Page 75 of Destined for Eternity
Rising voices drew his attention, coming to him likes echoes through a tunnel.
“You think you’re clever, don’t you?” the prince addressed Tormod.
The nerou flashed him a cocky grin. “Damn right I do.”
“How do you think we knew where to find this place, or when to attack?”
Bartol stiffened. He’d been so lost in collecting the demon’s essence and tasting its incredible power that he almost missed the revelation. He peered over the prince’s shoulder to find Zoe and Tormod standing still a dozen paces away in shock. It was a deliberate distraction, and they all knew it, but it was a good one.
“What do you mean?” the nerou asked, backing away slowly. He was smart enough to realize he couldn’t stand still for long, or the demon would use the opportunity to strike.
The prince laughed loudly. “You’re our spy, and you don’t even know it. We’ve been manipulating you the whole time, watching through your eyes and guiding your actions.”
Tormod faltered. “You lie. How else would I be able to fight you?”
“We wanted you to fight us, or else your friends would have suspected something was wrong,” the demon said, pleased with himself.
Bartol couldn’t believe what he was hearing, and yet he couldn’t discount it. Tormod had changed after his experience with the demon who’d kidnapped and controlled him. That was understandable, but his behavior had seemed a bit too extreme afterward. Could they have planted something inside of him that altered him even more than they realized?
It took Bartol a moment to recover from the revelation and resume extracting the essence. He was nearly halfway through, which was likely the reason for the prince’s stall tactic. From here on out, pulling the energy would get easier if Bartol stayed the course and didn’t get distracted again. He would have to worry about the issue of Tormod later.
Just as he resumed, the prince grabbed hold of Bartol’s arms and started prying them loose. He fought with all his might to hold on despite the demon’s greater strength. Sharp talons dug into his forearms and wrists, cutting into tendons and muscle and weakening his grip even further. If he were pulled off, it would be far more difficult to get back on a second time. Bartol’s arms were steadily sliding from around his opponent’s neck, but he kept his legs locked around the creature’s waist to help keep him from falling. He couldn’t let go no matter what.
Zoe stepped in front of them. “I don’t care how you got here or who you used to find us. I just want you dead and gone.”
The prince’s grip eased. Bartol breathed a sigh of relief, able to retighten his hold.
“Come get me,” the demon taunted the female nephilim.
She raced forward, sword lifted crosswise for a slash across her target’s throat. She was projecting the move too early—a huge mistake. Zoe wasn’t a well-practiced fighter, but surely she should have known better than to do that.
She flashed him a warning look.
Realization dawned on Bartol. Zoe was giving him enough time to anticipate her strike and protect himself. He cursed inwardly. After struggling hard to stay on the prince, he was going to have to let go and hope he could get back on again.
He dropped to the ground and rolled away, hoping the woman knew what she was doing. Above him, bone cracked and dark blood splattered everywhere. An ear-piercing roar sounded next, rage coloring it. Bartol glanced up and found his opponent had a small cut on its forearm where the blade had struck. The demon had lost enough essence that it was getting a little easier to wound him.
But the powerful creature wasn’t weak enough yet.
With a fearsome growl, the demon punched his hand deep in Zoe’s chest. “You little fool. I’m going to kill you now.”
Her whole body jerked, and her eyes widened as she looked down. For several breaths, she stared at the demon’s arm plunged into her body. Blood gurgled up through her mouth. A myriad of emotions—fear, regret, sadness—reflected in her eyes before they hardened with resolve. “Go ahead. Do it and see what happens.”
The foolish woman was goading him.
“No!” Bartol shouted. He searched for his sword, but he’d dropped it when he’d first jumped onto the demon, and the blade was nowhere to be found now. There was nothing he could do to stop the creature.
The prince pulled his arm back, jerking her heart out. She stood still for a moment, her mouth gaping open as she stared at her still-beating organ. It was nigh on impossible for anyone to take a nephilim’s heart because it was well-protected by their rib cage and shielded by physical magic, but she’d been taking a beating by a very strong opponent. The prince had been steadily breaking through her chest wall. Bartol had heard it was possible for a high demon to kill one of their kind, but he’d never seen it done until now.
“Tell my daughter…” Zoe’s eyes glimmered with tears. “Tell her I love her.”
“I will,” he promised.
The prince laughed mockingly as he squeezed her heart, pulverizing it. Zoe collapsed to the ground, skin turning ashen as death overtook her. Before Bartol could process her loss, a burst of blinding light exploded all around them. He squeezed his eyes shut against the glare.
