The Furies were present too. They were just as I’d seen them before, as beautiful as they were horrible. Their long, blonde tresses fell in perfect curls, and their ruby red lips curled up seductively.
“I can’t say it’s good to see you,” I retorted.
The demons around the royals growled.
I inched closer to Eva as Xaphan lifted his arms for the crowd to quiet.
“Do you remember that I once offered you the chance to side with us?” he asked casually.
When I didn’t answer, he continued. “It was foolish to deny me, even if you were able to evade us longer than I would’ve expected.”
Although we were more than likely screwed, a sense of satisfaction that the prince of darkness hadn’t known who we were or been able to locate us throughout the centuries filled me.
“So I ask again.” His eyes shifted slightly, to Eva. “Both of you.”
“No!” one of the Furies screamed. “No more chances! We kill them all, except the girl!”
My eyes cut to Eva.The girl? Which one?
Did they mean me? Or had they decided that my friend would be more valuable?And if so, for what?
It struck me they hadn’t mentioned Alex at all. Had he been right when he suggested that they no longer needed him? Had using his blood to open the Hellgate in London been all that they needed? Was his purpose in this fulfilled as far as they were concerned?
“Yes! Yes! Dead! We want them all dead!” another of the Furies yelled out, and began dancing around as if she were slightly mad.
The other demons, a mishmash of races, roared, and my group scooted closer together.
“Deady! Dead! Dead!” Another Fury began clapping her hands and shimmying her hips.
All the while, the prince of darkness’ eyes narrowed and began to glow a deeper red. His stance stiffened in annoyance.
“Get ready,” Hunter said, his eyes latched onto the prince.
“It’s not for you to decide,” Xaphan whipped around and screamed at the Furies, clearly at the end of his rope.
With his back turned, we attacked as one. Black magic streamed from me and Eva. Spells flew from the other witch’s hands. The vampires leapt upon opposing staircases and began snapping necks. The wolves positioned themselves in front of us, our protectors, shields of muscle and might that the demons would have to get through to get to us.
“Itoarazicus!” I screamed, and my black magic hurtled toward Xaphan, hitting him square in the back.
The prince of darkness twisted and pulled his arm back, ready to retaliate. But when he released, nothing flew from his palm.
No fire. No magic.Nothing.
I lowered my palms and smiled. Victory soared through me, so vibrant and hot that it made my skin tingle. “You should really sort your shit out in private.” Snapping my fingers a bloom of fuchsia magic flooded around my friends to get their attention. “Xaphan is fair game, guys.”
Alex acted first. “Morsultimus,” he muttered, and before the prince of darkness could move again, the killing spell slammed into his chest.
All around, demons froze. The Furies released simultaneous, deafening howls. But my team only watched, and waited. My heart began to thump harder and blood buzzed through me, seemingly electrified with joy.
The death of a royal demon was unlike anything I’d ever seen. Xaphan’s black, glistening skin dissolved, and flames ignited as if he was made of them. When the fire burned out, only ash remained, fluttering to the ground.
And then, more cries flew to the heavens, and twenty demons disintegrated into nothing.
CHAPTERFORTY-ONE
“Ican’t believe that worked!” Alex exclaimed as we sprinted toward the door of Spellcasters, away from the demons we’d just pissed off.
We flung the massive doors open, and fresh, clear air, so unlike the demon-stench I’d acclimatized to, filled my nose.
