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Monty

Thursday Night

S omething was wrong. I could feel it but couldn’t explain it. A sense of danger that clutched at my rib cage and made the fire there flare even stronger than before.

I slammed my hand forward, the shadows taking out the last three demons in front of me. They needed to go so I could face whatever trial was next.

There was a deep gnawing feeling that I needed to get to Harlow. Without a second thought, I flashed to the third floor.

A horde of demons and their accompanying shadows filled every available inch of the hallway.

They froze when they saw me, a chorus of angry hisses echoing in the darkness.

How had they broken through my wards?

Before they could attack and I killed them all, I went to the roof, yelling out to Kol.

“They’ve infiltrated the third floor!”

A roar of anger cut through the night in answer. Backup was coming.

The demons faltered at the sight of me appearing in front of them again. It seemed the mindless, twisted creatures had a sense of self-preservation.

My shadows filled my hands, spilling out and forming into a whip. With a war cry, I moved, crashing into the horde and lashing out. I used my whip to cut through the demons, watching them explode on impact with a satisfied grin.

Ashes rained down around me as I struck, the air filled with the scent of their death.

How had the humans and half breed not noticed?

It took a few minutes to reach Drake’s door. I slammed my hand onto it as I fought with my other.

The demons weren’t scared of me, but they should have been. My focus was never truly torn. I was Hel’s commander for a reason.

“Demons are on the floor!” I called out in warning before giving my attention back to the unworthy demons who still lashed out.

They lacked skill and weapon, it was a true slaughter, but they had numbers on their side.

Drake was there a moment later in only boxers with a katana in his hand. It would have been amusing in any other situation and I would have teased the half demon.

Roman and Harlow joined us, too, weapons clutched in their hands and determination in their eyes. For two humans who knew nothing of this world not long ago, they were adapting beautifully.

We worked in tandem, slicing through the demons before us until the gargoyles joined. They nearly tore off the elevator door when it wouldn’t open fast enough.

Together we were a flurry of blades, claws, and fangs, tearing through the hundreds of demons that remained.

By the time we were finished, it smelled like smoke and blood, the shadows receding now that the slaughter was over.

“Are you all right, little human?” I demanded, rushing over to Harlow and letting my shadows fall away as I ran my hands over her. She was covered in blood, and I needed proof it wasn’t from her.

“I’m fine.” She smiled up at me, smelling of crisp, fresh berries and snowfall. It was the same smile that had been my undoing.

I may have protected her out of duty once. Yet, ever since she discovered what I was and embraced it, things had changed.

She was more to me than just a tool for Hel to use, or someone that belonged to me.

In truth, she owned me more than I had ever owned her.

I haven’t told her yet but even feeding was no longer the same. She did that without trying, every time we fought, fucked, or spoke she was fueling me with power. It was an unconscious constant thing that made me stronger than I’d ever been.

Another thing Hel could never know.

Even if I lost my command and the world descended into chaos, I wouldn’t change a fucking thing. I would fight by Harlow’s side. My mate was my true purpose.

Hel was raising the stakes and we would meet them blade for blade until this was over. Until we’d won. Losing was no longer an option. I might not have cared about anything but duty and power before.

Now I had everything to lose.