Page 5 of Taken to the Demon Court (Stolen Demon Brides #3)

EVE

I was woken by hands grabbing at me. I'd been dreaming. For the first time since I'd been taken, I'd been deep enough asleep to dream. It was stupid, about an old client of mine, but somewhat comfortable. For a minute I felt like I was really back home.

Until I was rudely awakened.

I had seen the other girls get taken time and time again, so I knew what to do. It didn't matter that they were trying to get me when I was at my weakest; I was ready for them.

There would be no escaping whatever awaited us, that much I knew, but that didn’t mean I wouldn’t fight for my life.

I grabbed the hands that tried to take me, kicking in their direction and nailing one of them in the chest. The other scrambled to try and hold on to my legs, but I was flailing too hard for them. I used my hands to pull their hair, and one of them let out a curse.

They had obviously thought I was just a weak and puny human and there would be no need for them to be on guard, so I was satisfied when my strength took them by surprise. I was no match for a demon, but I could make it difficult for them to catch me.

I squirmed. I bit. I kicked. I screamed. I did everything in my power to make it as difficult as possible for them. Mia did the same, joining me, trying to fight back. Her grunts echoed in the room.

The only one who didn’t was Iris. It was shocking, maybe even a little disappointing. She had been so adamant about escaping, yet when the time actually came, she was the one giving up. Even the demon that held her was laughing.

They forced us into the hallway and dragged us down to a dark room. Fighting back against inhumans that were way stronger than us was useless, but my ego wouldn't let me give it anything but my all.

Mia tried to make a run for it, but one of the demons shot her with some lights that wrapped around her body and sent her to the floor like she was a rag doll. The demons overpowered us.

“Be gentle,” one of them warned the others. “Humans are fragile, and the buyers will be really upset if their goods are damaged.”

We are being sold.

I knew it. I didn’t know I still had hope until it shriveled up and died at those words.

Rough hands gripped my arms and forced me and the others upright.

“It’s not like they would care anyway,” one muttered just as Iris looked at Mia, reality finally hitting home.

“Right?” The one that held me gave the others a wicked grin. “They’ll be too busy in a feeding frenzy to notice a bruise or two.”

Fear crawled up my spine.

No.

“Remember that not every demon is here to get a human to feast on,” a different one reminded them, giving the one in front a meaningful stare.

“Some come to find a companion or someone to bear their children. Either way, they pay good money to make sure humans are in good condition. If I find out even one of them got discounted because of your actions, I’ll cut off your access to human leftovers for two months. ”

Human leftovers. Jesus fuck.

I’m going to be eaten alive.

Nope. I can’t do this. I can’t let it end here, not like this.

I flung my entire body back, attempting to get the demons to loosen their grip. It worked. They scrambled to grab me, their growls filling the room.

Iris and Mia both jumped into action, kicking and punching, with Mia quickly shaking off her guards before diving under my legs. I blocked mine from following her, holding on to them like my life depended on it.

“Go Mia!” I yelled.

Iris used her body weight to shove the guard at her side enough to allow Mia to run past. She grabbed the curtains separating this room from the next, blinding us.

The sound of her footsteps suddenly stopped, and I had to rub my eyes for the image in front of me to come into focus.

The room came into view, and my heart dropped. It’s a stage. They were going to parade us around. Sell us to the highest bidder. The lights were bright, but I could make out the audience.

They’re not human.

Every single chair was filled with a grotesque-looking demon, many of them licking their lips once they saw Mia. Growls filled the room. The moving of chairs screeching against the floor hit my ears.

Shit.

“Oh my, it’s your first appearance, and you’ve already caused a frenzy.” A voice called from beyond the room. I know that voice. " Since the spirit seer offered herself up so prettily, we shall start with her.”

Oh no. Mia.

I looked at Iris, but her face showed the same sunken expression I was sure was written on mine.

Because Mia might be first, but we would be next.