Page 96 of Their Promise

“Hey!” I snapped at them and put my hands on my hips. “I’ve been fine for years without you by my side. Don’t even start.”

The pup ran around from the opposite side and I screamed once again, “Don’t kill the pup!”

Foxfire spun in a circle to keep the sword he’d begun to strike the pup with away.

The pup ran to me, whined, and sat beside me.

“Mom said he’s here to protect me. He sent four hellhounds away from Mom and I, so we believe him.”

Kayden’s lip twitched as he looked at the pup, but he didn’t comment.

Tony just sighed and shook his head again.

Caleb ran at the giant werewolf-demon, sent a bolt of electricity at it, and ran for its legs as it howled in pain.

“Maybe you should help Dad?” I suggested to Tony.

He looked at me and then at the giant werewolf-demon. “Helping to take that down would help protect you.”

“Go,” I urged. “I’d rather you help keep Dad safe.”

He looked at Kayden and said, “Don’t let her out of your sight.”

Kayden bumped fists with him and Tony ran to help Dad.

Nana Jolie squatted by the pup and smiled. “Hello, pup! You’re adorable!”

The pup yipped and let his tongue lull out of his mouth again, wagging his tail so fast it raised a small dust cloud.

My laughter was short-lived as the giant werewolf-demon was taken to his knees by Caleb, Grandpa Nico, Tony and Grandpa Foxfire. The giant werewolf-demon tilted his head back and made an incredibly eerie howl that had everyone taking a step back and all of the shifters, myself included, growling or hissing.

The necklace warmed against my chest again. “Kay, the necklace,” I whispered.

Nana Jolie and he looked at the necklace, brows furrowing.

The next instant, four extremely humanoid demons stepped out of the portal. They had pale skin, long horns atop their heads pointed up and curving slightly backwards, short thick light brown hair, hooved feet, and had extremely muscular bodies, even more muscular than the shapeshifters currently fighting for their lives. They didn’t have any weapons, which worried me. When someone didn’t carry a weapon to a battle, it was normally because they considered their bodies the only weapons they needed. My worry tripled when they started running and their long strides were incredibly fluid.

Kayden stepped forward, growling in his werewolf warrior form. “Move back,” he ordered us.

Nana Jolie shifted into her warrior form, drawing on the connection between her four mates and her, and stepped between Kayden and I. She glanced at the hellhound pup and said, “You better protect her, pup.”

The pup bobbed his head once and got to his feet, puffing up and rattling his spines.

Maya noticed that Kayden was about to face off against four strong-looking demons on his own, squawked to get Grandpa Foxfire’s attention, and flew towards us.

Kayden slammed into the first demon and their battle was incredibly intense, so much so that my eyes were locked on them and didn’t pay attention to the three remaining ones who charged straight towards me.

“Mas!” Kayden bellowed as he exchanged blows with the humanoid demon.

Nana Jolie and Grandpa Foxfire each attacked one of the humanoids and Maya began to fling fire at the last one.

Jumping forward, I began attacking the one Maya was hitting with fire as well, both of us used to coordinating our attacks since it was something we’d practiced for hundreds, possibly thousands, of hours growing up.

The pup whined and paced behind me, but strangely did not help attack the humanoid demon. Was it because it was so much more powerful than him?

The humanoid demon grabbed a rock from the ground and threw it at Maya, hitting her and causing her to fall to the ground.

“Maya!” I screamed and ran towards her.

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