Page 105 of Wings of Destiny

I shoved myself back from the island, knocking over the barstool. “I need to head out for a few. I’ll be back. If they show up before me, make sure to keep everyone here.” I ignored Derik as he shouted after me, asking what had happened.

I headed for my room and pulled out a dagger I kept hidden within a pocket on the underside of my nightstand. I strapped it into the waistband of my sweats, rammed my feet into my running shoes, made my way back down the hall, through the living room, and out the door. Derik and Josh’s eyes burned into my back.

The leaves rustled around me as I crept through the trees. Afternoon had begun to shift into evening as I hunted my prey. I needed the distraction, an outlet for my anger—my fear. And a gym session wasn’t going to cut it.

I needed to kill.

To rid the world of something vile.

My nostrils flared.

The tang of blood filled the air, guiding me forward.

Guttural laughter sounded in the distance. “This one is going to be delectable, brother. I called first dibs.”

I heard a shriek echo further into the woods. The air stilled, as if hearing it as well. As if the forest felt the pain of the victim. A howl skirted through the trees.

The shrieking abruptly stopped.

I picked up my pace, the bitter taste of fear hit my tongue.

I came upon a clearing and ducked behind a wall of shrubbery as I took in the scene before me. Two Demons standing nearly seven feet in height each, had a human strewn and torn in half between them, fingers still twitching as the light dimmed from their eyes. Their throat had been gouged out, torso split from their lower half, entrails hung from their severed body. One Demon’s back was to me, long hair jutted from its spine, elongated, pointed ears sat atop its head, a snarl erupted from its mouth as it bit down on the human’s head, ripping it free. The damned thing had transformed itself into a wolf of nightmares. I fought the bile that rose from my stomach.

The second Demon ripped what little clothing was left strewn across the human’s flesh on their bottom half. A forked tongue stabbed the human’s center, a female. My heart ached. The Demon dove its tongue further within the human, until it erupted to the other side and tore her body in half once again. Anger rippled through me.

The human is already gone.

I gripped my dagger.

I need to wait.

The moment has not come yet.

I watched as the Demons devoured the human’s body. Bit by bit. Until there was nothing left, and their bellies were filled, sated.

Now.

I crept forward, ears trained on the clearing and trees around me, listening for any potential surprises. There was no sign of any other Demons.

I sprinted, using my full Nephilim speed to launch myself forward as I drove my dagger into the wolfed Demon’s back, directly aligned with its empty heart. I drew my blade back and ink spurted out of its wound. It turned swiftly, its body shook with rage, claws flailing, pawed feet tripping over themselves. Iquickly stole contact upon its snout, reversing its memory as it collapsed. Black blood gurgled from its center as I leaped onto it, slicing down its core as I propelled myself into the air, landing on the shoulders of the second Demon. I twisted, snapping its neck and lodged my dagger into the side of it.

“Please.” It panted, breath strangled.

I leaped down, landing next to the Demon as it plummeted to the ground, head lolled towards me as ink pooled from its mouth. I crouched down, its eyes darting, fear infiltrated their usual cocky demeanor. I ran the blade of my dagger along its sunken cheekbones as I let out a low laugh, ice laced my voice.

I leaned down to its ear and whispered, “Your survival went out the door the moment you set foot into my territory and threatened the people here.” I sliced the dagger clean through its head, yanking it back as it split in two. Just like the woman they raped and murdered.

I looked to where they had feasted on the innocent life. Nothing but crimson blood and guts laced the ground where she had been. I begged that whatever awaited her, was peaceful and far better than what she had suffered.

I hung my head, arms draped over my knees as I sat, coated in the Demons’ blood. The adrenaline continued to coarse through me. Erin flashed through my mind.

I have to protect her.

Chapter thirty-seven

Seth

I ran off the rest of the adrenaline as I sprinted through the woods and deeper into the thick of it. My anger and bloodlust having got the better of me. The hunt was needed, but I needed the information more. Time was ticking away. The humans grew closer to their deaths each day. Erin’s potentially not too far behind. If she was The Key, that meant she’d be used to bring the Demons into power—domination. And it was unclear if that meant she too would be slaughtered and sacrificed once they were done with her. A growl escaped my lips as the image of how we’d found her in Erebus’s lair loomed in my mind.

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