He skidded to a hall in the huge, circular room with a gallery. A slender, youngish demon with dark hair pivoted from the horde to face Týr. Dark, malevolent energy pulsed around him, scraping at his psyche and urging him to haul ass.
“You think saving those few pesky humans important?” the demon rumbled, eyes glowing red in fury. Power slithered over him in gaseous, reddish-black flickers, warning Týr that this one was old. Dangerous. “Our species is superior. Our needs primary.”
“By killing the innocent?”
Where the fuck was Riley?Týr clamped down on his molars, his power lashing beneath his skin, demanding release. Once summoned, if not freed, the damn thing would consume him, stealing his mind and sending him on a mindless rampage.
“They are nothing. Merely another source of food,” the old one snapped, rising several feet above the scuttling demons in a display of power.
“Says the dredge of all species—”
We’re out!
At Riley’s telepathic words, Týr set free the power roiling inside him. It escaped from his body in leaping flames, coalescing into a ball of fire.
The demons laughed. “We enjoy fire, Fallen,” one of them hollered. “This is the Dark Realm.”
“Then enjoy this, motherfuckers!” Týr flung the orb of fire up, and it mushroomed into a giant globe before exploding like a bomb, destroying the ceiling. Chunks of debris clattered to the ground as more flames raced across what was left of the destroyed roof and walls, spreading into a deadly blaze.
The old demon snarled and flashed, the wards obviously annihilated by the blast of Týr’s power, and disappeared from the cell. The ones who wanted the kids screeched and scurried around, trying to escape with their worthless lives, but the fire singed their bodies, defusing their vanishing abilities. Týr let loose another fiery orb and sent it through the broken wall to the arena. Seconds later, in a thunderous eruption of bricks, metal, and mortar, more buildings collapsed.
Flying shrapnel pierced his arms and face, and everything around him became consumed by gigantic flames. Another two booming crashes resonated, sending more dust and debris up into the night air.
As flames raged wild and hungry, Týr stood in the dust-choked ruins, breathing hard. A little part of him—a bit of his past—mended at seeing the cells and the arena eviscerated.
We’re on the east side of the walls,Riley telepathed.Away from the fleeing mobs and destruction.
Týr’s relief would have been greater if that depraved damn demon hadn’t flashed out. At least the piss-stains running the arena were in Purgatory now, where they belonged…either that or facing Wrath.
Týr sprinted toward the exit, making sure none of the scourges were still around, and then headed for the gates hanging only by their hinges now. The destroyed buildings emitted an eerie stillness and were nearly empty with just a few injured strays straggling out. He jogged outside and headed east, only to crash into a lone body.
“Týr!Oh, thank God—thank God!!” Kira threw her arms around him, her heart thudding like a runaway train against his chest.
“Dammit, Kira!” Despite his growl, he held her tight, breathing in her natural flowery scent, letting it soothe him.
She pushed away, her eyes darting all over his face and body as if checking for injuries. “I was so afraid…that blaze, it consumed everything.”
“I’m good,elska…” He frowned at the faint coppery odor of blood. “Are you hurt?”
“I’m fine, better now that you’re here.” She gave him a shaky smile. “Let’s get out of this horrible place. God, I’m so glad you burned it to the ground.”
That she still used the human deity expression made him want to smile—if his damn jaw didn’t throb like a bitch. He put his arm around her waist, and she winced, moving his hand to her hips. Instantly, Týr psychically scanned her body and found a seeping wound on her side. “Youarehurt.”
She waved him off. “Just a scratch. Let’s go.”
He snagged the hem of her top. She grasped his hand, stopping him. “It can wait until we get back to the citadel.”
* * *
At the fortress, Týr left Riley to deal with the kids and followed Kira to her chambers. Without a word, he pulled her top up and examined the gash on the side of her waist. Okay, a flesh wound, not deep, but still it made his stomach heave that she’d gotten hurt at all. He let his healing powers flow and watched the shimmering, blue light coalesce and mend the lesion.
“See, it’s not so bad.”
“How the hell did this happen?” he demanded, hating that she even had a scratch on her.
Her brow furrowed, and she shrugged. “I wasn’t aware of it until now. It’s nothing.”
Picking up the ancient strains of power closing in on them, Týr muttered, “Your sire’s on his way.”
