Caleb caught it. He held it in his hand, then levitated it above his palm. “That’s the way you want this, huh?”
“What are you?”
“Son of Verlyn.” While Caleb hated invoking his father’s name, this was the only time that truly warranted it.
Shock flitted across the demon’s face. “You lie!”
He launched the fireball back at him. Then created another and sent it quickly behind the first.
His shot landed square in the demon’s chest. He cried out in pain, then hissed and launched himself at Caleb.
Caleb caught him and kneed him in the gut.
“I will kill you!” the demon snarled.
“Not the first to say that. Guarantee you’re not the last.” Caleb shoved him back.
The demon caught him with a vicious punch to his chin that was staggering. But the pain invigorated him. It was a mother’s caress. All he’d known in his life was brutality.
Blood.
Death.
Growling, he let his claws spring out. He slashed at the demon, then head butted him.
The demon pulled a knife and tried to stab Caleb in the neck. He caught his hand and twisted the knife out of his grasp. The demon answered by dragging his claws across Caleb’s back.
Angry at himself for being so stupid, he conjured his armor.
The demon gasped as recognition darkened his eyes.
Aye, that was a stupid move. Caleb had given no thought to the fact that he was a commander of the army this demon fought in. Any of their soldiers would know his emblem.
But it was too late now. He’d outed himself.
“Fighting for the human wretches?”
“Better than fighting for continued captivity. What do you think Monakribos will do to you once this war is over? Never mind the gods you serve.”
“I will be rewarded!”
“You’ll be killed, captured or enslaved.” It was what was always done to them— and that was from the dark lords they served. They were only allowed freedom when there was war. It was why Caleb had fought so hard against the Kalosum. The longer the war went on, the less he had to worry about the dark ones leashing his powers and his freedom.
Honestly, they’d be better off if the Kalosum won. They might actually show mercy on them. The Mavromino would rip them apart even in victory. They only existed to abuse and subjugate their ilk.
The Malachai demon rushed at him, then took flight.
No, you don’t.
Caleb blasted him with everything he had, knowing if he returned to their gods, he would tell them that Caleb had defected. That was the last thing he wanted.
The Malachai hit the ground with an echoing scream that didn’t fade until the pathetic creature was nothing more than ash on the ground.
Only then did the humans slowly emerge from hiding. One by one, they returned to the main floor.
Caleb tensed as he waited for them to attack him.
The priest was the first one to come near. “You saved us, my lord. You really are the son of Verlyn.”
