2. Maverick
Maverick
For the first time since we’d bonded, the connection with my mate had fallen silent. I knew she sometimes put a shield between us, but it didn’t work. Not completely anyway. Yes, it dulled things, but I could still sense her emotions. Not that I’d told her.
But right now, I sensed nothing but a cold echo between us.
A bottomless void.
There was something wrong.
My bear had taken the reins the moment we left the marquee. We smelled the sulfur and brimstone and knew immediately what creatures were here. Demon scum.
The second I shifted, he roared in anger and ran full pelt toward the first demon stalking around the side of the main building. This one had snared a small witch, thankfully not Raven’s friend. The female screamed before the demon bit her head off and threw the corpse aside.
I launched myself at it, catching the thing by surprise as it chewed. It squealed in rage when I tore a scaly arm off. I knew from experience that demons could regenerate missing limbs given enough time, but I wasn’t waiting around for that to happen.
It lashed out with vicious claws, but my hide protected me from the worst damage. My bear lunged and knocked the demon to the floor. We were much larger than the demon, so while it tried to gut me with its claws, I flattened it with my bulk and severed its head.
Removing the head was the best, and fastest, way to kill a demon. Spitting the head out because my bear didn’t much like the taste of sulfur and death, I ran on.
Two more demons appeared. One had horns and a tail, and the other was smaller with leathery wings and a goat-like head.
These weren’t mindless lesser demons. Their eyes sparked with intelligence.
Why were they here?
The portal seal must be failing badly for so many demons to break through. Humans would die in the thousands if demons could come and go as they pleased. Lesser demons killed indiscriminately, causing carnage wherever they went.
The presence of a handful of demons wouldn’t attract too much attention, but if legions of demons roamed freely, humans would notice and panic would ensue. The tenuous peace accord between humans and magicals would break, and the realm would plunge into panic and anarchy.
The two demons glanced at each other before the winged one rasped out a few words. I didn’t speak the demon tongue, but I was fairly certain whatever it said was not complimentary.
They both dove toward me, the winged one attempting to flutter over my head.
Only it misjudged my height. I swiped up and yanked it down, tearing a wing off.
The leathery skin shredded like paper, revealing fine bones and stringy tendons.
My stomach lurched in disgust before the horned demon tried to skewer me.
I roared and punched it with my claws. A horrible screech nearly burst my eardrums as the now-wingless demon sank its teeth into my leg. Damn, that thing had sharp teeth. I kicked it hard and grunted in satisfaction when its body punched a hole in the stone wall, leaving it stunned momentarily.
Using this to my advantage, I grabbed the horned demon and removed its head while the wingless one came to its senses and tried to flee. Only it didn’t make it. A second head hit the floor with a thump, and the body collapsed.
My bear spat out a chunk of flesh and shook his fur. Our focus shifted from the dead demons to our little mate.
Where was she?
Shadows swirled around the treeline. Magic flared from within the shadows, but I couldn’t see who or what lurked within the mass of black shadow. To the right, Vane’s son stood over a body while the remains of three hellhounds lay scattered around him.
More magic flared from within the mass of shadow. Zane yelled, and the tether in my chest tugged.
Raven.
My mate needed me.
I ran toward the shadows.