Page 102 of The Devil's Waltz

There have to be at least a dozen now. It’s impossible to decipher which of them are on our side. Regardless, it’s not looking good.

Harper catches sight of me again, her eyes narrowing. “Cami, get the fuck out of here!” she hisses. Theyou’re only getting in the waygoes without saying—I’m the only human here not properly trained to fight.

The fear clogging my throat finally convinces me to concede, and I slink along the side of the room, my back against the wall. I can’t see much through the wall of fighting, but the air is clogged with the sharp scent of blood and sweat, filled with the sound of physical exertion and painful attacks.

Turning my head at the sound of a large crash, I suck in a sharp breath when I see Ezra on the floor. A demon is poised over him, grinning menacingly in his face, his eyes completely black.

I keep inching toward the door as Archer moves in to back up his twin, but before I can see him rip the demon off Ezra, an ironclad grip steals my wrist, sharp nails digging into my skin. I cry out, and terror fills my veins with ice as my head snaps toward Lucia.

She has a vicious sneer plastered on her blood-red lips, and her eyes are consumed with darkness.

“You truly believed you could double-cross me?” She chuckles, making my stomach clench as tension spreads through my muscles. “Stupid girl. You will not live long to see the consequences of your choice, so allow me to share. I am going to rip everyone you love to shreds, agonizingly slowly, until they beg me to end their suffering. And then I will draw it out even longer.”

Nausea rolls through me, and my head spins as fear digs its unforgiving talons into me. I open my mouth to, what, beg her for my life? For everyone else’s? It doesn’t matter, because nothing comes out. I’ve lost the ability to form words as I stare at the queen of hell.

In the time it takes me to blink, Lucia wraps her fingers around my throat, slamming me back into the wall as she squeezes my airway shut. The battle around us fades as blood rushes through my ears, making everything sound far away.

All I can see is the endless darkness in Lucia’s eyes. Her promise of pain and suffering for my loved ones. The pressure in my head builds andbuilds, my eyes bulging out of my face as she squeezes harder. I claw at her hand, trying with every ounce of strength I have to push her away, tobreathe. It hits me then, like a brutal punch to the gut.

I’m going to die.

My vision blurs, my chest burning, and I struggle and ultimately fail to pull in a breath. Black spots dot my vision as tears roll down my cheeks, the muffled sound of shouting lost to the pressure behind my eyes. I can’t tell who’s screaming. All I can focus on is the expression of pure evil as Lucia leans in, her lips twisted into a cruel, cold smile. The floodgates of terror break open, and it seizes me, making my back go ramrod straight, my entire body going rigid.

Too many things happen at once. My legs give out as someone slams into Lucia from behind, knocking her away and sending me flying to the marble floor. My mouth opens to cry out as white-hot pain lances up my side, but the fire licking up my throat makes it impossible for any sound to escape. I struggle through the pain, kicking my legs out and digging my heels into the floor until I manage to use the wall to sit up. Sounds rush back in, overwhelming me as I clutch the sides of my head, blinking quickly in an attempt to focus my vision.

Just in time to watch Xander drive an obsidian blade deep into his mother’s chest.

Her eyes go wide, shock filling the darkness there.

My stomach plummets.

“Xander!” Harper screams, and Blake is suddenly beside her, grabbing her arm and pulling her back.

Xander’s expression is grim as he twists the dagger in his mother’s chest, making her cry out in agony. A similarly painful sound rips from his throat, too.

Lucia blinks slowly, dropping her gaze to the dagger sticking out of her chest. She reaches for it, but her shaking fingers hover around the hilt, unable to grasp it. “What have you done?” she hisses and sinks to the ground at his feet. She blinks once, twice, and then her eyes don’t open again. Within seconds, her form disintegrates into black ash, blanketing the room in a heavy silence. No one moves. No one makes a sound.

My eyes swing toward Harper to find her face shrouded in confusion. I’m sure her expression mirrors on my own as I slowly get to my feet, keeping my back pressed against the wall to stay upright.

This wasn’t the plan.

Xander stares at her lifeless body, then his shoulders rise and fall with a sigh before he turns to face us—and who’s left of his mother’s guards. His eyes are completely black. They survey the room, not stopping anywhere too long.

One by one, each demon sinks to their knees and bows their head.

To Xander.

Blake blinks a few times before he does the same.

Xander’s eyes meet mine, flickering from black to brown, and for a fleeting moment, they are completely vulnerable. His expression is filled with utter shock, pain, andfear. Fear so strong it knocks the air out of my lungs. A second later, he blinks, and his eyes are fully black again. He’s still looking at me, but there’s no recognition in his gaze. There’s nothing but darkness.

I can’t stop staring at him. My feet are blocks of cement. I can’t move.

Suddenly, an arm snakes around my waist and hauls me toward the doorway we came in through what seems like an entirety ago. Noah’s voice is gruff in my ear, telling me we need to go. But I can’t.

Xander just killed his mother. And based on the response of the other demons in the room, he took her place on the throne when he took her life.

Xander is the king of hell.

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