Chapter 29 Onyx
ONYX
Onyx pulled from Luc’s embrace, retracting his wings. He couldn’t let hope distract him. There’d be time to figure out if Luc was genuine later.
He cleared his throat, uncomfortable under Luc’s gaze. “How are we going to get out of here? They’ll sense us unpicking the spells trapping us.”
“True. They’ll come running and we’ll have to overpower them.”
“That’s the plan?”
“Got a better one? I’m not waiting for them to return, giving them enough time to prepare for whatever they’re planning to do next.”
Onyx crossed his arms. “We need to destroy the shield covering the doorway, or there won’t be any chance of overpowering them.” But there was no way they could destroy the shield before their captors sensed what they were doing.
Luc inspected the wall to his right, pressing a palm to the stone. “We could smash through here. I don’t feel a shield in the stone.”
Onyx inspected the wall with his demon sense. Luc was right. “We might end up in another cell.”
“Or in a room with Valac. But the longer we do nothing, the longer we give them to come back and kill us.”
A chill shot down Onyx’s spine. “Valac said they were going to capture Dante and Ash first.”
“And you believe that? It would be smarter to get our executions out of the way.”
“Hey. Whose side are you on?”
Luc’s lip curled. “I’m just pointing out the obvious. Don’t act like I’ve ever plotted a permanent death.”
“Whatever. Let’s get out of here.”
Luc grabbed Onyx’s wrist. “Wait. Let me protect you.”
Onyx snatched his hand away. “I can protect myself.”
“I still have Ash and Dante’s power. I can protect you better than your power alone.”
Onyx’s mouth dropped open. “I’m not letting you use stolen power on me.”
Luc growled. “Fuck, Onyx. They’d want you to be safe. Of all the things I’ve done with what I stole, let me do this.”
Onyx hesitated. “You actually want me to get out of here alive.”
Luc gritted his teeth, his eyes flashing. “I said I’d get you out. Now, stop fighting me.”
Fighting Luc was all Onyx had known for millennia. Breaking the habit went against everything in him. The Devil could turn around and betray Onyx as soon as they were free, but Onyx believed Luc didn’t want him dead.
Wasn’t Luc’s care and protection what he craved? He could give in until Valac was dealt with.
“Hurry up,” Onyx snapped.
Luc’s lips curved in a tentative smile, and power enveloped Onyx.
While shields were usually constructed of immortal fire, this was invisible, the magic familiar. Ash and Dante surrounded Onyx—so did Lucifer—in a snug, soothing embrace that wound around him from head to toe.
To top it off, Onyx sheathed himself in protective fire, and Luc did the same. Turning toward the wall, Onyx concentrated on the grouting between the stones and transformed it to dust. He pushed a stone through the wall, and it fell to the floor on the other side.
They quickly made a hole big enough to accommodate a person. Onyx crawled through and stood, stepping over the discarded stones.
“Another cell. Great.”
Luc appeared at his elbow. “Don’t bother with the door. It’s humming with magic.”
“How long did the hallway look when you were out there?”
“I didn’t see. My eyes were too busy healing.”
Onyx wrinkled his nose. “Let’s try the back wall. We need to get out of the cells, away from the protective shields before they come looking.”
Luc nodded, and Onyx de-grouted the back wall of the second cell. Luc carefully pulled out the first stone and peered through the hole. “We’re good. No one’s there.”
Onyx helped pull the wall apart and crawled through after Luc. They didn’t seem to be in a cell. The space was larger but still had no windows, and only one door.
A shout came from behind them, and Onyx whirled around. “Shit. Sounds like they’re in our cell.”
Luc blasted through the wall in front of him, opposite the door, apparently no longer worried about being quiet. Dust rained down, and Luc’s fiery red form disappeared into the next room.
Onyx hurried after, pausing to throw up a hasty magic barrier over the gaping hole.
Luc grabbed his arm. “Come on.” He dragged Onyx through an open door.
A shout came from ahead, and Luc sent lightning down the corridor. A blast hit Onyx’s shield, causing his fire to flare. They ran away from the shouting and banged through a door into a stairwell.
“Think one of these walls leads outside?” Onyx shouted as they ran.
“Let’s find out.” Luc blasted through the wood and plaster. It seemed they’d left the stone behind.
Night air greeted them, and Onyx leapt outside, Luc at his back. Onyx freed his wings, correcting his fall and soaring upward.
His head smacked into a solid barrier, pain flaring. “Argh!” He rocked back. Nothing was in his way. Demon sense flaring, he found a powerful spell spanning the open air.
“The whole courtyard is sealed off,” Valac called.
