Page 81 of A Demon Is Forever

“Once you’re…? Seriously? You still think that by killing meyou’ll take the throne? Sorry, but the crown was passed on earlier thisafternoon.”

“Please, I have a half dozen contractors on speed dial who canhave Galen and his family taken out within forty-eight hours.”

“Still won’t get you the crown. I was only teasing Galen. A tinybit of payback if you will for my year of hell. Well, not quite year,thankfully. Did you know we have an ancient law whereby an interim duly electedMonarch can temporarily hold the throne… and designate a new Monarch of theirown within twelve months, with the voting support of only twenty Demons?”

“No such vote was held.” Bartius scoffed. “My sources would havealerted me.”

“Not if what all the She-Demons were signing looked like a babyshower congratulations card.”

“What did you do? Who did you nominate?” Bartius was on his feet,chest heaving, face red.

“The one Demon I know who loves the pomp and ceremony, along withthe cut and thrust of Court life. One who champions all Conflict Demons, notjust those with deep pockets and titles. A Demon whom most love and if theydon’t, they are at least smart enough to be wary as hell of them.”

“Who?” Bartius looked like he wanted to reach out and personallythrottle Kaleb. “Who, damn it?”

“Freyja, and he’s the one who’s always questioning yourintelligence.”

“I know, right?” Kaleb shared an amused look with Shaw. “Isn’t itobvious? Who else knows all the gossip? All the dirt? Where all the bodies arequite literally buried?” Kaleb shook his head at Bartius’s continued enragedyet clueless expression. He’d been drawing this conversation out as long as hecould. Giving his crafty Valkyrie a chance to work out how they were going toescape the magical circle. Glancing in her direction he noted the wink she senthim. Time to draw this conversation to a close. Kill the clone and the schemingbackstabbing asshole and escape this Realm. Kaleb had his mother’s coronationto attend and a Valkyrie to woo.

The clone pipped him at the post though, unfolding sinuously fromthe couch, moving with liquid grace, placing a soothing hand on Bartius’s arm.“His mother.”

“Margrete?” The name had barely left Bartius’s gaping mouth whenShaw lightning fast unwrapped the somai from around her arm, twirling it withspeedy precision before launching it up and over the cascasdian circle, rightat the chandelier that hung above the heads of Bartius and the clone.

A blast of flame and shrapnel pelted downwards, causing Bartius tostumble forward three steps before he caught his balance, but it was farenough, the circle evaporating the moment he made contact with it.

“He’s mine.” Kaleb barked out imperiously. This was so personal.

“Have at it, Your Highness.” Shaw conceded even as she waslaunching herself forward to meet the clone, eight sinuous shadows extending tothe ceiling emerging from behind the raven haired beauty. Oh, fun, wonderingwhat fresh experimental lab creature she would be facing off against this time.

Seriously, this had been the best day ever, and it wasn’t overyet.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Kaleb stalked towards Bartius. Watching as he tugged angrily athis twisted – still smouldering in several places - robes. He was missing achunk out of his arm. Several metal and glass fragments embedded in his faceand upper body, bleeding sluggishly.

His large barrel chest puffed out, a haughty expression fixed tohis face, Bartius looked ready for a fight. Doubling down on that impression ashe produced a sharp bladed midsized broad sword seemingly out of the ether. Thefierce superior grin now clinging to his bearded face making it clear theadvisor thought he had the upper hand in this stand-off.

Kaleb raised his own flick blade, the one modified by Zuri.Twisting the hilt ever so slightly, the blade grew another foot. Genius. Awareout the corner of his eye of Shaw and the last clone clashing. But refusing toget distracted as Bartius made a mocking come on gesture with his free hand.Oh, please, how old school, times had changed. Hadn’t old Stodgy-ass watched anaction film or two in the last decade?

Dropping to the carpet and rolling forward, Kaleb popped up underBartius’s guard, carving a wicked yet deliberately shallow cut across the olderDemon’s right cheek before dropping and backwards somersaulting to a standingposition again. Bartius reaching up in stunned surprise to touch his cheek, hisfingers coming away bloodied.

“In the name of Queen Margrete Chipp, I deem you betrayer of theConflict Demon Realm, and I sentence you to death. Long may she reign.”

“You can try you-” Bartius blinking, his hand coming up to touchhis left cheek, once more his fingers coming away coated in fresh blood. “Howare you doing that?”

“With panache?”

“You little-” Bartius charged, sword swiping through the air witha high degree of expertise behind it. But no matter where his blade was, Kalebwasn’t there. Not even bothering to raise his own blade, just dancing andtwisting out of the way until Bartius halted in frustration, his breath comingin hard, uneven pants.

“I’ve never wasted my time or energy trying to change your opinionof me, old Demon. But I do want you to think about just one thing before Iannihilate your treacherous large ass. Though I gave up the throne, Grete doteson her beloved only son. So even though I may no longer be Ruler, if I have ayen to make every second double full moon dress like a pirate day at Court.Guess what my mother, the Queen, will say? Within a blink of an eye, everyCourt Demon will be sporting a crapping parrot on their shoulder and talkinglike a toothless midshipman.”

The bellow that left Bartius’s mouth was pure rage. Chargingforward to hack away with little finesse, favouring brute strength to get pastKaleb’s defences. Their blades clashing. Neither giving up any ground. Kalebquick and skilled. Bartius beyond reason, a whirling dervish of hate and aspinning blade. His fist flashing out, clipping Kaleb’s temple, sending theyounger Demon sideways for a moment, breaking them apart. Bartius smiling now,still panting. He’d scored a point. But those dark eyes of his wanted blood.

Enough, Kaleb had better things to do. He’d been drawing thisconfrontation out to make a point. But Bartius was too blinkered, and mired inhis own dreams of self-importance to realise he was outclassed and facing animminent death.

Time to end this. Stepping forward, feigning a thrust, Kalebwhipped his sword under Bartius’s blade, slicing deeply into the Demon’s gut.Quickly reversing his grip and blocking two more jabs, dancing sideways,swiping down and to the left. Kaleb’s blade cutting deeply into Bartius’s rightside. Spinning, slashing out again, this time to gift Bartius with a matchingwound on his other side.

The older Demon’s burnt and beyond repair robes were quicklybecoming sodden with blood. The material clinging to his upper legs, hamperinghis movements, slowing him down, even as he fought to catch his breath. Yet, atriumphant vengeful expression clung to his features, as if he seriouslybelieved he held the upper hand in this fight.

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