Page 83 of Dark Souls Academy: The Sacrifice

As if he could read my thoughts his manic grin grew wider. It stretched further than any human smile could. He tilted his head before speaking. “Did you know she gave up her powers to spite me? I let her keep her mates to keep her compliant. I can be reasonable when I want to be, and she had her Fae mate take away her demon magic!” The sneer on his face sharpened his features as they morphed into something truly ugly. At least the smile was gone. I could deal with being repulsed by him since, even in his pretty form, I felt the same way.

Pride for my mother must have shown in my eyes because his features darkened even more. Despite everything, I was glad she got to choose how she would die. Because I know he killed her. Without her demon power there was no need to keep her alive. The grief that threatened to rise was smothered by the recognition of my own future. I would do the same. Death was better than servitude to someone like him.

“I thought I had lost her and my chances at a Queen, but a seer had been given the gift of your mother's life story. I had to wait, but when I read the book my hopes of finding her daughterhad renewed. Even if I never got to finish the book. The seer led me here. It is kind of ironic that you are mated to my sons.”

I spit in his face as my body finished healing. “I’m going to enjoy watching the light leave your eyes you fucking bastard.”

The cackle did more to bring me down than his hits because it showed me how much shit I was in. He was the predator in this cat and mouse game. It fueled my anger, but I doubted it’d be enough. I couldn’t get that amulet off him either, and my Fae side wasn’t enough.

My spine straightened. I wouldn’t give up. I didn’t have a choice.

I called on my magic to try one last thing. All of his damn people had some sort of blocker to my lust magic, so I couldn’t feed off them. I refused to feed off my own people and weaken them even more. The hunger twisting my insides was persistent, though. I needed fuel, but I could try one more time before I was too drained.

Pushing away the gnawing need inside of me, I created an almost presence-like form with my air magic behind Lucifer. Not too close or he would sense it yet but close enough that I could feel it. I focused on Lucifer to not give myself away.

The air was saturated with my energy, so hopefully, he wouldn’t notice my magic. I focused on making my fake person as real as it could be because this would be my last attempt. Without feeding, I was no match for the Devil.

Lucifer rambled about the disgusting things he'd do to me, but I ignored him. Tuning him out the best I could without appearing distracted anyway. I must be a fantastic actress because he didn’t stop and even stepped closer with awinner’sgleam brightening his eyes.

When my distraction was finished, I pulled on Kain’s energy through the bond to make it feel like he was behind him. It would be a trick, but Lucifer would think the Gods had grantedmy wish to wake him from his coma. If Lucifer truly feared Kain’s shadow, it would work as a distraction. If he didn’t, we were screwed because another wave of Lucifer's army had just arrived.

Damn it. Please Goddess Nyx let this work.

CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

The panic from the new wave of enemies bleeding through the bond set my blood on fire. No! This asshole didn’t get to win. Not after everything we went through to get to this point. Not after I finally had a life. I was so scared before, hiding, never letting anyone get too close. I refused to be like that again and take everyone down with me.

I moved my distraction behind Lucifer as he stepped into my space, his breath on my cheek. The figure moved slowly as if someone creeped behind him. My eyes drifted over his shoulder. A smile stretched my lips as my features twisted with surprise to make it more convincing. Lucifer's eyes widened. The tinge of fear in his golden eyes was beautiful.

He swung around, magic blasting behind him to stop what he thought was my mate going for a killing blow. He was so close that I had no issue taking advantage of his distraction. I gripped onto the amulet embedded in his chest. It didn’t come out completely, but I used my soul weapon at the same time. The blade slid into his chest next to the amulet where his heart would be.

Satisfaction screamed alongside my battle cry as blood seeped from the wound. A few more inches and another tug onthe amulet, and he was done. I fucking did it! Lucifer fucking Morningstar was finished.

Just as that thought blossomed in my mind a force slammed into me, knocking me off my feet. I landed on my side. Pain bloomed instantly. I didn’t even look at my attacker. My gaze snapped to where Lucifer stumbled.

HE. WAS. STILL. STANDING.

NO!

I screamed in my attacker’s face. Disgust mixed with my rage. After a second, my eyes focused to see Demarcus’ face. This fucker just cost me everything. How had I been so wrong about him?

“How could you,” I croaked out.

“Sorry, Ivy. Can’t let you kill him.” His skin shifted from black to white with a ripple of skin. It was my first time watching him change and it angered me more because I thought his power was cool. The fucker didn’t deserve his demon. “You on the other hand, need to die.”

I was so depleted that his magic held me in place, even though, I wanted to fight him off. I couldn’t move. My soul weapon returned to me inches away from me. It laid there mocking me. Yet, my arm would move. It was too far away for me to grab.

In my peripheral vision, I watched a large group of soldiers surround Lucifer, presumably to help him heal. Great. He still had his amulet, he still had his army, and he still had his life.

I had nothing.

Devastation curdled inside of me as a wave of true turmoil devoured me. I had lost. There were no more plans. No more magic. My mates sent me their energy to help as they fought for their lives. They couldn’t get to me with the new numbers of our enemies. I blocked them. I closed off the bond, so none of them could waste their energy and so they didn’t have to feel me die.

Please Goddess Nyx, save my mates,I prayed.

Demarcus lifted his dagger into the air. “People like you killed my family. If my whore of a mother hadn’t tried to make waves or change things, just like you, my family would still be alive. People like you need to be eradicated.” His words flared with insanity.

How did I never see his true self? How did I not see the crazy bleeding through his purple eyes? What the fuck!

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