Page 67 of Rapunzel Unchained

If Gage refused to drop the barrier, I needed his blood to force it down. However, I wasn’t a hundred percent sure the demon would stop at just a single slice.

This was getting complicated.

The demon howled in delight, red dripping off his knife. He’s scored a long slice along Gage’s forearm. Still the demon didn’t stop.

“That’s enough,” I commanded, slamming my fist against the barrier. “Bring it to me.”

The demon hissed and ignored my call.

Fuck.

I couldn’t do anything from inside the barrier. My magic wouldn’t even reach him from here. It would just bounce back into the cell. My eyes darted around and terror ripped through me, I was helpless.

I couldn’t stop the demon. I couldn’t save Gage. Guilt and horror warred inside of me, unable to forgive myself for sending the demon after him in the first place.

And if he killed Gage?

The absolute devastation it would cause Zane to know that his friend died by his own hands was enough to make my inside churn. I’d done this. Every step I’d taken had been for myrevenge. Every decision I’d made for the sake of getting justice for my mother. For the humans.

If Gage died because of my recklessness, I would never be able to live with myself.

“Gage!” I shouted, their fighting only feet away from me now. “Get inside the barrier.”

“A little busy here,” Gage gritted out between clenched teeth. Several cuts decorated his arms and sliced through the material of his shirt.

“Please,” I begged, slapping my hands against the almost invisible wall. “Get inside the barrier.”

“It won’t stop him.”

“I know.”

“Stop distracting my prey, sinner.” The demon snarled and snapped his teeth at Gage. “It’s no fun if the killer isn’t at his full strength.”

Gage dodged another blow but, instead of continuing to go on the defensive, he landed a hard blow against Zane’s beautiful face.

The demon’s head whipped to the side, distracted enough that Gage could slip by him, darting to the other side of the barrier.

He sucked in breaths, swiping his face with his hand. He winced, glancing down at the cuts on his arm.

“Oh, God.” I stepped over to him, wishing for once that I had healing magic and not only the ability to destroy.

“Come, killer. That’s not how you play fair, hiding behind our woman.” Zane’s body moved with the poise of a panther, shifting more than walking toward us. “I’ve been waiting for this moment to see if you’re really as good as they say you are.”

The demon kept his distance, circling around us as he taunted Gage. Bloodlust curled around in his eyes, and I knewthere was no talking him out of what he planned. I started this, and I would have to be the one to stop him.

“Gage,” I murmured, low enough only he could hear. “Stay behind me.”

“What?” He gaped at me, his jaw tightening. “No. If I can’t beat one pain-in-the-ass demon, I’m not worthy to be called a Sentinel.” He pulled two knives of his own from a magical pocket and palmed them. “Let’s finish this.”

“No, Gage.” I grabbed his arm. “You’ll hurt Zane.”

Gage’s head tilted slightly. “You should have thought about that before you set your fucking hound on me. I won’t kill him, but this won’t end unless one of us is bleeding.”

I dug my fingers into his arm. “You are bleeding.”

Blinking down where my hand touched him, Gage shook his head. “There’s going to be a lot more blood than this.” He shoved me behind him and faced the demon in Zane’s body head on. “You want a fight? You’ve got one. Bring it on, hell spawn.”

“Oh, I’m going to enjoy this,” the demon crooned before he shot across the barrier line, his knife poised and ready to plunge into Gage, going for the kill.

---