Page 162 of Last Gift: Supernatural Battle

“Just that the demons will shit themselves when they see you.”

Huxley’s voice chimed through the advisor pendant, “Passing through the main tunnels.”

We needed them inside, and that meant our magus through the entrance tunnels were in hiding until the signal went out. I gripped the pendant and answered, “What’s their progress like?”

“Cautious.”

They sensed a trap. Not enough to stay out. Perhaps they were falling for yet another ploy—that we’d try to get as far from them as possible and out into the largest fighting space.

Most of the magus here had grown up fighting in nooks and crannies.

Sage’s voice came through next, “First fork. They’re splitting.”

Good.

“East tunnels.” Delta.

“East fork, splitting,” Winona reported.

A second later… “West fork, splitting.” Barrow.

I walked in a slow circle, meeting the gazes of our fighting force of around eighty in the chamber. It was signal enough. We all turned outward to face the four entrances into the chamber.

Wild faced south with me. The tunnels from the south were shortest. Theoretically, the demons would come from here first.

All we had to do was hold out for long enough. The eighty supernatural here were chosen for a reason.

We just had to hold out.

I heard a ripped snarl and a clicking of scaled feet on stone from the tunnels outside. In almost comical fashion, a yellow-scaled demon poked his head around the corner. When he saw us, his blazing yellow eyes widened, and he quickly drew back.

Wild chuckled darkly, and then there was the strangest breath as though the entire cave was sucking in air.

Screeches and snarls erupted from the entrance, and then demons poured in from the south.

My feet were moving and walking me forward.

As I took in that the demon horde was a mix of yellow and oranges and greens, they seemed to see me.

The yellow demon who’d first peeked in the chamber slowed to a stop. “Oyx Wehy.”

Black scales.

“Oxy Wehy.” His blurted words were passed back.

My lips curved. “Oyx Wehy.” I am more powerful than you.

And there was something my grandmother told me never to do unless I wanted to make a particularly gory statement. Seemed like the right time.

I portaled inside the demon with yellow scales.

His body couldn’t contain my magic, nor me. No sooner had the feeling of air been cut off, than cracks formed in the demon from the inside out, and his body exploded outward. The chunks scattered in all directions, and his blood was too weak to harm me as it dripped from my hair and cloak.

Some of the demons screamed. This time at me. Under their screams was the deep boom of King Julius’s delighted mirth.

I walked forward and reveled in the fear in the demons’ eyes.

Then I pushed battle into my voice for all supernaturals in the caves to hear. “Begin.”

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