Whoever was behind Jenna’s abduction would have his basescovered.
Dagan grabbed the scourge by his shirt and hauled him back toward the shimmering gateway, throwing over his shoulder, “You all should remain here. If things turnugly—”
“I’ve been on this from the onset.” Hedori strode past and stepped through the portal. Dagan grunted, shoving the demon forward. “Okay, then, guess I’m havingcompany.”
“I’ll tag along, too. You’ll need me,” Aethan said. “Týr, Nik, and Blaéz can keep watch uphere.”
The others nodded. Yeah, someone had to be in this realm if trouble appeared and shit startedflying.
As Dagan stepped through the portal, impossible heat surrounded him, along with an acrid, moldy odor. A trace of sulfur stung his nose. The sky appeared an endless, deepening gray. It had to be another level of the Dark Realm. Which part, Dagan had no idea, or cared. He’d get Jenna andleave.
He hauled the demon up to his toes. “Take us to the holding cells where you have the human female, and we’ll make sure death comes quick. If not, you will have eternity to wish you’d made the rightdecision.”
“Fuck you!” The demon yankedfree.
“Guess they all speak the same language,” Aethan muttered, grabbing the demon before he flashed. Whatever he did next, the demon lit up like a bulb, his tortured screams echoing in the dark. Blood streamed out of his eyes and nose. Voice lost, he fell to his knees and doubled over, pointing a quivering finger to his left. “M-must flash to-to get there. C-can’tnow...”
“And you’re wasting my time,” Aethan snapped in annoyance and held out his hand. As he healed the demon, Dagan took in the vast emptiness. The desolate place reminded him too much of his time in Tartarus. The sounds of whimpering faded. The healed demon lurched to his feet and eyed themcautiously.
“Just so you know,” Dagan said, his tone as flat as the vast plains surrounding them, “you try to escape, even in molecular form, andwillfind and killyou.”
The demon’s mouth thinned, his eyes glowed red, but he remained silent. His body shimmered into a dark cloud and dissipated into theair.
Dagan dematerialized and followed him. Several seconds later, they took form. The sky in this place appeared a deep purple-gray. Dense, black clouds hung low. A hot wind blew around them. Sweat beaded on his brow and dripped down hisback.
He scanned the structure built between the looming trees with leaves dark and impenetrable. It appeared as if soot covered everything. Pushing away a branch blocking his view, Dagan studied the building. Something about the place had all his alarm bells ringing. Nothing in the hellhole gave off a natural vibe. Everything appeared demon-made or spell-formed. The damn incantations used scoured his psyche like a steelbrush.
“You feel that?” he asked Aethanquietly.
A terse nod. “Someone with vast powers did this. Let’s end the bastards, and get the female outtahere.”
The Gaian sword tattooed on his biceps had gone quiet. It didn’t matter much to Dagan. It was probably why their lady-boss hadn’t wanted them coming to this realm and seeking vengeance for their horrific imprisonment. But then he’d had no real enemy to blame. He had turned himself into the creature hewas.
No use worrying about what couldn’t be changed. With his mind, he grasped all the figures inside the dwelling and held them still. “We’re clear,” he said, striding toward the building. “Let’s get the fuckers—shit, it’swarded.”
“I’ve got this.” Hedori stepped past him, studying the doorway. As he set about unscrambling the wards, he said, “These feel dark…deadly.”
Good thing he’d come with them then. The minutes rushed past, too much time wasted. Dagan’s telekinetic ability was starting to waver. “How much longer?” hegrunted.
“Almost there…” Hedori mumbled, his hands weaving furiously, unscrambling the spell. “And…Done.”
Aethan kicked open the door, revealing the demons floating above them in the dimly lit room. He cut Dagan a quick look and shook hishead.
Hedori disappeared through a door at the far back. A faint cry sounded. Dagan moved with preternatural speed, still holding the bastards with his mind. At the sight of the female clad in a thin, underwear-like dress, her one ankle shackled with a steel cuff and chained to the bedframe, anger scored his gut like acid at the fuck who’d done this to a helpless human female. The stringent odor of pain, despair, and sex thickened the sulfuricair.
“No,” a terrified moan escaped her. She yanked at hermanacle.
Damn. They probably looked scarier than the evil asshole who’d trapped her here. Not much they could do aboutthat.
“We’re not going to hurt you,” Hedori said, his tone soothing as he unchained her. “We’re here to saveyou.”
Her gray eyes stark with fear darted between them. The moment she was free, she scampered to the corner of the room and huddled there. Knees drawn up, her auburn hair limp, she watchedthem.
Not wanting to terrify her with his immense height, Dagan crouched, keeping a little distance between them, his forearms resting on his thighs. “Don’t you want to see yourdaughter?”
She lifted her gaze. Those eyes, so much like his mate’s, brimmed with tears and tugged at hissoul.
“Shae?” shewhispered.
