Page 98 of Dating the Dealing Demon

There’s nothing left to do but submit.

As much as the idea galls me and goes against every lesson of duty and commitment to the kingdom drilled into me since childhood, the mating instinct triumphs above all else.

I drop my wings, my claws, any indication of a threat. “You can have the crown. You can take whatever you want. Just leave Val out of this.”

“Aww,” she says, “you’re in love with the human.”

I say nothing because I’m not sure what answer would be deadlier for Val.

Gilly’s wings droop, the slightest sign she might be reconsidering. I tense, waiting for any opening. “Then close your eyes, brother,” she says, “so you don’t have to watch me carve her to pieces.”

CHAPTER FORTY-TWO

Val

“Carve this, bitch.” For the past few heart-pounding moments, I’ve been waiting for the opportunity to use the hatchet tucked tightly against my side.

Any second thoughts I’d had about murdering Theo’s psycho sister vanished when Monty…I can’t think about Monty right now, or I’ll break down sobbing which will end with me dying and Gilly winning.

She’d made sure I suffered while teleporting, ripping me through dimensions with a thousand times the roughness Theo used on my first trip to hell.

The moment Gilly warped us into this realm, I’d hit my knees and barely managed to swallow the sickness churning in my gut.

Now, I’m ready to send her back to whatever After Worlds pit she crawled out of.

Swinging the hatchet, I yank back and knock her blade away from my neck, ignoring the pain of hair ripping from my scalp. The trick works. It’s progress, but not a victory. Not with Gilly’sclaws and the shadow monsters still swarming. They’re like creepy cousin Reggie multiplied by a million.

“Val.” Theo calls my name, yet his voice rips away as something hits him with the force of a speeding truck.

No.

Shadow monsters take him down, shoving him over the cliffside. Brimstone flames shoot from where I last saw him, blazing like a comet arcing through the sky. Heat pulses through the battlefield in a scorching roar.

My thoughts scatter in a million zipping directions. I can’t save himandstop her.

I have to end her.

For Theo and his family.

For my realm.

“Catch.” I toss the hatchet at her. “By the way, it’s cursed.” She reaches for it but releases it the moment the wordcursedpasses my lips.

Using all the pointers Ora and the others taught me in the last two weeks, I snatch the hatchet and swing with every ounce of strength I possess. I might’ve sucked at magic lessons, but I rocked weapons training.

It connects, sinking into Gilly’s shoulder, and the awful squelching sound turns my stomach.

“Stupid human.” She sinks her claws into my gut, aiming below the armor of my vest.

Shock hits me, and for a heartbeat, I feel nothing. Then, pain—intense and all-consuming pain—floods me, making me scream.

She twists her claws, gouging the open wounds and digging deeper.

A glimmer of magic nearby sends despair through me. If she opens another portal or if one of those shadow monsters come for me, I’m done.

Tears burn my eyes, and blood seeps through my clothes.

A copper and gold streak comes flying toward us, wings glittering in the light of purple flames. The shriek of a pissed-off dragon fills me with hope.

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