gave him everything I had with both daggers right into his gut.
His eyes widened and he froze.
I kept a tight hold on the daggers and, while staring him right in the eye, I said, “Poison from the well, end this demon, save him from Hell.”
Magic shot from the stones of my daggers down into the blades still lodged inside Malstord.
“No!” His horrified denial drowned out the shouts of the onlookers.
And as his talons dug into my shoulders, I doubled down, pushing the daggers in even farther, and twisted. Those sharp talons dug so deep into my shoulders, I was certain he’d hit bone. We were locked in a battle of wills more than we were one of strength. Each of us had the other one skewered. It was only a matter of waiting to see which one of us would break first.
“Bastard incubus,” he said, more yellow pus bubbling at his lips. “You have no idea what you’ve just done.”
“I think I do,” I said through the pain, trying to fight the fog claiming my brain. If I passed out now, I was a dead man. I’d never see Jade again. There’d never be a family.
My resolve strengthened. I would not let this be the end. “Give up, demon. You can’t win this. The magic is already taking you down. If you surrender now, you’ll heal. Wait any longer, and you’ll be dust.”
Blood so dark it was almost black mixed with the pus on the demon’s lips. He tensed, spit the disgusting mixture right in my face, and released me.
I wasn’t expecting the abrupt movement and jerked back as his fluids dribbled down my forehead. Shuddering with disgust, I sputtered and regained my footing just in time for the demon to repay my actions by burying one of his claws in my gut. Fire sluiced through my torso, and sweat ran down my face, stinging my eyes. Agony engulfed me as a collective gasp went up around us. I was impaled, unable to move or even breathe.
The demon moved in a few more inches and whispered, “You might have won this round, but rest assured if you survive, one way or another I’ll find a way out of Hell. And when I do, you’re dead.”
He released me with a howl of frustration, took one step, and vanished back to Hell where he belonged.
I clutched my middle, my warm blood seeping between my fingers, and fell to my knees, not even noticing the heavy impact against the concrete floor.
Chaos erupted around me, but I heard nothing as white noise filled my ears and my vision narrowed to one person—the angel. He was propped up against the wall, staring at me with curious eyes. Ethan had saved him.
***
The faint hum of machinery filled my senses as I struggled to wake. My confused world was dark, permeated with flashes of light and full of unidentifiable sensations.
“Kane?”
I heard the call of my name but couldn’t register who was speaking.
Jade? The word wouldn’t move past my lips.
“Mr. Rouquette? Do you know where you are?”
That voice. It was deep. Belonged to someone I knew.
“Blink if you can hear me.”
I felt my eyelids follow his command, and my vision started to clear. The outline of a man in all white hovered over me.
“He’s awake,” the same voice called, but it wasn’t coming from the man standing next to me.
“Yes, but he’s not out of the woods yet. I’m going to sedate him again, let his body heal a little more before we wean him off the meds.”
“But we need to—”
My world faded once again into the deep slumber of nothingness.
***
Jade
“I’ll have the crab cake to start, the shrimp and grits, and a diet soda.” Lailah handed her menu to the waiter.
“The same,” I said, snapping the menu closed. It was just after six p.m., and we were at the Crescent City Brewery trying to do whatever it took to take my mind off all the crap going down in our lives right then.
“I thought you were having the duck.” Lailah tore off a piece of bread and popped it in her mouth.
I shrugged. “Decision making seems like too much effort.”
Her lips quirked into a
His eyes widened and he froze.
I kept a tight hold on the daggers and, while staring him right in the eye, I said, “Poison from the well, end this demon, save him from Hell.”
Magic shot from the stones of my daggers down into the blades still lodged inside Malstord.
“No!” His horrified denial drowned out the shouts of the onlookers.
And as his talons dug into my shoulders, I doubled down, pushing the daggers in even farther, and twisted. Those sharp talons dug so deep into my shoulders, I was certain he’d hit bone. We were locked in a battle of wills more than we were one of strength. Each of us had the other one skewered. It was only a matter of waiting to see which one of us would break first.
“Bastard incubus,” he said, more yellow pus bubbling at his lips. “You have no idea what you’ve just done.”
“I think I do,” I said through the pain, trying to fight the fog claiming my brain. If I passed out now, I was a dead man. I’d never see Jade again. There’d never be a family.
My resolve strengthened. I would not let this be the end. “Give up, demon. You can’t win this. The magic is already taking you down. If you surrender now, you’ll heal. Wait any longer, and you’ll be dust.”
Blood so dark it was almost black mixed with the pus on the demon’s lips. He tensed, spit the disgusting mixture right in my face, and released me.
I wasn’t expecting the abrupt movement and jerked back as his fluids dribbled down my forehead. Shuddering with disgust, I sputtered and regained my footing just in time for the demon to repay my actions by burying one of his claws in my gut. Fire sluiced through my torso, and sweat ran down my face, stinging my eyes. Agony engulfed me as a collective gasp went up around us. I was impaled, unable to move or even breathe.
The demon moved in a few more inches and whispered, “You might have won this round, but rest assured if you survive, one way or another I’ll find a way out of Hell. And when I do, you’re dead.”
He released me with a howl of frustration, took one step, and vanished back to Hell where he belonged.
I clutched my middle, my warm blood seeping between my fingers, and fell to my knees, not even noticing the heavy impact against the concrete floor.
Chaos erupted around me, but I heard nothing as white noise filled my ears and my vision narrowed to one person—the angel. He was propped up against the wall, staring at me with curious eyes. Ethan had saved him.
***
The faint hum of machinery filled my senses as I struggled to wake. My confused world was dark, permeated with flashes of light and full of unidentifiable sensations.
“Kane?”
I heard the call of my name but couldn’t register who was speaking.
Jade? The word wouldn’t move past my lips.
“Mr. Rouquette? Do you know where you are?”
That voice. It was deep. Belonged to someone I knew.
“Blink if you can hear me.”
I felt my eyelids follow his command, and my vision started to clear. The outline of a man in all white hovered over me.
“He’s awake,” the same voice called, but it wasn’t coming from the man standing next to me.
“Yes, but he’s not out of the woods yet. I’m going to sedate him again, let his body heal a little more before we wean him off the meds.”
“But we need to—”
My world faded once again into the deep slumber of nothingness.
***
Jade
“I’ll have the crab cake to start, the shrimp and grits, and a diet soda.” Lailah handed her menu to the waiter.
“The same,” I said, snapping the menu closed. It was just after six p.m., and we were at the Crescent City Brewery trying to do whatever it took to take my mind off all the crap going down in our lives right then.
“I thought you were having the duck.” Lailah tore off a piece of bread and popped it in her mouth.
I shrugged. “Decision making seems like too much effort.”
Her lips quirked into a
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