Page 30 of A Fury Of Shadows

She looked at the fox and the weapon, her pulse quickening. “Can you—?!”

“Sure.”

Serena rose and offered her a hand. Mae took it gratefully and allowed the super soldier to pull her to her feet. She raisedShieldaround them and scanned the warehouse warily as they headed over to Brimstone and Hellreaver.

There was no sign of Barquiel.

“He disappeared through a rift the moment he gave his command.” Serena observed Mae’s demonic barrier with a thoughtful stare. “That’s pretty neat. It’s probably as strong as Sebastian’s divine shield when you’re at max power.”

Mae could feel her strength returning in leaps and bounds as her cores healed her wounds. She recalled the little that Violet and Miles had reluctantly revealed about their allies in Chicago.

“Is Sebastian the Sphinx?”

“Yeah.”

Mae could feel Na Ri watching Serena curiously. The super soldier’s divine energy brushed against their magic, a warmth that tasted of gold.

Hellreaver growled when Serena squatted beside him and Brimstone. The demon fox bared his fangs.

“It’s okay,” Mae said hastily. “She’s a friend.”

Serena looked unfazed at the hostile display. She smiled faintly at Brimstone. “Smokey says hi.”

The demon fox blinked. He lifted his head and took a careful sniff of her hand. “I smell the Hellhound’s scent on you.” Brimstone looked around eagerly, his ears flicking back and forth. “Is he here?”

“No.” Serena destroyed his and Hellreaver’s collars as if they were made of candy. “His bond sent me.”

Pressure thickened the air.

Serena took her gun out and fired at the demon charging out of the portal behind them before Mae could react.

Barquiel blocked the bullets with his sword.

Serena narrowed her eyes. “Clever.”

She lowered the weapon.

Brimstone rose from the ground, eyes flashing a bloody red as he towered protectively above them. Hellreaver slammed into Mae’s waiting palm.

“You wanna take the demon or the weasel?” Serena asked Mae conversationally.

Mae followed her gaze past Barquiel to where Oscar was attempting to make his escape. She lowered her brows. “I have a bone to pick with the weasel. Think you can handle the demon?”

Serena’s mouth tilted in a half-smile. “It’s been a while since I fought a demon general.” She holstered her gun, cracked her neck and knuckles, and unsheathed the daggers strapped to her thighs. “Hey, Lou! Want to help me with some pest control?” she called out over her shoulder.

“What kind of pest?” the super soldier grunted as he fought a pair of devils some twenty feet away.

Serena arched an eyebrow at Barquiel. “A giant flying rat with an attitude problem.”

Outrage distorted the demon’s face. He bolted toward them on a scream of rage, his corruption distorting the air on a sickening, dark wave.

Heat surged through Mae as she prepared to invokeEclipse.

She froze mid-incantation, Na Ri’s surprise echoing her own. Barquiel had gone flying backward into a steel column and bent it clean in two.

Mae’s pulse raced when she clocked Lou’s new position.Shit. I didn’t even see him move!

The demon blocked the boot curving toward his face, still looking shocked at having been caught off guard.

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