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A loud cackle drew my attention to the demon sitting on a literal throne, watching like it was a fucking show for him.

“I told you he’d join us eventually, Aziel! Look! Now you can watch him die before we finish you off!”

Aziel’s head lolled. He didn’t hear a word of what that asshole was saying. The rest of the room did, though, and descended like a swarm. Callum appeared in front of me, throwing out a ball of fire that blasted several demons away. Felix, Hendrix, and Malakai followed suit, surrounding me as they fought back.

“Get to Aziel! Go!” Callum bellowed.

I waited for an opening before darting forward. I used too many damn shots on the chick hurting Aziel, so I didn’t bother firing at the demons swooping towards me. I let the guys handle them and fired instead at the demons holding Aziel prisoner. I got one in the shoulder, but my aim sucked and I missed the other twice before I finally got his leg. They dropped Aziel, barreling toward me, but Malakai knocked them away before they could get to me.

Aziel was lying in a pool of blood, unmoving, when I landed on my knees next to him. I shook his shoulder, but he was out cold. I’d need to move him myself, but there wasn’t a chance in hell I’d get through that swarm without a little help. The guys were fighting hard, but it was four against dozens. They were busy. I pulled Aziel’s arm over my shoulder, hoisting him against me, but he was like a deadweight. I grunted with the effort of lifting him, struggling just to get my feet underneath me.

“Pathetic. Do you really think you can save him? He’s not worth saving.”

The demon on the throne watched with amusement, not moving an inch out of his seat. If I didn’t have Aziel to contend with, I would’ve shot him for enjoying this so much. Heaving Aziel up, I leaned him against me to readjust my grip. Frustration and fear burned through me, tears pricking my eyes. I refused to let them fall, growling as I hoisted Aziel a little higher.

“Fool. You should have run while you had the chance.”

I never saw the demon move from his throne before he was standing over us. He grabbed Aziel by the hair, tossing him like a rag doll away from me. I tried to keep my grip on him, but it just meant we both went skidding across the floor. Turning over, I aimed at the asshole I had to assume was Aziel’s uncle, firing shot after shot until there was no ammo left and the gun clicked a few times. I didn’t hit him once. He was too damn fast. He blurred as he moved, laughing like it was a fucking joke. When I ran out of ammo, he appeared in front of me, an evil grin on his face.

“You and the rest of your pathetic race will die screaming by my hands. Maybe I’ll start with your little brother. Where is he tonight? All alone without you there to protect him.”

Bile rose in my throat at the thought of this asshole getting anywhere near Ollie. I had to remind myself several times that he was safe, surrounded by paranormals who would protect him. It didn’t make it any less terrifying to hear the threat out loud.

“What the hell did we ever do to you?” I demanded.

He chuckled, the sound evil and cruel. “What did you do? Nothing. You wouldn’t be able to hurt me if you tried. No, you just have the unfortunate circumstance of being disgusting and pathetic. When I rid the world of your filth, they will thank me for it. Well… eventually anyway.”

He was a nut job. No wonder Aziel was so desperate to cling to any chance he had at getting away. He spent a lifetime under this guy’s thumb. I’d lie too, if I had a chance to get out.

A shout from the door distracted him long enough for me to draw my legs up and kick out. I hit him square in the dick, hard enough to send himto his knees. It didn't keep him down for long, though. I barely got to my feet before he snarled at me.

“You’re going to regret that, you little shit!”

He was close enough that when he lashed out, his claws slashed across my chest. Not deep enough to kill me, but it stung like a bitch. Any closer and I’d be dead meat. I looked around for anything to use to protect myself, but there wasn’t a damn thing. The room was empty aside from body parts and blood.

“That’s right, little mouse. Try and flee from me. Aziel is not worth protecting. Maybe if you’re fast enough, you’ll get away before I’m finished with him.”

There wasn’t a chance I’d leave Aziel behind. I resigned myself to a fist fight I had no chance of winning and glared at the asshole who had finally pushed to his feet. Bracing myself, I drew back my fist, but before I could connect with anything, a loud rumble shook the room and light exploded from the middle of it.

“No. No!” Aziel’s uncle screamed. He whipped his head around, baring his teeth at me, but he was more focused on the newcomers. I had no idea who they were, or if they were good guys or bad guys. I didn't wait around to find out. Once Aziel’s uncle was busy with his new friends, I used all my strength to get Aziel off the ground. He groaned, the first sign of him being awake, and I whispered to him as I dragged him out a side door.

“It’s okay. It’s gonna be okay. Just hold on.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

DECLAN

I was runningon pure adrenaline, getting Aziel out of that house. I didn’t look back, I didn’t stop, and no one came after us. I wasn’t sure how awake Aziel was, or if he even realized what was happening. He bore only a fraction of his own weight, moving on autopilot as I hauled him along. I was pouring sweat by the time we got out the front door and over to the truck. We had to duck once as another demon swooped down on us, but they were blasted with fire from someone inside and fell before they could swing around and try again.

Getting Aziel outside was one thing. Getting him into that goddamn truck looked like it was impossible and I whimpered as I leaned him against the seat. The damn thing was lifted, and it was hard enough to get Aziel to his feet, leaning on me. I didn’t think it was possible for me to pull him inside.

“Come on, baby. Work with me here. We need to get out of here.”

Aziel groaned again, leaning heavily against me. He couldn’t fucking hear me. Cursing under my breath, I looked around for another option. There was nothing.

“Do demons not fucking drive?” I muttered to myself. Shaking myself,I twisted, using my bodyweight to keep Aziel upright against the truck. Squatting, I put his legs around my waist as best I could, keeping my knees bent as I forced him and myself up those stupid steps and into the truck. It was exhausting, and I nearly slipped and dropped him at least twice.

“Where do you think you’re going?” a gravelly voice snarled from the other side of the truck. I hadn’t been watching around us, too busy trying to get Aziel into the truck. He stood on the driver’s side and when he started dragging Aziel towards him, I shouted, grabbing the first thing I could reach on the floor of the truck and chucking it at him. The hammer hit him in the head and he stumbled back long enough for me to race around and pick it up again. I gave him no time to recover before I swung again, hard enough to knock his ass out.