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Everyonelookedfromherto each other.

“Then that is exactly what we should do. Let’s head out, y’all.” At Justin’s words, Caden stood, strapping his borrowed pistol to his side and securing his rifle along his back just as Travis would have done, and she wondered for a split second if that was something he had taught Caden to do.

“You must stand your ground here!” Danu yelled, and Bryn worried that everyone in Ifreann heard the woman. “If you leave, everything I have done to this point is for naught!”

Grabbing gas lamps, Justin and Caden moved to the front to light the way for Kessler as he moved the truck closer to the gate since the sun had yet to make its debut for the new day.

The adrenaline pumped through her, her heartbeat pushing it through at a rapid pace as it flooded her body.

Only a few more yards and they were free!

That was all it took, the unfettered optimism for something horrible to strike and ruin all their plans.

Such as the men who stepped into the light of Justin’s and Caden’s gas lamps, the truck halting when Kessler noticed the new arrivals standing between them and the gate.

Bryn almost wanted to yell at them to just start the truck and mow them down, but she bit her lip instead. The torches the men held lit them in a way that made them look demonic as they wore the masks of Balor on their faces. All but Arioch and Daran, who stood at the front of the group.

Daran in his normal wear was nothing next to the sight of Arioch in his full religious regalia. The black-cloaked man with what she now knew as the Evil Eye Balor had been known for embroidered on the chest.

“And where would you be heading to?” Daran asked with a wicked smile on his face from where he stood next to Arioch, several townspeople flanking him.

The torches cast devilish shadows on the brick in mockery of the situation Bryn found herself in. As if she were in actual hell, demons surrounding her as they readied to torment and torture her for eternity.

All of them armed aside from Daran and Arioch, several with their own rifles pointed right at Bryn. As if out of all the people standing before them, she was the greatest threat.

She could see it all in Daran and Arioch’s eyes; they had planned to send her to her death this night. The torches they held would be what ignited the wood at her feet.

Niamh moved around her, but Bryn held up a hand. She refused to stand behind anyone ever again.

Sage jumped down from the bed of the pickup where she had been organizing gear and moved to flank Bryn and Niamh.

“Figured you’d be pleased we were leaving,” Declan responded as he came around to the front of the truck, keeping his voice calm, but Bryn caught the hand signal to Justin. What it meant, she wasn’t entirely sure, but she was hoping for an amazing backup plan.

“Heard from Mallory while she was hollering about you attacking her”—a few of the townsmen let loose a string of muffled threats or curses as Daran spoke— “that you have some new gifts we can surely use, Bryndis.”

Daran smiled, the men next to him aiming their weapons at Declan, while the ones in back grew restless with their torches. They were ready to burn some witches it seemed, and Daran’s little standoff was cutting into their evening plans.

If only they had left earlier...

“Oh, so we are demons until we have something you want, then you have a use for us!” Sage burst out, her normally small voice booming with justified anger. Well, justified at least as far as Bryn was concerned.

“I am not sure what you are talking about, Daran,” Declan stated, putting his hands in his pants pockets. “When has there ever been anything special about any of us?”

Someone snorted in the back, but no one else made a sound as Arioch stepped forward, except Finian whose low growl and full display of teeth made her worry someone might shoot him.

“Would you like to admit your crimes and come willingly, Bryndis Kenneally and Niamh Gwyer? Perhaps we can find a use for you instead of taking you to your deaths.”

The men behind Daran turned to each other, glancing around and nervously shifting, their body language screaming confusion. They had come for blood, and Daran was offering the witches a way out.

“What are you talking to them about it for?” one of the men asked. “I thought we was here for burning the witches, not sitting down for tea and having a lovely conversation.”

Daran looked back at the man with narrowed eyes before turning to face Bryn again.

“Balor taught us that sometimes we don’t always see what we need right away, but we have to take it when we find it.” Daran smiled with a piece of straw between his yellowed teeth. Something predatory flashed in Daran’s eyes as Arioch strode up to stand before Bryn.

Bryn didn’t miss Daran tilting his head to the side and showing his neck as Arioch walked past him.

She also didn’t miss the majority of the mob as their movements grew in agitation, their bloodlust and adrenaline starting to wear off. She was unsure how Arioch wanted to play this since they were losing their momentum. A mindless mob growing in mindfulness was not what she figured his ultimate goal was.