Page 30 of Demon Bound

Azreth dropped the glamour. Raiya doubted it came as a surprise to any of them, but there was still a beat of hesitation when they saw him—blue skin, glowing eyes, horns and all.

A Paladin attacked Azreth from behind, attempting a jab at his back. Azreth twisted sideways, and the blade narrowly missed him just as another Paladin came at him from the other side with an iron-tipped lance. Azreth saw it in time to step aside again, grabbing the shaft of the lance and jerking it away from its wielder. Reversing its momentum, he jabbed the butt of the lance back at the Paladin’s chest, shoving him to the ground and leaving a deep dent in his armor. He spun and swung the lance into the next Paladin’s side so hard that the shaft broke in half, then he threw the pieces aside. Adamus was more cautious than the others. He stayed back, wisely keeping out of Azreth’s reach.

They were going to kill him. Or he was going to kill them. Raiya was terrified of both possible outcomes. She struggled to her feet and started toward them, but the Paladin closest to her grabbed her arm.

“Stay back,” he said to her.

She tried and failed to jerk her arm away. “Get off me!”

“Keep out of the way and don’t make trouble, girl.” His gauntleted hand was digging painfully into her.

“What is the matter with you? Let me go!” She jerked and kicked until she managed to slip out of his grasp. But before she could take two steps, he tackled her. His heavy, armored body pinned her to the dirt, scarcely allowing her to breathe. She struggled, and his arm locked around her neck, further cutting off her air. She tried to call out, but only a soft, strangled noise came out. Panic gripped her as her vision spotted.

And then, the atmosphere around them condensed. It was an invisible dark cloud. An oncoming storm. A heaviness that wasmore than physical. It was fury, deep and vibrant red like heated metal.

The Paladin suddenly lifted off her. She gasped for breath as she looked up. Azreth was above her, holding the Paladin by the collar of his cuirass. The air trembled with his anger.

He crushed the Paladin between his hands. Raiya heard bones shatter, and she flinched away as blood spilled from the Paladin’s armor. Azreth threw the body aside with intense contempt.

It was quiet again. All but one of the Paladins were down.

Adamus stood a dozen strides away—less, for Azreth—staring at them both, his sword drooping in his hand. Azreth moved toward him, and to the Paladin’s credit, he didn’t run, but he didn’t raise his weapon, either. He let his sword drop to the ground and held up his hands in surrender.

Azreth grabbed him by his collar, lifting him off the ground. Raiya was about to ask him to spare the man, but Azreth spoke first.

“Your archer tried to kill me. He hid like a coward and tried to shoot me while my back was turned.”

The Paladin looked surprised. Perhaps, like Raiya, he hadn’t known Azreth could speak. He kicked the air, shifting in Azreth’s grip. “Yes. It wasn’t right. And it wasn’t right for them to be so rough with a lady. I apologize on their behalf.”

Azreth glared at the man. He seemed vaguely taken aback by the apology, and it took him several seconds to decide how to react. “An apology means nothing when not accompanied by action. What will you do as a service to her?”

Raiya glanced up at him in surprise.

Adamus’s gaze snapped to Raiya. “Well… truthfully, I have little to offer. I’m not of a high rank in our organization, and I don’t have the power to stop anyone from coming for you. But Imeant what I said about wanting to help. My offer stands. I’m at your service.”

Azreth looked down at Raiya. When she nodded, he slowly lowered the Paladin to the ground. Adamus straightened his armor, watching them warily.

“Are you all right, lady?” he asked.

“Fine.”

He gave a short bow. “I’m sorry you were mishandled.”

“I’m fine,” she assured him, crossing her arms. “Nirlan sent you?”

He nodded. “The lord said that…” He glanced up at Azreth and lowered his voice. “He told us he interrupted you while you were attempting a ritual to bind the demon.”

Raiya scoffed. This was an audacious lie, even for Nirlan.

“Lady, many people have done desperate things to escape a cruel lover. Nothing you’ve done is unforgivable. You are not beyond saving. We can still help free you from your husband and your demon both.”

The interaction she’d just had with the Paladins had quickly soured her toward them. She didn’t want to escape one overbearing man just to run to another. “Thank you, but no.”

“Whatever the demon has told you is a lie, lady. He will turn on you. Demons always do.”

Truthfully, she feared he was correct. She was most likely a fool for allying with a demon. She looked up at Azreth. A muscle in his brow twitched.

“There are other Paladins,” Adamus said. “Many more than just us. Truly, I do not mean this as a threat, but you won’t be able to evade them forever. You should send the demon back to the hells and turn yourself in.”

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