Page 139 of Their Demon

I cupped my hands around my mouth. “Aiden! Nicholas!”

Nothing.

People were pushing through hurriedly, bumping me around until I reached the outer wall. I pressed my back up against the hard stone and continued to look for my men. It was impossible to see around or over anyone, though, being so fucking short.

“Well, well, well,” I heard from beside me. “If it isn’t the human herself, gallivanting around on her own.” I turned to see a member of Satan’s guard standing next to me, a wicked smile on his face. “The king has been looking for you.” He gestured for me to follow, but I planted my feet and crossed my arms in refusal.

“I’m not going anywhere until I find Aiden and Nicholas.”

The guard threw his head back and laughed. “You’re not going to find them,filthy pet. They’re too far away by now to hear youscream above all this noise, and no one else in these halls gives enough of a shit about you to help.”

“Fuck you.”

“Kind of you to offer, but I’m on strict orders to bring you downstairs to prepare for the third trial.” He cocked an eyebrow. “Are you coming willingly, or do I need to force you to cooperate?” He placed his hand on the sword tucked into the belt around his waist.

My jaw twitched as I contemplated my options. On one hand, I was armed, and there was only one of him. On the other hand, though, I didn’t want to expose my hidden weapons, and the hallway was full of innocent people who could quickly become collateral.

I looked around one more time, hoping with every fiber of my soul that I would spot someone,anyone, but I came up empty-handed. I had no other choice.

“Fine,” I gritted out.

“Good choice.” He grabbed my arm and dragged me down the hall in the opposite direction of where I wanted to be going.

Panic settled in my bones as thoughts of where I was going and what I was about to face bounced through my head.

More dragons?

Fight an army?

Get attacked by yet another creature I’d never heard of?

I forced back tears, refusing to let anyone see me cry. Sure, I was being yanked down the hall by a stupid guard, but I would retain as much dignity and confidence as I possibly could. People were starting to stop and stare, and I almost thoughtabout calling out for help, but then we stopped in front of an elevator.

“Bottom level,” the guard barked at the elevator operator, who immediately pushed the button with shaky hands. “Don’t think about trying anything funny, got it?” He began to crush my upper arm in his hand, making me whimper.

“Got it.”

He snarled and let me go, satisfied with my compliance.

The elevator dinged as we reached the floor. I expected to see more of the crowd when the doors opened, but I saw nothing of the sort.

It was a dark hallway, lit only by torches mounted on the wall every several feet. It was so quiet, I could hear my heart pounding wildly.

“Let’s go,” the guard said as he shoved me out in front of him.

I stumbled, nearly tripping over my feet. “All you had to do was ask, dickhead.”

“Watch it, human. My only order was to bring you down here. He never said you had to be in pristine condition.”

That made me hesitate. I had no doubt he would take full advantage of the opportunity to beat me down so I couldn’t complete the third trial.

“Is that why I’m down here? To hurt me before the trial starts?”

He chuckled, which wasn’t the answer I was looking for.

“Do you know what the third trial is?” I tried.

“If I did, I wouldn’t tell you.”

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