Page 93 of Demon's Mate
A blur fell from the sky and crashed onto the car’s hood. The windshield exploded, glass spraying everywhere. Metal screeched and crumpled, and Harper jolted forward as the car came to an abrupt halt.
Ash crouched on the smashed hood, wings towering behind him, his eyes glowing. He bared his fangs with an ear-splitting snarl.
The savage sound soothed Harper more than sweet words ever had. He melted, relief so intense it would have sent him to the floor if he had control of his body.
Something crashed onto the car’s roof, denting it, and Harper’s pounding heart skipped. Arthur Nightingale spluttered behind the wheel. He glanced wildly around, and the spell holding Harper captive broke, snapping like a taut rubber band.
A scream tore from Harper’s lips, the pleas from inside his head finally breaking free. “Ash, please. Help me!”
Ash was at his door in a flash. He ripped it clean off the car and pulled Harper out, tearing the seatbelt in the process.
“I’ve got you,” Ash rumbled, strong arms enveloping him.
Harper clung to Ash, face pressed into Ash’s bare chest. Tears streamed down his cheeks like a river. He shook so hard his teeth chattered. He wanted to crawl inside Ash and never come out, but he made himself meet Ash’s glowing orange gaze. “My father…my…he’s…the driver…going to put me in a coma…drain me.”
An inhuman roar erupted from Ash. Dante echoed it from the top of the car, a limp Lucifer at his feet.
Arthur slowly emerged from the driver’s seat. Harper would give his father this: the man seemed to have no fear. He turned to face Ash and Dante, an agreeable smile pulling at his lips. “Do my eyes deceive me, or am I in the presence of the great Hounds of Hell?”
“Do notdarespeak to us,” Dante growled, tone icy enough to burn.
Arthur’s gaze zeroed in on Harper, seeming to register he was in Ash’s protective embrace, and his eyes widened, lip curling in disgust.
Ash must have noticed Arthur’s reaction. He snarled, the sound reverberating through Harper.
Arthur smoothed his face, but it was too late to hide his hate.
Movement on top of the car tore Harper’s attention from his father. Lucifer stirred, eyes spinning around wildly until they landed on Harper. The Devil’s hand shot out, grabbing Harper’s face. He growled, hitting Dante in the back of the knees with one of his wings, sending Dante to the ground.
“Fuck,” Dante grunted, scrambling to his feet.
Ash tore Lucifer’s hand away from Harper, twisting Lucifer’s wrist until the bones cracked. Harper winced, but Lucifer barely reacted.
Lucifer got to his feet and surveyed the scene. “Seems like I missed some of the fun. Dante, you’re going to pay for that little trick.”
Dante closed his hands around Lucifer’s throat and squeezed, a static boom cutting through the air as he shocked Lucifer with lightning.
Lucifer twitched, momentarily frozen.
“I don’t have any more potion,” Dante warned before blasting Lucifer with lightning again.
Arthur slowly made his way around the car. “Is this…?” His eyes fixed on the red-winged demon, reverence lighting his face. “Lucifer?”
Luc glared down at Arthur as he was shot with a third lightning bolt.
Arthur’s face hardened. He raised his hands, chanting in a language Harper didn’t recognize.
Ash swayed against Harper, and Harper steadied him. What the hell? Did his father have some secret spell to work on the demons? Was this what he’d planned to do when Harper found them?
Dante faltered, stumbling back from Lucifer. The Devil stood, his stopped heart healed. He spun and punched Dante square in the chest, sending Dante flying down the street.
Oh shit.
Ash reached for Arthur, but his coordination was off, and he missed. Would Ash even be standing if Harper wasn’t holding him up? Harper strained under Ash’s weight. If only he could use magic against his father and stop this.
“Lucifer,” Arthur called, his awestruck gaze fixed on the Devil. “I am your most loyal servant and have been working to bring your dogs back to you.”
Lucifer threw his head back and laughed. “I don’t want you to serve me, witch. Crawl back into whatever hole you slunk out of.”