Onyx whirled around, seeing Valac and two other demons holding Lucifer in mid-air as a third wrestled a rune-covered collar around Luc’s neck.
Fuck. How was Onyx supposed to free them both on his own? “We aren’t your enemies,” he pleaded.
Valac remained unmoved. “There’s no guarantee you won’t turn around and imprison us again. Sounds like enemies to me.”
Luc went limp in his captors’ arms. Was it the collar, or was he playing it up? “Let Onyx go. Please. I’m the one who held you captive. He had no part in it.”
Valac rounded on the Devil. “Do you think I’m stupid? Your inner circle always had your back.”
“Because I forced them to,” Luc snarled.
Onyx’s pulse raced. Luc had never admitted his Hounds were leashed to anyone. He clung to the illusion that they were still a family above almost everything else.
Valac’s brows raised. “A likely story, but I’ll keep both of you, just to be safe.”
Onyx’s heart plummeted. Valac would never listen.
“Don’t wait for me,” Luc shouted, runes on the collar flaring bright red, likely absorbing any power he tried to use.
Without hesitation, Onyx darted to the other side of the courtyard, shooting lightning at Valac, who dodged expertly. This side wasn’t any better. There was no way out. Onyx flew, evading shots but getting nowhere.
Another lightning strike narrowly missed him. At least the shield of his, Ash, Dante, and Luc’s power hadn’t faltered. Was Luc using the little strength not drained by the collar to protect him? Onyx’s heart clenched. He couldn’t leave Luc behind.
Onyx would never let Luc die. Even if Luc had thrown Onyx to Valac to save himself. But he hadn’t done that. Luc was trying to spare him, and Onyx burned with hope.
Two more demons flew out of the building and zoomed toward Onyx. He darted away, scrambling to undo the spell caging the courtyard. He couldn’t help Luc if he was recaptured.
A bolt of lightning hit his shield. If they stunned him, he was toast. How long until they broke through his protection?
Onyx kept as much magic as he could spare, blocking their shots as he countered the containment spell, flying back and forth like a trapped fly, praying no one would catch him.
The mate bond tugged on his heart. Nico’s presence flared bright, sending an anxious determination down their connection. Onyx’s heart skipped, but he couldn’t think about Nico. He had to get out.
A boom sounded from the other side of the building. He was running out of time.
Valac swore and sped off toward the sound. The protective magic around Onyx flickered. He circled the courtyard, catching a glimpse of Luc, weak in his captors’ hold, his eyes half closed, but the other demons seemed distracted.
Onyx raced to undo the containment spell. The two demons not occupied with Luc seemed less worried about the noise and shot lightning toward him simultaneously. A hit found its mark, and Onyx’s shields faltered. Another blast struck, and every one of Onyx’s muscles froze.
He plummeted from the sky, crashing onto dry, packed earth.
“Stop!” bellowed someone who sounded a hell of a lot like Ash.
Onyx’s heart would have leapt if it hadn’t been healing.
“Put your lightning away and come have a conversation like civilized beings.”
Ash was so full of himself. No one would listen. Onyx would’ve rolled his eyes if he could have.
At last, Onyx regained control of his body and leapt to his feet. Burning with protective fire, Ash and Dante stood in the middle of the courtyard, Valac held between them.
Nico stood beside Ash, his gaze boring into Onyx, filled with love and fierce protection. His mate had come for him, facing demons without a shred of fear. Onyx had never felt so loved.
All around, everyone seemed frozen and unsure of what to do with Valac captured.
The mating bond sparked, and a magnet seemed to pull Onyx toward his mate.
Onyx forced himself not to give in and run to Nico.
It could be a mistake to betray how much Nico meant to him.
The last thing he needed was someone taking Nico hostage.
Nico might be here to save him, but Onyx had to protect his mate, too.
Footsteps thundered, and Onyx tensed, calling on his magic as more demons ran out of the building. Valac’s supporters snarled as Ren, Pamala, Lillian, and Maxwell joined Ash and Dante.
Onyx smiled and silently thanked Dante and Ash for calling backup.
“No one else is inside,” Ren announced, her silver eyes glowing with satisfaction.
Ash pushed Valac to his knees. “You’re outnumbered. Release Onyx now.”
“No one’s holding him,” Valac sneered.
Onyx crossed the courtyard, and Nico stepped forward, his presence instantly soothing as he clasped Onyx’s hand.
He wanted to fall into Nico’s embrace and never leave. Soon. He cleared the lump in his throat. “You have to release Lucifer, too.”
“You said you weren’t on his side. Such a liar.” Valac spat into the dirt. The demons holding Luc landed, but didn’t relinquish him. Valac strained under Ash’s hold. “What are you going to do to us? Send us to a new prison?”