Morgan … I glanced around. Where was Morgan?
One of the demons swiped at my leg, and I fell on the ground. Pain burst from my knees, jarring my legs. I gritted my teeth, willing the scream to stay inside.
It came at me with its big claws again. I jumped up, and when its arm was pulled back I knelt again and slashed its throat. The gooey blood spilled on me, and I wrinkled my nose in disgust.
The other demon didn’t waste time and jumped up on the altar. I was about to parry its attack, prepared to duck low and pierce it from the side, but it wasn’t necessary as the tip of a blade appeared from its chest, immobilizing it.
The blade was gone, and the demon fell at my feet, revealing Micah behind it.
He had his smug grin on. “You’re welcome, darling.”
I marched around the demon and stopped a foot from him, pointing my finger at his chest. “I don’t need you to save me all the time.”
He looked like I had slapped him. “What? So I’m supposed to let you fall into the lava, or let you fight demons alone while I watch? Why not help you?”
“I don’t need your help!”
“Why is it so hard for you to accept my help?”
I pressed my lips together, but the words slipped anyway. “I am not a damsel in distress! I’m not helpless!”
He leaned over me. “I know that. Believe me, I even think it’s quite hot actually. But you can’t blame me for wanting to protect you. I—”
“Protect me?” I scoffed. “Did you forget our deal? How will you protect me from that?”
“What is she talking about?” Izaera asked, coming up to the altar with us. Micah and I stepped back, turning away from each other. “Neither of you will answer? Mitrus, what deal did you make with her?”
“It doesn’t matter,” I said before he could answer her. “It’s my deal and it won’t affect anyone or anything else, so you don’t need to worry about it.”
Tilting her head, Izaera squinted at me, as if trying to read my soul. “And because you said that, I’m now worried. What is it?”
I wouldn’t tell her, no matter how many times she asked or what she did. I just hoped Micah didn’t tell her either.
Morgan appeared from the shadows along a wall. “Tell us, Nad.”
“It doesn’t matter,” I repeated in a low tone. There were just the demons’ bodies and us in the room now. I turned to Micah. “Here.” I pointed to one of the holes on the edge of the altar. “Place your scepter here.”
Matter forgotten, he inserted the end of his scepter in the hole and let go. It fit perfectly, making the scepter stand tall.
“I don’t understand,” he said.
“We probably have to wait for Victor,” I said.
Micah puffed in frustration. He clenched and unclenched his fists, probably trying to hide from me that he was trembling.
Shaking my head, I reached to him and cupped his cheeks. “When will you learn to ask for it?”
A cold jolt prickled my palms and energy seeped into him.
Closing his eyes, he inhaled deeply. “I was hoping we could end this soon and I wouldn’t have to bother you,” he whispered.
“I don’t like seeing you hurt,” I said.
The energy stopped flowing, and Micah opened his eyes, staring into mine. I pulled my hands away, but he took them in his. “Careful, darling. I’ll think you care.”
Fighting a smile, I retreated and jumped off the altar.
Morgan kept glancing at the doors, his eyes wide, his hands shaking, and Izaera communicated with Ceris often.
“They are on their way down,” she informed us. I wasn’t keeping track of time, and honestly, the minutes felt like hours.
Micah paced from one edge of the altar to the other, visibly impatient. “Tell them to hurry, before more demons arrive.”
“Too late for that,” a new voice said.
My blood froze, and I nearly dropped my sword. Everyone froze.
I didn’t need to turn around to find out to whom that voice belonged, but I did anyway. Omi stood by the main entrance with a crap load of demons.
31
Like the raging sea, demons and more demons came out from the doorway, flanking Omi.
“What? No welcome? And I thought you would be glad to see me.” He turned his big smile to me. “Especially you, Nadine.”
Rage burned in my veins, and I lunged at him. Micah jumped off the altar, grabbed my arm, and held me back.
“I’m gonna kill you!” I shouted.
Omi laughed. “Ah, how I love when humans speak nonsense.” His smile slipped away from his face as his eyes shifted to Micah. “So it’s true. Mitrus. Long time no see, brother.”
“Do not call me brother,” Micah said through gritted teeth. “You and that bitch plotted against me, you played me against Levi. And Imha and you are the reason the world is in this mess.”
Omi arched one eyebrow. “Mess? Imha and I don’t think so. The world is the way we want it to be.”
“You two are hopeless.”
“No, brother, we are not. We are strong together. Imha and I make a good team. A good couple.” The corners of his mouth twitched up. “Oh, wait. Is that why you are so wound up? Because she prefers me? But, brother, everyone knew that.”
I couldn’t help but glance at Micah. He shook his head, disgust on his face. “If I could go back in time, I would erase any association I had with her.”
“The lies people tell themselves,” Omi said, smiling at me. “He’s a master liar, Nadine. Don’t buy anything he tells you. He’ll woo you with his confident smile and his sweet words, but he’ll betray you. He’ll betray everyone. He always does.”
Micah turned his eyes to me. “That’s not true,” he whispered.
“Another lie,” Omi said.
“Shut up!” Micah yelled, advancing a step.
“See? He doesn’t want you to hear the truth.”
“You …” Micah leapt at him, and this time I held him back.
Omi laughed. “Aren’t you two cute together?” His face hardened. “It’s a shame you both will be dead soon.” He raised his arm to the ceiling and yelled, as a wave of demons rushed to us.
Izaera cast a green shield in front of us, buying us time. Micah clasped my arm and pulled me around the altar, picking up his scepter on the way, where we would have an advantage.
The shield broke, and Izaera brought vines from the cracks between the rocks. The vines ensnared the demons, slowing and bothering them, buying us more time. If only Victor and Ceris would hurry …
A couple of demons got free, and they charged us. Back-to-back, Micah and I fought them. Parry, dodge, duck, slash, stab. It was almost automatic and easy now, if it weren’t for the fact that I was exhausted from coming up the stairs and the previous two fights.
We had killed a dozen or more when Omi must have decided it was taking too long and advanced. Izaera was ready and engaged him. I sighed in relief—it was only fair, since she was the only one with magical powers that matched his.
Meanwhile, we were busy with demons. I lost count after I killed my sixteenth. How many were there? And more kept entering the room. Each time a new wave surged I tensed, thinking Imha would be among them. Why wasn’t she here?