Binding Ties The Sentinel Wars - Shannon K. Butcher Page 0,114
while I guard their escape.
Through his eyes, she could see that there were still dozens of demons alive in this system of caves, and they were all gunning for Joseph. The scent of his blood was pulling them out of the shadows, but he was still going strong, holding them off with the help of the narrow tunnels to funnel them to him one or two at a time.
Lyka turned to Eric. “The young will help you get out. Joseph found the other two boys. I’m going back for them.”
The kids realized that this was their chance to shine and crowded around Eric to help him stay on his feet.
Lyka picked up the swords of the dead demons and handed them to the young. “Don’t be afraid to use these. Scream if you run into trouble. I’ll hear you.”
To be certain she would, she amplified her hearing with the help of Joseph’s power, and set out after him.
A few minutes later, she ran into the pair of Slayer boys. They still wore metal cuffs around their wrists and ankles, attached to broken chains. They were a little scuffed up, but basically both still in one piece.
“Is Joseph behind you?” she asked.
The older boy shook his head. “He had to stop before the cavern and hold them off. There were too many left for him to risk them surrounding him on all sides.”
Lyka reached out to him, but all she got was a sense of weariness and growing concern.
“How many were there?” she asked.
The boys shared a frightened look with each other. “Hundreds.”
As strong as Joseph was, as skilled as he was, and even with the advantage of the tunnels limiting his foes, there was no way he could defeat odds like those.
You need to hurry, said Joseph. I can’t hold them off much longer.
She opened herself up to him and, sure enough, she saw the kind of odds he faced. There were demons as far as the eye could see, their bodies pressing together, trying to force Joseph back into the giant cavern a few yards behind him.
Lyka looked at the boys. “The exit is clear. Put your left hand on the wall and don’t take it off. Keep moving upward. Eric and the others are already on their way out.”
“We can’t go alone,” said the younger boy.
“Yes, you can,” she told him, giving him a little shake. “Go now. Hurry.”
The boys took off on scrawny legs, kicking up dust behind them.
Don’t you dare come back here, Lyka, said Joseph.
Don’t you dare die before I get there, Theronai.
It’s too late. I can’t hold them. Run!
Chapter 45
One of Joseph’s greatest fears had been that he would die behind a desk. Now he knew that wasn’t going to happen.
He’d served his people well, fought hard and found true love. It was more than most men ever got, and a life he was lucky to have led. His only regret was that he wouldn’t live long enough to let Lyka know just how much he loved her, how precious she was and how honored he was that he got to call her his, if only for a little while.
I’m not done with you yet, she told him.
He knew he wasn’t getting out of here alive. He’d known it from the time he’d sent those boys running while he held off the demons on their tail. There were too many Synestryn for him to defeat alone, and there was no way he was going to call Lyka for help.
She needed to survive. His people needed her. There were so few female Theronai that every one was precious.
She more precious than most—at least to him.
There was no sorrow in his sacrifice. He could not think of a more noble death than defending innocents and protecting the life of his mate. It sure beat the hell out of dying of boredom in his office back at Dabyr.
He could feel the powerful flex of Lyka’s muscles as she ran toward him. She’d shifted to her tiger form and was rushing headlong into danger.
Don’t do this, Lyka. Please. Turn around.
Not going to happen. If you don’t want me to die down here, then keep your ass alive. I’m almost there.
Tell Nicholas that my death wish is for him to lead the Theronai.
Do I look like your secretary? she asked. Tell him yourself.
The demons were bearing down on him. One had already slipped around behind him and left a deep gash on his back.