Chapter 42

CHAPTER 42

I spare Freya a look and see her stepping inside the building. Good, we bought her a chance. I wish we could be with her, but the army he created turns their eyes to us, and now that she is clear, their intention to destroy us fills the air.

She might be facing him, but we are with her in her heart and soul. He is assuming our deaths will make her weak, but I will not allow that. I will not allow him to hurt her like that. Her soul and heart are already ours, and he cannot have them.

This is not the first war I have fought, and it will not be the last, but it is the most important because it is for her. Freya called to me and gave me purpose, and she showed me love and kindness.

I have fallen madly and deeply in love with her, and despite my duty and station, I choose her. As I dive towards the undead soldiers filled with power of past necromancers, I let them see there is no one more determined than a god in love.

I bulldoze into the soldiers, feeling the touch of death wash over my skin as they try to claim my soul for the darkness.

If only they knew the darkness already claimed it—the darkness that lives in her.

SHA

They are strong. Before, it was like tearing through grass, easy and endless, but now they are fighting back. I feel Phrixius above me as his magic hits the crowd, melting them where they stand. They do not even scream, and even if they are missing limbs or dying, they continue to stumble towards him. He grabs them and lifts them into the air, dropping them from an incredible height before diving back down, cutting through their masses with his swords. Heads tumble to the ground, but their bodies carry on their assault.

Teeth dig into my side, and I snarl as I turn, focusing on those attacking me. My shadows swallow their silent screams, crawling along their skin and dragging them down to the ground, which opens. It swallows them whole, leaving no trace. My long arms swipe out, sending more flying. I hear bones break as I tear through the never-ending masses, refusing to give up or slow down.

Freya is counting on me. I will not let her down.

She is my reason for living. She is my master and my lover. I will decimate any army for her. I will bring their hearts to her as a trophy, and when this is over, I will show her what it means to be loved by a monster.

Snarling loudly, I bite the head of the next foe, spilling blood across me.

ADDER

We are spread out now and cut off from one another. They think that makes us weaker, but they are wrong. I am a demon born to do evil, and today, I let everything I keep inside out.

Fire scorches the earth as I step forward, the scent of sulphur filling the air, and those nearest to me catch fire. They still head my way, but as they bump into others, the fire spreads, moving across their masses.

Conjuring a portal, I shove a few through, knowing where they will end up. Sharks eat them as they drop into the water. Turning, I wave my hand, and a net comes down on more, acid burning through them as it captures them, pinning them to the ground.

I laugh and let all my wild, evil magic out, turning others to insects and stepping on them. I keep moving and killing. Their blood spills over me, only urging me on. My fires burn hotter until even the buildings around us scorch with the heat.

I will not stop, not until there are no more threats to her.

This battle is ours, just as the one up there is hers.

I will not let her down. I have spent the last twenty something years of my life protecting her, and I will continue to do so until the day she dies and I make a deal with another demon to kill me to join her.

Today is not our end—it's our beginning. I will ensure that.

Something slides through my side, and I turn, lava pouring from my hand and burning them to a crisp as the darkness seems to intensify. I can feel she's close to him, and he knows it.

He is waiting.

My eyes turn to the skyscraper, and I send up a prayer to the gods I never wanted to depend on, begging them to keep her safe.

We cannot help her now. It's all up to her.