Page 31 of Eternal Mate

The tricky part would be getting Azazel into the circle at all, especially since the magic trap had three parts before it would even work: calibration, activation, and deployment. It would first need to attune to Azazel’s energies once he was in its bounds, then gather power from Barimuz since it was demonic in nature.

Honestly, I couldn’t wrap my head around all of this magic jargon. Zuzanna had worked alone with Barimuz on this for a reason.

Speaking of him, he was already waiting for us inside the cave, back straight as he stood on the very edge of the circle. He regarded us with a brief nod.

“I felt the disturbance in the air,” Barimuz announced. “Take your forms. All we have to do now is wait.”

My angel was front and center before I even really gave her permission. I felt wings stretch behind me and angelic power thrum beneath my skin, ready to go.

Next to me, Sariel also took on his breathtaking dual-toned angel form, his skin glowing with streaks of light.

I shared a look with him, and he nodded at me.

Barimuz stood far away while the three of us got in formation around the cave entrance in order to box Azazel in. Once we were in place, Barimuz said, “The demon pup hasn’t yet mastered how to conjure portals that don’t involve sending himself through as well. We’ll likely have a fifth ally here.”

I automatically knew Sariel wasn’t happy about that. I couldn’t keep down my worry, either; as far as I knew, Ashe was a spy, not a fighter.

I didn’t know he was going to be here too, Sariel hissed. This guy did that on purpose.

Probably. I still believed in Barimuz’s good side, but I couldn’t say that the Archdemon didn’t have at least something of a sadistic streak. Especially towards angels, it seemed.

It’ll be okay, Sariel, I soothed.

It’s not. I don’t want Auren’s soulmate in mortal danger. I don’t think he’ll survive another death.

He won’t survive yours, either, I said gently.

He didn’t have anything to say to that.

I barely got enough time to appreciate the silence when it was interrupted by a high-pitched tone that hurt my ears.

I looked up towards the source. At the cave’s top, small black tendrils appeared in midair, swirling until they tore a huge hole into space itself. A hellish roar came from its depths, covering up the screech as black smoke wafted out.

My hair stood on end. Here it comes, I warned Sariel.

A falcon dove out of the black smog, then quickly swerved to land amongst some sparse stalagmites. A mere second after it got out of the way, a mass of goopy black, limbs, and massive bat wings landed gracelessly on the ground before the portal, the ooze coming off of it staining the dirt and rocks it’d landed upon.

The blob hissed, then raised what might be its head—a snout-like thing with too many yellow eyes and sharp teeth—to sniff the air. Several spidery, gnarled limbs tipped with barbs were sticking out of its body, moving around like they were reaching for something. The wings melted back into the main body of goo and vanished from sight.

Then, the head suddenly snapped around to glare at us. It hissed yet again, its fangs parting to flick out a black tongue.

The very next second, it charged straight for me.

My wings flapped once in a strong gust to get me out of the way. Atlan and Sariel both attacked the blob from the side while it careened past me, sending it slamming into the far rock wall. Its loose body splattered against it, those spidery limbs scrambling to right itself.

Was this… was this really Azazel? What the hell had happened to him?

Below us, the magic circle began to glow a faint red.

“He turned into a demon?” Barimuz asked aloud, sounding slightly bewildered. I turned to see that he was observing Azazel with a hand on his chin.

“You didn’t know?” Sariel asked. He was posed to either strike or flee once the monster had recovered himself, depending on whether he was the target or not.

“It wasn’t noted. Nor was it supposed to happen yet.”

Before that could really sink in, Azazel whipped around and pounced on the next nearest person: Atlan.

The wolf dashed out of the way, much more limber than Azazel’s new bulky and amorphous body. The demon had learned from the last pounce, however, his many limbs clambering against the floor for purchase so that he could chase after.

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