Page 90 of Outnumbered

I yelped and spun around to see her and Nico behind us.

“Just the one demon hound that we’ve seen. We evacuated the civilians that were nearby,” Triston answered.

She nodded. “I’ll stay here with them.”

Nico nodded and strode forward with a staff in his hand, sending fireballs and other spells at the demon hound in areas the others weren’t attacking it. Its large size was definitely a disadvantage to it.

“Has it spoken?” Jolie asked.

“Demons speak?” I asked, shocked.

She shrugged. “It’s an animal so I thought maybe you heard it.”

I shook my head. “Not so far it hasn’t.”

“Maybe demons are different,” Triston suggested.

“Does this happen often?” I asked her.

“Demon hounds? No, we don’t encounter demons very often.”

“No, fighting random battles in the city,” I amended.

She nodded. “At least once every three months.”

That explained how quickly they all moved into action and converged to fight it.

“Is it something about this city?” I wondered.

“We think it’s partly because of how many people live here of different races, but it is also the most populated city within one hundred miles. It draws the attention of those who want to cause trouble.”

The hound fell to its knees and howled.

Rhys vaulted Fox up in the air, high over the hound’s head. Fox did a flip and brought his sword down, decapitating it.

The body wavered and then disappeared in a puff of black smoke.

“Well, that was quick,” I said.

Jolie clapped and cheered. “Good job, guys!”

Fox bowed with a hand flourish and Caleb rolled his eyes at his father.

“I say we get ice cream!” Fox shouted as he jogged over to Jolie, kissing her cheek.

“We haven’t eaten lunch yet,” she reminded him.

“We were going to make club sandwiches when we got back to your place,” Triston informed her.

She smiled. “Sounds great to me!”

“Then ice cream?” Fox asked.

“Sure,” she agreed.

“Sundaes?” I suggested.

Fox nodded. “I knew I liked you.”

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