Demon King (Claimed By Lucifer #1) - Elizabeth Briggs Page 0,91

lightning and tearing him apart. He let out a mighty roar as it consumed him, dragonfire spewing from his mouth in every direction, and I snapped my wings, sending me backwards and away from him. He lit up the night like a display of fireworks, until all that was left were his ashes as they blew away in the wind.

At his death, the other dragons below us let out a wailing roar, and then they loped away, giving up the fight. The remaining gargoyles hurried after them on their bat-like wings, the battle over. It surprised me to see it hadn’t been just my Fallen fighting the gargoyles and dragons, but a few angels had joined the battle—the ones I’d texted earlier. I hadn’t expected them to respond so soon, and I began flying toward them.

A scream and a crash from inside the penthouse struck me with sudden terror. Dread filled my chest as I rushed toward more battle sounds and noises of struggle echoing from the library—where I’d left Hannah.

32

Hannah

Lucifer had been gone for only a few seconds before I grabbed the sword off the wall—the same one I’d used against the gargoyles, the one I seemed able to use without even thinking about it. Lucifer’s sword, from back when he’d been an angel. Hopefully nobody would come into the library, but I had to defend myself if they did. Assuming I remembered how to fight again.

Long minutes passed by, and the noises outside the library filled me with fear and anxiety, including guttural roars that made the floor shake. Then I heard a huge crash as if the windows were shattering, like they’d done during the gargoyle attack, and I couldn’t wait any longer. I had to know if Lucifer was okay.

I threw open the door and ran out, swallowing hard at the sight of the penthouse torn apart again and some of the walls scorched with fire. Outside, Fallen angels clashed against gargoyles and dragons, while fire lashed across the night sky. I wondered if any humans in the hotel or down on the ground could see this, and if they thought it was another Vegas attraction. The magic of Sin City. If only they knew what really happened in Vegas.

Then Lucifer flew into view, and my heart pounded harder as he fought a red dragon a good three times his size. Was that Mammon? Dammit, I should have warned him earlier about what I’d heard at the ball, but it had slipped my mind after Jophiel kidnapped me. I gasped as Lucifer streaked upward, far out of my sight, chasing the dragon. I ran for the balcony, my slippers crunching on broken glass, hoping to see where they went.

My only warning of approaching danger was a faint whisper behind me. My instincts took over, and I whirled in time to yank up Lucifer’s blade and slice through tendrils of shadow magic that had been about to grab me.

The sword glowed bright white as Gadreel stepped forward out of the darkness. His grim smile sent tremors of terror through my heart, especially when he squared off, pointing a sword at me that looked similar to mine, except it blazed with darkness instead of light.

As Gadreel and I shifted positions, like we were about to dance, I prayed my muscle memory would hold and that I was a good enough swordswoman to match Gadreel.

“Why are you doing this?” I asked. “I thought we were friends! Or at least we were, back when I was Lenore.”

He slashed forward, on the offensive, and I blocked him with my glowing sword. We weren’t fully fighting, not yet. He wanted to feel me out. Probably checking to see if I had enough fight in me in this body. Asshole, I had plenty.

“You know why,” he said, his voice cold. All traces of fun-loving Gadreel were gone, leaving a stranger in his place. “Deep down, you’ve always known my true identity. Haven’t you?”

I nearly dropped the sword as clarity swept through me. My hands trembled and I stepped back, but I managed to whisper his name. “Adam.”

A cruel smile spread across his handsome face. “I’ve come for you, my wife. As I always do.”

I leveled the glowing sword at him. “Stay away from me!”

His face darkened, and he attacked again. I had to dance and move quickly to block him. As we fought, we dodged upended furniture and broken glass, unintentionally moving back toward the library. The battle was balanced, and somehow I