I hoped they weren’t eating the Wardens.
“That’s a whole lot of demons,” Layla said, iron daggers in hand.
“We got this,” Zayne said, looking at me. “Don’t we?”
I nodded even as my heart started thumping. “We do.”
The line of demons advanced, and I started to draw on my grace when Thumper flew off Roth’s shoulder, letting out a squeak of warning—a squeak which turned into a roar so loud it felt like my bones rattled.
My breath caught as I watched Thumper grow, sprouting legs the size of tree trunks and claws larger than my own hands.
Zayne grabbed me, hauling me out of the way as those crimson wings unfurled, lengthening to a size triple that of Zayne’s. The tail hit the ground, cracking the top layer of grass and soil wide open.
Wide eyed, I watched the dragon the size of two tanks stretch its neck out, mouth open in another roar. Sparks flew from his nostrils as the scent of brimstone filled the air.
Hellions and Nightcrawlers rushed us. They didn’t slow when they spotted Thumper. Instead, they split, veering in two directions.
Roth’s familiars were having none of that.
Thumper’s head whipped to the right, mouth snapping open. Fire poured out, hitting the group of demons, incinerating them.
I stumbled back, bumping into Zayne. “That’s a dragon.”
Zayne steadied me as Roth chuckled. Thumper caught another demon by its mouth. Bones crunched. “And he’s hungry,” Zayne commented.
“Very,” Roth agreed.
“Heads-up.” Layla’s wings lifted. “Incoming.”
The white kitten that was now the size of a small horse streaked out from the woods, leaping into the air. Landing on a Hellion, Nitro sunk his teeth into the demon’s neck, taking the Hellion to the ground. Thumper lifted, snagging a demon up with him.
“The imps,” Roth called out as he strode forward, his skin thinning as wings sprouted from his back and horns protruded from the top of his head. “Eat the yummy imps, Thumper.”
I didn’t even have time to think about that. Golden white spilled down Zayne’s arms and the two sickle blades appeared as a mass of demons reached us.
“Remember the plan,” Lucifer said. “We need to weaken Gabriel.”
“Understood,” Zayne said as I nodded.
Unhooking a dagger, I summoned my grace. The weight of the Sword of Michael formed against my palm as Zayne lopped off the head of a Raver.
A Hellion raced past the kittens and dragon, grabbing for me, but I dipped under its arm and spun around, slicing the fiery sword through its back. I whirled around as Lucifer shoved his hand through the chest of the Nightcrawler.
“You done messed up,” Lucifer growled, yanking its heart out. Flames erupted from his palm and then the Nightcrawler.
Bambi shot out of the mist gathering among the grass, catching an imp and dragging it back to the ground.
Shooting forward, I kicked out, catching a Raver in the midsection. It stumbled back, mouth open and teeth snapping at air. I shot forward, thrusting the dagger into its hairless chest. Hot blood sprayed my face as I yanked the dagger out. I kept moving forward, getting a little lost in the fight and the pumping adrenaline. Demons fell all around us as Thumper tore through the sky, snatching up imps left and right.
“He’s going to have a tummy ache,” I said.
Roth ripped through the neck of a Nightcrawler. “That’s what Pepto is for.”
I snorted. “You’re going to need a big bottle—”
Roth lurched for me as fingers tangled in my braid, jerking my head back. I gasped as I suddenly stared up into the young face of some kind of winged demon.
“Gotcha,” it grunted, wings sweeping down as he lifted up—
Without warning, the demon’s head just fell off. The grip on my hair relaxed as the demon fell.
“Got you,” Zayne growled from above.
“That was hot,” I whispered as Roth grabbed my arm, pulling me out of the way of the demon slamming into the ground. “Thanks.”
Zayne landed beside me. “Thank me later.”
I smiled. “Planning on it.”
“Gross, guys.” Roth launched into the air, joining Layla.
The trees rattled behind us, as if a hundred birds were taking flight. I turned, seeing the dark shapes of Wardens spilling out into the air while Lucifer’s legion poured out from between the trees, racing forward.
Zayne grinned, his gaze meeting mine. My smile kicked up a notch as a Warden dropped to the ground.
A wall of flames went up behind, stretching so high I couldn’t see the trees behind it. Heat blew back, singeing our skin. At first I thought it was Lucifer, but he was ahead of us.
Then I heard the shouts—the screams—and my heart sank. The Wardens. Dez. Nic. Jordan—
I cut those thoughts off before I let them take hold. I couldn’t go down that road right now.
“Bael!” Lucifer shouted, whipping around. “Where are you, you conniving, traitorous—?”
A ball of flames spun from the corner, nearly catching the black kitten’s back legs. Another ball of flames rippled across the sky. Thumper dived, but wasn’t quick enough. The dragon shrieked as the flames singed his wings.