CHAPTER 1
PICK YOUR POISON, PARKER
The sinister aura that clung to Ro like a second skin was unmistakable. He was the puppeteer, the grand deceiver pulling strings behind the twisted government agency we had been entangled with.
"Surprised to see me?" Ro's voice slithered through the room, slick as oil on water.
"Hardly," I shot back, savoring the irritation that flickered across his face. "You always did have a flair for the dramatic entrance."
His dark eyes narrowed, a silent promise of retribution. But I knew his game… could sense the malevolent glee he derived from weaving webs of corruption. It was time to cut through the deceit.
"Did you really think you could hide in the shadows forever, Ro?"
Mr. Smith's boss stood, shocked into silence. The humbling realization disappeared from his face and stance as he realized I wasn't afraid of the demon he'd sold his soul to. For a moment, I almost felt pity for the man who thought he held power.
"Let's not pretend," I continued, holding back the well of demonic energy that surged just beneath my skin. "You're the rot at the core, aren't you? The big bad wolf among sheep."
"Careful, Parker," Ro warned, a venomous smile spreading across his face. "You wouldn't want to lose control now, would you?"
"Me? Lose control?" A laugh bubbled up, dark and dangerous. "Oh, Ro, that's where you're wrong. It's when I'm out of control that you should be worried."
Rhiot gave me a long look before he stepped between Ro and me, making his stance clear. He didn't want us to get into anything.
Ro apparently didn't like that. Swirls of colorful magick lashed out against Rhiot, but deflected off an invisible protection.
Then all hell broke loose. Grayson pulled me between him and Kearan as Ro and Rhiot got intense. The air crackled, thick with magick and malice as Rhiot squared off against Ro. His incantations sliced through the tension, each syllable a targeted strike against the corrupt force Ro lashed at us.
But Ro merely smirked, his confidence unshaken. "Is that all?" he taunted, his voice a low purr that held the weight of darkness. "You'll have to do better."
Trux stepped in then, his gruff demeanor giving way to fierce concentration. He muttered curses under his breath, fingers weaving intricate patterns in the air, a dance of power meant to bind and break. Glowing shapes appeared on his arms, which I'd never seen before and filed away to ask about later.
"Try this on for size," Trux growled, hurling a charm with precision. It hit Ro squarely in the chest, but the smile never left the demon's lips.
"Amusing," Ro laughed, spreading his arms wide. Suddenly, the room filled with copies of him, each one identical and mocking. My eyes darted from one to the next, trying to discern reality from illusion.
"Pick your poison, Parker," multiple Ros chimed in unison. Their voices slithered around me while promising pain.
"You annoying little shit of a demon." I grumbled. My heart hammered, but I tried to contain it. I lunged at the closest Ro, my powers surging forth uncontrollably, a torrent of demonic energy that craved destruction. The air shimmered with heat as my attack connected, only to pass through an apparition. Damn it.
"Strike one," Ro jeered, stepping closer.
"Try again." Another leaned in, his breath hot on my neck.
"Enough games!" I snarled, spinning to face the real threat. I could feel him… somewhere among the fakes, reveling in the chaos.
"Find him," Trux snarled as he and Rhiot took out copy after copy of Ro, which didn't seem to be helping. Each one that disappeared seemed to reappear somewhere else, like a hydra.
"Working on it," Rhiot replied, his voice edged with frustration. He chanted faster now, the words blurring into a potent force.
"Stay sharp," Trux added, charms flying from his hands like bullets.
The fake Ros laughed, their cackles ringing in my ears, a symphony orchestrated to drive me to madness. I clenched my fists, drawing on the inferno within. This time, I wouldn't hold back. Let them see what happened when I unleashed hell itself.
"Come out, Ro!" I spat the challenge, my skin burning with barely restrained power. "Or are you too cowardly to face us head-on?"
"Patience, darling," a single Ro stepped forward, the others vanishing like smoke. "I wanted to savor this, but if you insist on rushing towards your pet's demise..."
"Bring it," I hissed, bracing myself for whatever he threw at me next.
