Blaze’s red energy attacked Leoric. He snapped at the demon as he dodged his attacks. They were both tiring from the seemingly endless fight, but neither one was relenting.
Sam’s wolf lunged at Leoric in retaliation for his father. Leoric almost scoffed at his insolence, slamming his body onto the ground. A high-pitched yelp escaped from his throat as his body skidded across the ground. Blaze clawed and bit at Leoric’s side, making more blackness seep from the demon. The black liquid burned over Hunter’s muzzle. It was like acid beingdripped over his body. The pain from the acid was nothing in comparison to losing Caden, though. The mental image of his lifeless body continued to fuel him as he fought against the pain. The demon swung at Blaze. His claws connected beneath Blaze’s fur as he sent the wolf smashing into the ground.
Blaze climbed back onto his feet yet again, his eyes shooting daggers at the demon. He felt a surge deep within him—a warm light embracing him, motivating him. It was the warmth of his sister Reiya as she and Xander rallied the troops. With their combined power, they were pouring out hope. They were giving the army the motivation and second wind they desperately needed. It was like a hug on the inside, telling him he could do it. Just one more push. Just a little bit more.
He listened as all the wolves around him seemed to be fighting with more gusto and energy. He could see their side picking up the fight around him, determination and perseverance kicking in. The power to unite and motivate was a strong weapon indeed. They fought through their fatigue as Reiya and Xander continued to share their gift, giving everyone around them a surge of adrenaline.
Hunter smiled inwardly as Blaze squared off with the demon again. One more strong push. He just needed one good opening—that was it. He would end this now. No matter what, this was going to be the end.
As if on cue, a red wolf leaped onto the demon's back, sinking her teeth into his shoulder. This rare moment gave Hunter the opening he needed. The demon roared out in pain as he tried to shake the flaming red wolf off of him, but the silver flaming wolf lunged forward, clamping his jaws around Leoric’s throat. The black liquid pooled from his sagging body as the flames started to change colors.
The fire from the wolves could not injure Leoric, since he was immune to fire. Sensing this, the fairy magic inside Frejaadjusted the flames. The orange light turned blue, and ice shards began stinging the demon’s skin. The blue flames around the two wolves turned into one sapphire ball of freezing light, engulfing the three of them in a blinding flare.
Leoric let out a gurgling sound as the blood started pooling in his throat, his lungs also filling with his own black liquid. He fell to his knees, then collapsed onto the ground. It wasn’t until his signs of life vanished completely that the King and Queen of the Werewolves released their deadly grip.
They panted in exhaustion as they stared at one another. The battle was raging around them, but for the second their eyes met, it was quiet. There wasn’t a moment to take a breath, though. The demons started pouring in toward them like a swarm of bees that had their nest attacked. Ember stood by Blaze’s side as they both braced for yet another endless fight. This time, they would fight side by side. The light around them began changing its glow again, the orange light flickering as it awaited the incoming demons.
Then the world seemed to shake. Small tremors shook their feet as the earth growled angrily. Hunter and Freja looked at one another as the demon horde looked down in confusion. Something was happening.
The earth began to tremble as Asher listened to the voice in his head. It was guiding him as his presence began coming forward.
Let me use your body. You are inexperienced. Give me entry until my form can solidify here.
Asher hoped he was making the right decision as he told Bo to push backward as well. His eyes glowed green as another entity entered his body. It was like he and Bo were now watchinga show as a presence took over them entirely. Thunder echoed around them, but it wasn’t from the sky. The earth groaned loudly as it began to shift to the command of the silver wolf. Behind the demons, where there were no allies of theirs, the ground began to crack. A cloud of dust erupted from the soil and filled the air. A fissure formed beneath the demons and began swallowing them whole.
The silver wolf was glowering over the demons as the Kraken’s presence began to grow inside Bo. Bo couldn’t speak, but the Kraken could … even through the wolf’s body.
“Fools,” he said to the demons. “You continue to march toward me like a moth does to the flame of destruction. You cannot defeat me.” His green eyes glowed as a large creature of shadow rose over the wolf. The silhouette revealed a large body with eight appendages spread out over it. The sight was enough to make the demons pause. Some even took a small retreating step backward. A dangerous low laugh rumbled from the silver wolf.
“That’s right, you fools. I am the Kraken. And now you know all hope is lost.” The Kraken was not an ordinary deity. He was also another tier-one deity, like Leviathan. But because he broke the deities’ laws, he was cursed by them and forced to live in the sea. A curse that he now had the chance to break.
The shadow leaped away from the silver wolf, and a body formed above it. A young, tall, handsome man with brown hair and piercing green eyes solidified above the shadow. Bo once again gained control of his body and turned to look at the Kraken.
The man with green eyes smiled and nodded at the wolf. “I can take it from here.” He stretched his hands above him, smirking over the army.
“Now this is going to be fun.”
CHAPTER EIGHTY-TWO
Ashadow fell over Lita, and soon, a red dragon reached the earth next to her and Ciana. Reiya hopped off, and Xander shifted back into his human form. He rushed to Reiya’s side as she reached for the wolf.
“It’s too late. There isn’t anything we can do.” As Lita said this, Caden’s body shifted from his wolf back to his human form. Her tears fell. His wolf was now gone.
Reiya grabbed onto Caden’s hand and bit her bottom lip. Xander placed his hands on Reiya’s shoulders, and they both closed their eyes. A white beam from the heavens shot down over them, shoving Lita aside. Xander, Reiya, and Caden’s body had been sealed within the light, which shrunk and formed a round bubble around the three of them—a moon bubble, like the one that had sealed Lumi.
“I won’t let your soul leave, Caden,” Reiya said, her voice soft. She extended her palm upward, a shimmer of golden light pooling in the center like liquid sunshine. The energy pulsed with her heartbeat, casting shadows across her face. Across from her, Xander mirrored the gesture, though his power manifested as a swirling orb of crimson, cracking with tiny sparks thatdanced between his fingers. Together they pushed a piece of themselves inside Caden’s body.
“I hope this works,” Xander whispered as he knelt down on the other side of Caden’s body.
“It will work … it has to work. I just hope—I hope he can forgive us for this, though.” A tear trickled down Reiya’s face. This was still going to be painful, even if they succeeded.
Darkness beat against Jade as blue energy slammed against Mephisto. Mephisto was on the run. With every step, he continued to retreat. Leviathan alone would have been a tough fight, but with Jade here, it was all he could do just to avoid being hit.
When the earth began to tremble, the three of them glanced backward toward the clashing armies. This was when Mephisto lost all hope. The Kraken was now mutilating his demon army. Two tier-one deities and a demigod had joined forces against him. This was no longer a battle he could win.
He fixed his gaze on Jade. It was all her fault. If it wasn’t for her, he would have already killed Leviathan. At the very least, he would end her life. He used this moment of brief distraction to go after her with a surprise attack. He would decapitate her and at least go out knowing her existence was gone as well.
There was no time to evade the incoming attack. Jade watched as the creature of darkness blurred toward her.
