Page 35 of Their Promise

“Oh, I have better talents than this, but you aren’t ready for that yet,” he said and winked at me, but immediately had to duck as a bat-like demon flew out of the portal and towards his face.

“Get back,” Kayden ordered me as he joined Ezio and Mason in fighting the demons that came out of the portal.

“They’re after Lily,” Mason informed him.

Kayden’s eyes darkened as he glanced at me and back at the creatures. “Why?”

“We don’t know,” I answered as I backed up farther to give them more room.

One of the bull-headed demon creatures charged into Kayden, pushing him back until he was next to me, then flung his head, sending Kayden flying through the air. The creature tried to grab me, but I ducked under his reach and ran around behind him. Jumping up, I leapt onto his back and wrapped my arm around his throat, shifted, and turned into my snake form to wrap around his entire body, and started to squeeze.

He let out a pained bellow as he fell onto his side. I constricted tighter and tighter, hoping the guys would keep any other creatures away from me.

The creature struggled against me, trying to push against my coils, but I was stronger and after several tense moments, finally killed him.

Uncoiling from around him, I surveyed the scene, finding all of the creatures dead and the portal closed.

Shifting into my human form, I asked, “Is anyone injured?”

Ezio sat on the ground, panting. “No, just not as young as I used to be.”

Kayden chuckled and patted his shoulder. “You did pretty good, old man.”

Mason walked over to me and put his hands on either side of my face. “Are you injured?”

I smiled. “Nope, I’m perfect.”

“Now who’s being cocky?” he teased and released me.

I sat down beside Ezio and patted his shoulder. “Looks like you got out of shape while I was gone.”

He growled then said, “Maybe a little.”

“Thanks for the backup,” Mason said to Kayden.

“Any day I get a chance to kill a demon is a good day,” he said and bumped his fist against Mason’s.

Mason retrieved my bags and held his hand out to me. “Ready?”

I looked at the demon bodies.

“Kayden will handle them,” he said, glanced at Kayden who scowled at him, and wiggled his fingers at me. “Come on, our date isn’t over yet.”

Letting him take my hand and pull me to my feet, I followed him farther into the mall, looking back once over my shoulder at Kayden, who was smiling when I looked back.

Why was he smiling like that?

Chapter

Ten

“We’ll take two of your specials and two margaritas,” Mason ordered after we were seated at one of my favorite restaurants just outside of the mall.

They set a basket of chips and a cup of salsa down and Mason immediately grabbed a chip and dipped it in the salsa.

I stole it from his hand and popped it into my mouth. “Stolen food always tastes better.”

He rolled his eyes and got himself another chip.

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