slithers through, I scream with all my might. “Carrick!”
The demons are not what I thought they’d look like. I had expected big brutish beasts with tusks, slobber, warts, and weapons. Instead, they’re sleek, small, and run on four legs with sharply clawed paws. Their skin is smooth and black as pitch with an oily sheen to them. They have spindly tails that whip back and forth over their backs. Their heads have a long snout with razor-sharp teeth and their eyes are white, making them appear blind, though I know they’re not.
Though they may be small, they are utterly terrifying.
The first few come through, looking unsure as they swivel their heads left and right and raise their noses to the air.
It’s the scent of blood that gets them riled. As if they are pre-programmed to know who to attack, they take off in loping runs toward our forces. With powerful hind legs, they jump on the backs of our allies, sinking their jaws into flesh and bone. While they cannot kill the daemons and fae fighting on our side, they provide a horrible distraction.
I watch as four demons attack a Brevalian from behind as he battles three daemons. They easily drag him to the ground, ripping at his wings and stomach while the daemons manage to plunge a spear through his chest. The Brevalian explodes into sparks, and I’m glad his death was quick.
Something blows by me, two blurry flashes, and I can tell it’s Carrick and Maddox. They both flash to Kymaris, but she whirls on them before they reach her. With a swipe of her hand, she manages to backhand Maddox and he goes flying.
When Carrick reaches her, she throws a blast of sparkling red magic at him, which drops him to his knees.
I don’t hesitate. I pull my lariat out, thankful for some quick training by Carrick, my prior life as a cattlewoman, and a healthy dose of my magic now freed from Rune’s clutches, and I throw it at Kymaris. It sails gracefully through the air and lands right over her head. When I yank hard, the loop closes and the rope strangling her neck is the first indication to her that I’ve joined the fight.
She whips around, one hand on the length of rope that is now held between the two of us, and attempts to pull it free.
But I hold tight, and the mere fact that she doesn’t manage to free herself immediately tells me the magic within it has indeed dampened her powers a tiny bit.
I use the distance between us—a mere ten feet—to my advantage, and, in quick succession, pull and throw four knives from my holster.
She doesn’t block a single one, and they all embed in her stomach.
Kymaris doesn’t even flinch, instead thrusting her free hand toward me. A bolt of power hits me and causes so much pain, I can’t even scream. I go stumbling backward several feet and fall to my knees. It feels like my chest is collapsing in on my lungs, and I claw at myself to try to pull away the invisible magic.
Vaguely, I see Carrick and Maddox now battling Kymaris. The lariat is gone and she’s at full force, but the two demi-gods are keeping her off balance with a coordinated attack of magic and weapons, their bodies moving so fast, I can’t really follow the action.
I call on my light magic to repel away whatever it was that Kymaris hit me with. Just as my lungs loosen and I suck in a deep breath, I get knocked forward by something hitting me in the back.
My face hits the dirt as sharp teeth sink into my shoulder.
There’s a demon on me.
I call forth a well of magic but before I can let it loose, the demon is knocked clear off me with a sharp yip of pain.
I turn over to stare in astonishment at my savior.
Zora stands tall and proud, glowing with magic.
“You did it,” I exclaim breathlessly. She tapped into her powers to save me.
She bends at the waist, a grim smile in place. Offering her hand, she mutters, “I couldn’t have you dying by some hell dog, could I?”
I laugh as she yanks me up from the ground. She’s the one initiating affection as she pulls me into a hard hug. There’s no stopping the tiny moan from the pain in my shoulder. I glance at it to see blood seeping through my shirt from the demon bite. Zora releases me and I