Page 82 of The Star's Sword

“You need to stop,” Sam said. “I know you’re angry, but it won’t do any good. Not even for Simon.”

“It’s not like that,” Cayne said darkly, whipping away from Samael to dart around him and continue stomping up the path up the hill that led to the gardens and ballroom.

I ran as hard as I could, but then I let my wolf take over and shifted, fur replacing skin smoothly as I lunged forward onto all fours, ready to catch myself on my paws.

My wolf had powerful hindquarters and I ran and launched forward into the air, managing to lock my jaws around Cayne’s cloak, pulling him back just as he reached the top of the hill.

“Gods-dammit, Cleo, I’m going to fall,” he said, spinning and trying to jerk his cloak out of my teeth with the hand that wasn’t holding his ax.

Samael was on his other side, grabbing his ax hand to restrain him. With the moonlight glaring down as clouds parted for a moment, I got my first chance to truly study Cayne.

I’d never seen him look so demonic.

His veins were bulging, muscles as big as I had ever seen them, and he was fully seven feet tall. He wore a black, bandaged slayer outfit like Samael had when I met him, but he also had a black cloak, which he pulled over his head, hiding his face in darkness as he jerked away from me and swung his ax arm in warning, somehow shaking Samael off.

“He’s strong,” Samael said. “Able to kill ninth-realmers in their human forms. From one of the elite demon lines, though he gave that all up to help raise me. But I’ve never seen anyone who could stop him when he’s on a vengeance streak.”

Cayne was getting farther away from us, and my wolf ran and ran to grab his cloak once again, tearing it this time as he sent me a look filled with red lightning and continued on his path.

Knowing I had no choice, that we couldn’t lose more influence with the vampires, and genuinely because I didn’t want to see anyone hurt, I lunged once more, and caught his leg this time, as gently as I could, but between gigantic fangs that would brook no argument.

“Just talk to us,” I mumbled around his leg.

Cayne shrugged in defeat and exhaled steam into the night air. Even his skin seemed to be steaming, as he stared up at the sky angrily, then turned to glare down at me. “Neither of you can truly understand what Simon means to me.” He looked at Samael. “But when I had to bring my little brother somewhere safe, because no one wanted a boy with ninth-realm blood in the demon realm, Simon was the one to give me a place. To help me put my slayer skills to use. There would be no Cayne’s sanctuary without him.” His ax slumped. “No me the way I am without him.” His head hung for a second, then rose with renewed determination. “If I don’t avenge him against anyone who would harm him, I am nothing.” He moved forward, and I could tell he’d let me tear his calf if I didn’t let him, so I released his leg.

Focusing, I slowly shifted back into my human form, wearing the jeans and tee shirt Samael had given me.

“We’re coming with you, then,” I said. “And remember, let’s only fight Vasara.”

Samael let out a growl. “As if the vampires will make it that easy.” He looked back at Simon’s place. “Do you think the others can subdue Simon until we get back?”

I nodded. “I think so. But I think Cayne is the bigger issue right now.”

Samael sent me a side glance as we caught up to his brother. “I’m here to avenge with you if that’s what you want,” Samael said. “Simon has my loyalty, too. And I want to kill her for being a creep too, whatever she was planning. But you could end up compromising Cleo’s rise as the Morningstar.”

Cayne spun to stare at him with wild eyes, and then turned right back to charge toward the ballroom. As if he didn’t care at all.

Samael stayed right at his brother’s side as I stayed slightly back, taking in everything from a wider view.

Already, I kind of missed Zadis. But I knew he had healing spells and sleeping spells that could subdue Simon.

As we reached the ballroom, Cayne didn’t even pause when he reached the glass doors. He just kicked one in with his boot, shattering the glass everywhere.

Then he stomped in, one tall, angry demon barbarian.

Vampires started fleeing in every direction, even as Samael raised a hand to repair the glass doors with his celestial powers.

“We knew it!” a vampire on the upper balcony yelled. “Traitors! Attackers!”

There had already been enough violence in this building for one night. But there was no telling that to Cayne, who only saw what had happened to Simon.

I appreciated that about him, his pure loyalty. And to be honest, I wasn’t sure this was ever going to be salvageable. The vampires would never trust me. That was clear even as I followed Cayne as he smashed vases and continued to snarl at the vampires in his way as he crossed the crowded ballroom.

He was ready to kill, and kill anyone who tried to stop him.

“Vasara,” he yelled. “You nightmare! Get out here and face me for a blood trial! I invoke a blood trial in front of the vampires! You and me, one-on-one!”

At the top of the stairs, a blond head peeked out, and then Vasara, flanked by a small army of elder vampires who clearly considered themselves her bodyguards, moved into view. She was still wearing the stunning white dress from before, but now there were small green and red stains on it.

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