Yellow Teeth grunted and jerked his thumb toward the distant clang of swords. “That sound like they’re winning to you?”
Yankees Hat grimaced. “The Legion are better with swords than we anticipated, but...”
Their words made hope puff up my chest. It was hard for me to tell what exactly was going on down that tunnel, but...it did sound likesomeonewas winning. Fewer swords clanged. A victorious roar rang out—a voice I’d recognize anywhere. Caim and the others were taking out the cult. And these assholes were going to be in big, big trouble when he found out what they’d done to me.
I smiled. “You’re never going to get your chance at immortal life, asshole. You know who’s down in that cavern? Fighting your friends? The Second Prince of Hell, who also happens to be my boyfriend. When he comes rushing down that tunnel to save me, he’s not going to be very happy with you.”
The two cult members facing the cage exchanged nervous glances. The third sliced them a stare. “I told you not to talk to her.”
“She’s right though,” Yankees Hat hissed. “Caim Stone will rip us apart when he finds us outside this cage with her trapped inside. We need to leave. Now.”
Yellow Teeth paled. “I’ve done all this for nothing? That’s what you’re telling me?”
The silent of the three rubbed his chin, and then nodded. “Fine. You’re right. We need to get out of here. Clark will understand...if we ever see him again. It’s every man for himself now.”
“And that’s why you’ll always lose,” I whispered to them, fisting my hands and striding up to the cage bars. “You’re selfish and cruel. And—”
Yellow Teeth unlocked the cage and whipped the door open. I stumbled back with my heart in my throat, shock choking off my next words.
“What are you doing?” Yankees Hat demanded, striding into the cage after him. “Didn’t you hear what we just said? We have to leave. Now!”
The silent one just shook his head and raced toward the stairs.
I wet my lips as Yellow Teeth strode toward me, rolling back his shoulders, a determined glint in his eyes. I could practically read his mind. He wanted my blood, and he would do anything to get it. Kill me, if he had to.
Anything for immortal life.
He reached for my shoulder. I ducked low. My knees slammed into the stone ground. I winced and rolled to the side, just narrowly missing the hands of the Yankees Hat guy.
His eyes narrowed as I slashed my blade at his leg. He kicked my hand, and the bones crunched in my wrist. A cry leapt out of my throat as pain pounded up the length of my arm. The blade clattered on the ground, just beyond the human one’s boots.
The enemy gazed down at me with his wicked, yellow smile. “Nice try. But I was promised your blood.” He whipped out a knife from his back pocket and flashed the blade toward my throat. “I will lap up every last drop of it if that’s what it takes to make me live forever. No hard feelings, alright?”
“No hard feelings?” A nervous laugh bubbled up in my throat. “You’ve got to be kidding me. You want tokillme.”
“A life for a life.” He shrugged. “It’s a payment I’m willing to make.”
Yankees Hat laughed and then winced as another Caim roar echoed down the tunnel. He’d be here any moment now, but it still might be too late. I peered up at them both with my broken wrist clutched to my chest and wondered if this would be the end. If I could survive just two more minutes, I’d be safe. But I didn’t have two minutes. I had two seconds at most.
A sudden burst of adrenaline rushed through my body, and a strange voice whispered in the back of my head.Don’t give up, Eva. You don’t need anyone to save you. You only need yourself.
I loosed a long, labored breath from my parted lips. The darkness within me was urging me forward. She was cheering me on to fight. Not out of blind rage or a terrible, creeping evil. But because she wanted me to save myself. To find the will to fight my damnedest to live.
The human enemy’s hand shot forward. His knife came within inches of my throat, but I screamed as I threw up my good hand to block his blow. The blade sliced through my palm. Blood splattered onto his face.
Pain blinded me but I blinked out the worst of it, jumping up onto my feet. With a speed and dexterity I’d never had before, I snatched his blade from his trembling hand, flipped it in my fingers, and shoved it right into his neck.
My mouth dropped open, even as the all-consuming sensation of success ripped through me like a hurricane. Yellow Teeth guy slumped to the ground, landing with a heavy thud at my feet. Yankees Hat stared at me with wide eyes. Anger and fear flashed across his face, but I moved before he could determine a plan of attack.
Charging forward, I grabbed his shoulder and threw him behind me. And then I raced out of the open cage door. I whirled on my feet and slammed it shut behind me. The lock clicked just as he reached the bars. His roar filled my head, drowning out the sound of the battle in the distance. My rib burst to life, a deep, slicing pain flaring through my entire body. It had stayed hidden while I’d fought for my life, but now that I was safe, it would not be silenced anymore. The pain reached up, wrapped its hand around my heart, and demanded I listen.
With a sigh, I let go and crumpled to the ground.
37
Eva
Caim found me on the ground outside the cage only a moment later. He and the others rushed into the cavern, surrounding me with worried shouts. When I glanced up through bleary eyes, a tense yet hopeful smile cracked his lips.
