baths were here as well, guarded by a half dozen demons. One had a satchel over her shoulder. It glowed with power. I glanced back at Lachlan. His gaze was glued to it.
“That’s the spell?” I asked.
“Aye.”
I turned to face them again. They’d all noticed us but hadn’t moved. Sweat rolled down the mages’ faces as they fed their magic to the ruins, frantically trying to create the portal. The demons guarding them crouched low, some drawing weapons. The others raised their hands to throw magic at us.
“Evacuate!” I called.
The buggy was too big a target, and we had no super shields. If they hit us with a huge fireball or lightning blast, we’d all be toast, and the mission would fail.
Everyone bailed out of the buggy and rolled away just as a massive fireball plowed toward it. It smashed into the front of the truck, the heat blazing out to the side and singeing my skin. I sprinted away, cursing.
The reinforced bumper and hood kept the buggy from exploding in a fireball, but the front looked seriously damaged.
No time to worry about that.
I scrambled upright and chose my target. Lachlan was already headed toward the two women with the spell. He ran like a man possessed, sure strides carrying him across the clearing. I darted after him, while my friends split up and headed for the mages.
If we could take some of them out, they couldn’t make the portal, and the spell could never leave.
Bree and Rowan joined me, their shields raised.
We hadn’t even reached the line of demon guards before two of them hurled fireballs at us. I knelt and raised my metal and rubber shield, huddling behind it and wishing my magic were more reliable.
The fireball smashed into my shield and sent me skidding back in the dirt. I barely stayed upright on my knees, though the rubber-like lining on the inside of the shield protected me from the heated metal.
“Are you all right?” Bree cried.
“Yeah!” As soon as the flame died, I peered around the shield and caught sight of a fire demon. His burnished red skin glowed with an unholy light.
He was powering up his flame, which bought me a second.
I hurled my dagger at him. He glanced up, his eyes widening, and flung out his hand, then jerked it to the side. The blade deflected at the last minute, flying left. It sliced him across the arm, then flew harmlessly away.
“Fire and telekinesis.” That was bad news.
Ahead of us, Lachlan slammed his shield against one of the mage’s heads. He’d gone the brute-force route and plowed straight through the fireballs, his insane strength keeping him on his feet.
All around us, my friends fought the demons who guarded the mages. Ali and Haris fought in a team, as usual, while Caro was a whirlwind with her sword, platinum hair flying.
Reinforcements arrived, joining them, but the demons were strong.
I drew another dagger from the ether and hurled it at a pale blue demon who was about to throw an icicle toward Lachlan. It pierced the demon in the chest, and he staggered backward.
“Incoming!” Rowan called.
Another fireball flew my way, and I raised my shield again. The force of the blast nearly sent me off my feet. As soon as it dissipated, I got up and charged, drawing my sword from the ether.
I couldn’t give him time to recoup his power. As I neared, his skin glowed brighter.
Crap! He was almost powered up.
He raised a hand to hurl a fireball, but I dived low, swiping out with my blade.
I barely reached him, slicing a thin line across his shins. He howled, stumbling, and I jumped to my feet. He swung out with one big fist. I raised my shield, but I was too slow. He nailed me in the arm, and my grip slackened. The shield dropped to my feet.
I ignored the pain as I swung my sword, aiming for his neck.
He dodged, fast for such a big demon.
I followed, stabbing with my blade. The steel sank into his side. He howled and tried to jerk backward, but his leg wounds made him awkward.
I twisted the blade, then kicked him in the stomach, dislodging him from my sword.
Bree and Rowan had each taken out a demon, and Lachlan had taken out two. There were still five more to go, though.
All around, demons had fallen. Even some of my friends. But the mages were still working.
Magic filled the air, dark and powerful. I stole a glance at the portal.
It shimmered with a silver light, then a figure appeared. Panic flared in my chest, making my heart race.
The figure was draped in a heavy, hooded cloak that seemed to absorb all light. Dark magic flowed out from it, sending a streak of cold fear right through my middle.