Page 107 of The Demon's Fire
Kole forged a ball of fire in his palm, spreading his feet apart. He drew back his arm to launch his personal weapon.
Dermott’s body morphed into his beast. He was twice his original size with long sharp claws and extended, razored teeth.
“Oh, you want to go animus-demon-on-envy-demon?” Kole’s smile spread cheek to cheek.
How stupid can this guy be? Never bring sharp teeth and nails to a firefight.
Kole tossed the unused ball of fire into the air. As it began its descent, his chest expanded, his arms bulged, and his legs thickened. By the time the flaming ball re-joined his hand, his newly formed body was a red-and-gold bonfire. He breathed deep.
Exquisite.
His roar of release echoed off the cavern walls, shaking the very foundation of the cave. Kole freed his beast.
Dermott crouched, his mouth open to reveal his teeth and his hand curled to accommodate his claws, like any envy demon. He approached, swiping out at Kole, obviously expecting his speed to catch the commander off guard.
Kole stood his ground. When an envy demon stuck claws or teeth into his opponent, the adversary would be overcome with remorse, self-loathing, envy so powerful he would long for death at his own hand. He’d seen victims fall to the ground, curl into a ball, and scratch out their own eyes. But Kole’s beast was pure power, vibrant burning energy, nothing of fleshy substance, almost impossible for Dermott to harm.
From the midst of Kole’s demon, his words roared out in hot fumes. “You fool. Don’t you know what you are dealing with? My Uncle Horach warned you, and yet you chose to fight me in beast form? I will fry your ass with hellfire.”
Dermott morphed back into his male form, the earlier hubris erased from his eyes. Kole unwillingly but honorably reined in his beast to assume his physical body. “Wise decision. You stand a better chance, but your odds are still miserable.”
“We’ll see.” Dermott, his deadly claws still extended on one hand, drew a knife from his sheath with the other.
Crouching with his legs spread, Kole tilted his head to the side while waving his blade at the attacking demon. In his other hand, he bounced a ball of fire. “Come get me, asshole.”
Dermott hesitated, his jaw clamped tight, his eyes the color of fear. He dodged the fireball and lunged forward, missing contact, stumbling into the cave wall.
When Dermott met the rock, Kole waited. “At least, make this a contest.” He stared, letting heat smolder from his eyes, dishonoring his challenger.
Dermott whirled around, charging again. Dodging the assault, Kole snagged onto his challenger’s knife hand. The envy demon tried to shake loose, but the Firebrand commander held tight, raised his attacker’s arm, and buried his blade in Dermott’s heart. Retracting his knife, he swiped it across the neck, decapping him, a sure way to end an Aeternal’s life.
Rein swung into the cave at that moment, followed by Brak and Sabine. His hard gaze followed the renegade’s head as it tumbled into the dirt.
One by one, Firebrands burst into the cave. Blood spattered their arms, clothes, and faces. Not their own. But they looked unharmed. Each approached, gripped elbow to wrist, saying, “Freronor Commander or Comm.” He could tell they all needed the contact.
Rein held back until the other Firebrands had all greeted him. With a controlled smile and a slight nod, he said, “Commander Kole, good to see you again. Nice digs.”
“Damn, Rein. I don’t think I’ve seen you smile before. Well, except at Braelyn or when you took off that berserker’s head.” Kole let his gaze wander to a male he didn’t recognize. “Who’s the human?”
“Nico’s the name. Last time I saw you, Kole, we were in a hall outside Chief Maxwell’s office lighting it up with smoke grenades.”
“Yeah? I recall. Why are you here?”
“I was being held prisoner by your Firebrands until they recruited me.” The Alliance agent smirked as Sabine rolled her eyes.
“What?” Kole snarled in Rein’s direction.
“The asshole isn’t giving you the whole story. I’ll explain later.”
Kole dropped his bloody blade, turned, and charged into a tunnel leading to the back of the cave, his palms glowing with fire.
He found Skyler huddled against a wall. He swept her into his arms and ravaged her with a hard kiss. Before she could say a word, he dropped her to her feet and pulled her behind him, returning to the main chamber where his Firebrands waited.
Kole dropped Skyler’s hand but not quick enough. His warriors exchanged shocked looks and some grins. “She saved my life. When we were attacked by gagans, I ended up with a few iron claws in me. Shut the fuck up before I set your balls on fire. Sabine, Jezzi, Galena, though you lack the nads, you get the drift.”
When Nico laughed, Kole zipped a stream of fire to his ear.
The human clasped a hand over it. “Hey. That hurts.”
