Page 31 of A Fury Of Shadows

He scowled. “You missed, weakling!”

Lou grinned. “I don’t think so.”

Serena blurred in front of Barquiel and punched him in the solar plexus. The demon gasped out a fine spray of blood.

The column sheared. Part of the roof came down on top of him.

Serena and Lou jumped clear of the debris and bumped fists.

They’ve got this, Na Ri said.

Mae closed the distance to Oscar with Brimstone and Hellreaver.Devourswallowed the spell bombs the sorcerer cast their way. She glanced around the warehouse.

The Dark Council sorcerers and witches who had escaped Anya’s spell had enough on their hands dealing with Vlad and the others without having to come to the defense of their wounded leader too.

Mae released Hellreaver. The weapon zoomed ahead and blocked Oscar’s path as he came in sight of a back door, his blades sending crimson ripples through the air.

A horrified gurgle escaped the sorcerer. He whirled around, his frantic gaze scouring the warehouse for another escape route. Drabek mewled softly in his arms.

Brimstone snatched a devil out of the air, crushed its head with his jaws, and cast the gory remains at Oscar. Blood splashed the sorcerer’s clothes.

He jumped back. “No! Stay away from me!”

He turned and bolted for a gap between towering piles of crates.

Mae brought them crashing down withWind Fury.

Oscar raised a shield to avoid the debris and turned to confront her, sweat and blood trickling down his face.

Mae scowled at the taste of Nikolai’s magic and Vedran’s corruption in his barrier. “What did you do? Why can I feel Nikolai’s Hellfire Magic inside you when he isn’t even here?!”

A trace of defiance brightened Oscar’s wild eyes. “Like I’d tell you, bitch!”

“Then you leave me no choice.” Mae raised a hand. “Ice Fortress!”

Oscar gasped as the black magic sphere surrounding him froze. His breath misted in front of his face. Frost formed on his lashes.

Drabek went limp in his arms, her fur turning white with ice particles. A horrified sound left the sorcerer.

Mae stopped in front of him. “Your blood will freeze in your veins in a minute or so.” She looked dispassionately at the lynx. “Of course, your familiar will die first.” Brimstone and Hellreaver crowded around her as she met Oscar’s panicked gaze. “Tell me what I want to know if you want to live.”

The sorcerer ground his teeth and closed his eyes. Shivers racked his body as Ice Fortress raced across his skin. For a moment, Mae thought he would talk.

Oscar opened his eyes and glared at her, mutinous to the end even as his lips turned blue. “I’d rather die than betray my father!”

Mae fisted her hands. She was about to invokePurgewhen Na Ri spoke.

Wait! I have a better idea.

Mae’s pulse accelerated as she listened to her first incarnation’s suggestion. “Hell, Brim? I need your help!”

Anything for you, my witch, Hellreaver hummed.

He slipped into her hand when he grasped her intent.

Brimstone lowered his head and pressed his brow to Mae’s back. “We are yours to command, my witch.”

Mae took a shallow breath and opened herself up to their demonic magic. The power of three ignited her cores with a thump that seared her senses. She focused their magic into Hellreaver and thrust him throughIce Fortressand into Oscar’s belly.

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