Page 70 of Foxes of Legend

Several dozen demons closed in on us from all directions. My Fated mates formed a circle around me.

It was enchanting. That connection between us. The beckoning of slaughter. And then, their weapons dealt fatal blows. Ash rained upon us. Seven hid in his shadows, and since it was night, he could be anywhere.

ButIknew exactly where he was.

Enko’s fiery blade slashed through the demons, countering their fire with his own hotter flame. Kairos slammed his mace into the ground, a crack of lightning as it shot into the sky, the droplets of rain hitting us moments later and extinguishing the hellfire.

The demons squealed as the rain touched them, but only the lowest Tier I demons were deterred. The other demons marched straight through it.

Metal clunked and groaned as the Land Rover shook. A hairy silhouette with red eyes growled at me, leaping down into my circle of safety.

Hellhound, Tier II.

I’d conducted the movements hundreds of times over the last week. My muscles remembered each fluid motion as I spun, holding firm to the hilt as it severed raw flesh.

It crumpled to the ground, whimpering as the fire consumed it. The magic flowing through my weapon cut demons like a hot blade through butter.

The connection with my Fated tugged at me. Kairos’ muscles strained. Seven’s leg burned. I spun around, finding them immersed in the bloodbath. I dashed over to Enko, helping with the three demons swirling around him—banshees, Tier III.

“Dove, get back.” He growled while I ignored him.

We continued to fight, with no sign of the flood of demons slowing down. The conditioning of my training came into play. Despite every part of my body wanting to stop the endless exertion, I kept going. Until—

The air was sucked from my lungs.

The clammy hands of death seized me, dragging me into the Shadow Vale. I panted on the thin air, unable to get a breath in the pitch black darkness. I could see the faint outlines of the academy against the plum sky. I passed through the smoky silhouettes of arms and weapons.

The demon duo—ghouls, Tier III—finally delivered me.

The night’s light blazed brightly compared to the Shadow Vale. Sweet air filled my lungs and I dropped to my knees on the asphalt of the campus parking lot. Breathing in the desperate will to live.

The two ghoul henchmen behind me gripped my arms roughly. Their hands were cold and wet and slimy. Their faceless presence observed me, unable to see the glint of their eyes beneath the hood. From my readings, I knew it was just rotten flesh. They were half-spirit demons, bound between the Shadow Vale and this world, never really in either. They tightly secured my wrists and pushed me to the ground, binding my feet as well.

That’s when I saw him.

The archdemon who had led the slaughter at Hawthorn.

His uncanny black eyes swept over me in scrutiny. His bluish-gray skin, the carbon black horns. I was close enough to see his wrinkles, the cracked splits on his horns, his red lips. His mouth opened, revealing where the color came from on his bloodstained teeth. Was he trying to smile? Or planning how best to eat me?

My breath caught in my throat. Paralyzed during my one shot at redemption, at revenge. The bindings rubbed my skin raw as I struggled.

“At long last.” His hollow voice sent shivers down my spine, the voice of my nightmares. He stepped forward, forcing me to look up at his monolithic height. Even Enko couldn’t match it. “Goblin eat your tongue? I expected more of a fight when I found you.” He grimaced as he looked me up and down.

“You,” I breathed.

“Zalgore, commander of ninety legions,” He bowed as he introduced himself. My heart stopped as rage loosed from his eyes, his teeth clenching into a snarl. “Hello, Disciple. You gave up your robes. No wonder you’ve been so hard to find.”

Seven, Enko, and Kairos crusaded on a path searching for me, but I couldn’t see past the hordes of monstrous brutes. Could they feel me as I could feel them?

“What do you want?” I demanded.

“How can you pretend you don’t know what this is about? You caused all of this. The armies sent from hell, the attacks on the shrines, they’re looking foryou. A new Disciple of the goddess sent to destroy us.”

The realization hit me like a tsunami, how the attacks seemed to follow me everywhere I went.

“Yes. All that blood is on your hands. A coward hiding from her fate. Come now and let this slaughter end.”

“I’d rather die than submit to you,” I snarled, finally breaking through the ropes that bound my feet, jumping to my feet and clinging onto my sword. I charged forward, slashing my blade at the archdemon.

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