Page 87 of Cleansed By Water (The Nature Hunters Academy 3)

He used a clawed finger to slit his hand, then he rubbed his blood across the wall. Like a dark magic spell, it would no doubt require a blood sacrifice.

Then he began to speak the words. This time it wasn’t just the ground that shook. The walls around them trembled, and there was a loud roar before the wall in front of him crumbled to the ground.

He snapped the book closed and held it down to Crescious. “Destroy this.”

“Yes, my lord,” the demon squeaked and then disappeared.

Osiris stared at the wide eyes of the four captive royal elementals. Normally, he would have taken time to gloat over the fact that they’d been captured, but he didn’t have time. The gates to hell could be on their way to being opened and that was something he could not allow.

“Why is she like that?” Osiris asked as he pointed to the light earth queen. She was lying across her mate’s lap, her body trembling, and her lids moving rapidly.

“She’s been in hell for who knows how long,” Agni, the light fire queen snapped.

“I see you still have anger issues,” Osiris said to her with a toothy grin.

“Why did you take us, Osiris?” Agni asked, ignoring his dig.

Osiris’s smile dropped. “I didn’t take you,” he seethed. “I have a demon who has gotten too big for his horns.”

“Dolion,” Beval, the light air king muttered through gritted teeth.

“Exactly,” Osiris agreed. “As much as I’d love to discuss with you all the ways I’d like to rip his entrails from his body, we don’t have time. Dolion is planning on opening the gates of hell. I promised your mates I would free you in exchange for their help in banishing him.”

When none of them moved, he snarled. “That means get the hell up and let’s go!”

Beaumont, the Earth Elemental King stood with his mate, Dhara in his arms, the worry and anger on his face aimed at Osiris. “Dolion might have done this, but you’re the one responsible. Hell is your domain as much as the human realm is ours. You should have kept your demons in check.”

Osiris wanted to snarl back at the king, but he couldn’t because Beaumont was right.

“Where are we going?” Ecthelion, the water king asked.

“First, we go topside,” Osiris said. “When I get a read on where Dolion is, I’ll take us there.”

“Usually we’d be able to call to our mates,” Agni said, as anger danced in her bright red eyes. “But our power has been significantly drained.”

“And you have my apologies. For now. At least until you royals get on my nerves again.” He winked at her and then, with a thought, took them all to the surface of the earth.

Osiris focused on the energy signature of his demons roaming the earth, searching for Dolion. As soon as he locked on to it, he smirked. “Gotcha.” In the next instant, he and the four royals were standing in the Devil's Heart, in the Hoia Forest, with a battle raging around them.

“I suggest you four power up quickly, or we’re all going to die,” Osiris said as he tried to find Dolion.

“That’s a fantastic pep talk,” Agni sneered. “It’s no wonder your demons are so loyal.”

“Agni!” Osiris turned and saw Aviur, the royal fire queen's mate, fighting the dark fire king as he looked at his queen.

“I’m here, my love,” Agni called back as she headed for him. “Once again, I’m going to save your ass.”

Osiris couldn’t help but chuckle. He’d always secretly liked the light royal fire queen.

His eyes roamed around the battlefield and stopped when they landed on the blonde female who’d found her way to his domain. She was still as beautiful as she’d been when he’d first seen her. Even if she appeared a little shell-shocked.

Ra, her mate, stood next to her, and they were looking up to the sky. Osiris followed their stare and saw a huge dragon hovering over them. He shook his head as he pinched the bridge of his nose. “Bloody dragons.”

“I’m surprised you’ve shown your face, my lord,” Dolion’s voice came from behind him.

Osiris whipped around and faced the demon. The rage caused by seeing his treacherous minions made him want to shed his human appearance, allowing his true form to come out. “Why is that?”

“Because you should be hiding in shame,” Dolion spat. “One of your own has managed to overpower you. You are not lord of anything.”

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