Page 134 of Legacy of Temptation

As Cujo dematerialized, Logan stepped inside the Harrowgate, selected the gate nearest The Aegis’s DC headquarters, and burst out into an upscale neighborhood. Unfortunately, thanks to the city’s planning and its Masonic architecture, no Harrowgates could be constructed within a three-mile radius of the Capitol building.

Which meant he’d have to run a mile to HQ, because Cujo usually couldn’t phase to a location he’d never been to.

Logan sprinted, knocking people out of the way and nearly getting hit by half a dozen cars as he dashed across busy streets. If anything happened to Eva...

He put on a burst of speed that got him the rest of the way to The Aegis’s official headquarters. He didn’t falter until he was through the gate and inside the courtyard. As he approached the entrance, which was usually guarded but was now suspiciously abandoned, he slowed, the hair on the back of his neck standing up in stark warning.

“I know you’re not here to help Aegi.” Draven’s voice, deep and raspy, came from behind Logan.

He spun around, barely resisting the urge to summon a weapon. Cujo phased in next to him and whimpered, clearly not understanding why the guy he’d known for most of his life was now giving off evil vibes.

“Draven. You have to stop this.”

Draven grinned. “Only two more to go. The female’s gonna be the most fun.”

Cujo growled, but his aggression wasn’t directed at Draven. Armed Guardians were closing in from all sides, and Logan was pretty sure they saw all three of them as threats.

Logan held out his hand to his friend. “Take it. Let’s get out of here. Your parents are waiting for you.”

“I don’t need your help to escape these fucks. Killing them has made me so strong.” He drew something in the air with his finger, and suddenly, a bolt of crimson fire flew from the glowing symbol to a Guardian armed with a bow, blowing a hole through her throat. “And I brought friends.”

Screams and shouts rose as arrows, knives, and bullets flew toward Logan and Cujo. He dove at Draven, catching him in the torso and knocking them both to the ground. Pain speared him in the leg and shoulder, and he heard Cujo’s yelp and furious snarl.

Suddenly, Draven disappeared beneath him. Just…disappeared.

And demons from dozens of different species, scores of them, flooded into the courtyard. It was a bloodbath.

“Cujo! The demons! Kill them!”

Cujo gave him a look that said he’d rather kill the Aegi.

“No! Bad dog! The demons!”

Cujo took off in a blur, cutting through the horde of hellspawn like a chainsaw. Summoning a sword, Logan took out demons as he fought his way inside the building. A woman sat against a toppled statue, holding her bleeding ribs. He knelt next to her.

“Where’s the media office?”

She pointed down a hall to the right. “At…at the end. Past the fountain. Take a left.” Her eyes shot wide. “Behind you!”

He wheeled around in time to decapitate a Croucher demon before its razor-sharp claws did the same to Logan.

Before the body even hit the floor, he scooped the woman up in his arms. “Where can I take you to safety?”

She appeared startled. “Take me with you to the Media Affairs office.”

He ran hard, practically skidding around the corner at the fountain. The office door was closed. Locked.

He gently set the female down, leaving an arm around her to keep her from collapsing. Then he used his other arm to pound on the door.

“Open up! Eva! It’s Logan.”

He heard raised voices from inside. “No! Eva! It’s a trick!”

The door opened, and Eva peeked through the crack, her face pale and splattered with blood. When she saw him, tears welled in her eyes.

“Logan.” She threw open the door. “Thank God.

“Are you okay? The blood—”

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