Hunting Fiends for the Ill-Equipped (The Guild Codex Demonized #3) - Annette Marie Page 0,68

your dream at last.”

Claude smiled modestly. “It’s taken a long time to get here.”

Zylas didn’t move, gazing blankly at the floor. The men continued talking, their words mush in my ears. I didn’t care. It didn’t matter.

“Robin.”

I started, shocked to find Claude standing in front of me. I hadn’t noticed him moving closer.

“Where is the grimoire, Robin?”

My apathy shattered. I shrieked against the gag, lunging forward. The chair wobbled, its legs scraping the dirt floor. Hatred scorched my soul and I wanted my hands around his throat. I wanted demonic claws so I could tear him apart, so I could gouge those callous eyes from his skull.

He’d taken my parents from me, and now he’d taken Zylas too. If I killed him, Zylas would be freed from the summoner’s command.

Grabbing my throat, Claude shoved me and the chair back into the cinderblock wall. He studied me as I screamed against the gag.

“I’ll keep this simple, my dear. There’s no way to move a contract from one person to another.”

My shrieks cut off. I sucked in air, teeth gritted.

“Regardless of the rumors to the contrary, a contract can’t be transferred, but”—he smiled coldly—“a demon can be shared. We spent many years developing the ritual you just witnessed.”

He leaned close, his face filling my vision. “I, however, don’t like to share. Your contract with Zylas is about to end, and there’s only one way that can happen.” Releasing my throat, he stepped back. “So here is my offer, Robin. Tell me where the grimoire is and how to get it, and I’ll kill you so quickly you won’t feel a thing. Refuse, and I’ll give you to my old friends, who’d very much like to spend a good long time with you before you die.”

Across the room, Jaden grinned hungrily.

I trembled against the chair.

Claude studied my face, then sighed. “Well, her stubbornness is good news for your boys, Saul.”

The old sorcerer made a quiet noise. “Unfortunate for you, though. Aren’t you in a hurry?”

“I can’t linger for long.” Claude turned away from me. “Someone has been meddling in our affairs, and if they go so far as to trespass in the Court, I intend to be waiting for them.”

“Could it be the sorceress’ doing? Dealing with a woman like that—”

“Varvara served her purpose well, and she even did me the convenience of dying once I had what I needed.” Claude rubbed his jaw, the stiff scar on his chin pulling at his lip. “But I may not need to wait for Robin to change her mind. Her former demon should know where to find the grimoire.”

As he moved toward the circle, where Zylas was still crouched, he waved at the impatiently waiting twins. “She’s all yours. Just don’t kill her yet.”

Grinning, Jaden strode around the perimeter of the room, Braden following a step behind. Their gazes raked over me, anticipation burning in their faces and madness burning in their twisted souls.

“I hope you appreciate the lenient contract I gave you, Zylas,” Claude murmured, stopping at the circle’s edge. “I didn’t bind your voice or magic. If you cooperate, you won’t find service to me terrible.”

Zylas slowly lifted his head, his glowing stare flat.

Holding the dangling infernus, Claude thrust his hand into the circle. “Daimon, hesychaze.”

Zylas dissolved into crimson power. The light leaped into the infernus.

As Claude pulled his infernus out of the circle and settled the chain around his neck, Jaden and Braden crouched on either side of my chair. I flinched, but I had no escape—no way to avoid their hands as they reached for me. Touching my arms. Squeezing my thighs. Jaden stroking my cheek as he whispered his sick fantasies in my ear.

Red light flashed. Zylas took shape again, standing obediently beside Claude.

The summoner tapped his chin thoughtfully. “Well, Zylas? Tell me where Robin hid the grim—”

A flash of claws, swift and deadly.

Blood sprayed from Claude’s chest. He fell backward, shock blanking his face, mouth gaping.

Zylas sprang like a panther, canines bared. Jaden and Braden slammed into the walls on either side of me. The chair beneath me shattered. Then Zylas was sweeping me against him. Crimson power blazed over his arm as he stretched it toward the ceiling, palm turned up, fingers spread. A huge spell formed above his palm.

“Ori quinque!”

Saul’s spell hurled Zylas into the wall, the cinderblock shattering from the impact—but the demon’s cast didn’t falter.

Magic detonated like a bomb.

The blast tore the ceiling off the basement—tore right through the garage above. Debris tumbled down, and