A Dangerous Demon King (The Sentinel Demons Book 4) by J. S. Scott Page A

feel to be on the other side of pain?” Kristoff asked furiously. “Feel good to you? ‘Cause it feels fucking fantastic to me.” Even though his central anger was still about Sophie, he hadn’t forgotten Goran’s mind fuck or his torture while he was his prisoner.
    Real fear appeared in Goran’s red-eyed expression as Kristoff held the weapon that would take the demon’s head. “Don’t kill me. I didn’t kill your mate,” Goran begged.
    “Only because you couldn’t and didn’t want to. She always recharged so you could hurt her again.”
    “I-I didn’t kill you either,” Goran stammered, his red eyes riveted to the large blade over his head.
    “Because you wanted to keep me barely alive for insurance. Otherwise, I’d be dead right now.”
    Kristoff was insane with the desire to make this creature pay for everything he’d done to Sophie, but he knew he was running out of time.
    “T-that’s not t-true,” Goran stuttered.
    “Bullshit!” Kristoff lowered the blade to Goran’s neck. “You liked it. You get off on causing others pain. You wanted more power. You even killed other radiants for what you could get from them.”
    His rage still relentlessly driving him, Kristoff lifted the sword to end Goran’s pathetic life.
    It was on his lethal, downward stroke that Kristoff was stopped by a power greater than his own, his death blow stopped only a few inches from Goran’s neck.
    “You can’t kill him, Kristoff.”
    Athena. What in the hell was she doing here?
    “Don’t interfere,” he warned. “He deserves to die for what he did to Sophie and the other radiants. ”
    “I agree completely,” Athena said calmly as she approached and dragged Kristoff from Goran. “But unfortunately, he has to live. Both of you are critical to the balance.” Athena glanced at Goran with a look of loathing as she warned, “Remember my words. You’re lucky Kristoff didn’t die. You may not have to follow all of the rules of the gods anymore, but his death by an Evil’s hand will end all of you.”
    Kristoff shrugged her off as he watched Goran try to get to his feet as he asked, “What? Why?”
    Athena shrugged. “I didn’t make up the rules. They were set by prophecies the gods wrote, and you both need to stay alive. If you kill him, you endanger the Sentinels and humanity. If Goran kills you, the Evils and their realm will cease to exist.”
    Kristoff’s fist tightened on the sword, his need to obliterate Goran forever still pounding at him. But in the end, he knew he was fucked, and not in a good way. His vow to lead his men and protect the human world would always win.
    “So I can really never kill him either?” Goran asked as he finally rose, supporting himself against the wall.
    “Nope. Not unless you’re feeling suicidal,” Athena answered. “Come, Kristoff. We have to go.”
    “How did you get here?” he asked Athena, still clutching his sword tightly.
    “I can get here alone, but I can’t lead others in like Kat does.”
    Kristoff eyed Goran angrily. “Is there any rule that I can’t hurt him badly?”
    “No,” Athena answered cheerfully. “Just don’t lop off his head.”
    Kristoff stepped forward and wielded his sword, nailing Goran right beneath his chest with his blade. Yanking his sword free, he took another shot at him. And then another. Every impalement lessened his desire for vengeance as he watched Goran gasp and slide down the wall and land on the filthy floor, unconscious.
    Once the demon leader was down, he dropped the blade on top of Goran’s lifeless body, knowing it would take a very long time for him to recover.
    “That will have to be enough,” Kristoff informed Athena calmly.
    “Enough? You just kicked his ass. He won’t recover for months.”
    “I wanted him dead,” he grumbled.
    “I know. I wish I could have given you the satisfaction. But I can’t,” Athena replied sadly.
    He nodded abruptly to signal that he understood, then he waited for the goddess