Page 82 of Hellish Witch

Despite his command, I was rooted to the spot.

Besides, there was no way it was still my twenty-second birthday. The day was endless.

The twin thugs bared red fangs, and one of them called out, “Over here, lads! We’ve found tonight’s fun.”

The pair charged as one. My heart seized as more blood demons appeared around the nightclub’s corner, filling the alleyway with snarls and pounding footsteps as they all descended on the lone incubus.

“Fuck,” I gasped, anxiety slithering in.

I wanted to throw myself at the horde and hump them all to death.

You know, to save Killian.

Heat punished me, pulsing in waves of fire from the inside out. I bit my lip on another whimper, fighting with every insane urge that cropped up.

And then there was no more time for thinking.

The demons were on Killian in a clash of fists on flesh and splattering blood.

Dark laughter rang through the night. Killian spun and slashed, claws finding arteries. He became a storm of violence and blood. His wing smacked into a demon’s face, breaking his victim’s nose, while he kicked out another attacker’s kneecap with a nauseating crunch.

He took the group of demons apart. Piece by piece.

If I’d thought I’d seen Killian’s violent side before, it had nothing on this night.

Within seconds, eight demons were nothing but broken bones and ruptured flesh. Fresh meat on filthy cobblestones.

One twin struggled on his back, trying to rise even though his arm had snapped the wrong angle and blood poured from a nasty gut wound.

The healer in me wanted to rush over, but the heat craved to watch my chosen mate defend me. Needed to see him prove his vicious prowess as worthy before he took his prize.

And I was desperate to be the spoils of his war.

He stalked over, looking down at the demon struggling at his feet. “You’re going to bleed out. Slowly. Painfully. And while you die, I want you to remember that it wasn’t because you insulted me. It was because you laid eyes onher.”

He reached down, scooping his claws into the demon’s eye sockets as the other male screamed and screamed. Killian cackled in response.

And. Popped. Both. Eyeballs. Out.

He yanked the connecting tissues free with a snap.

“You sick fuck!” The demon squealed, scrabbling at Killian’s arms, blood pouring from the gaping holes beneath his brows. “This is why mutts are executed at birth!”

Killian crushed the demon’s eyes in his palms. “Great, now you made me ruin her gift,” he snarled, dropping the wet lumps back on the screeching demon’s chest. He leaned down and wiped his palms on the man’s shirt.

“Gods, Kill,” I croaked.

At this point, I didn’t know whether to clap or throw up.

He turned to me, silvered gaze clashing with mine.

“I told you to run, sweetness.” His low voice was as feral as I’d ever heard it.

I swallowed thickly, but it was like my body wasn’t my own, heat racing through my bloodstream and burning away logic.

I turned and fled, my boots slapping the cobbles as I charged out of the alley.

Manic laughter followed me.