Page 112 of The Demon King's Destiny

Chapter 29

Evelyn landed hard on her hands and knees, her stomach threatening to empty onto the dirt floor. As she started to push herself to her feet, a large booted foot connected with her ribs and she collapsed, the wind knocked from her lungs.

Gasping, she moved to her back just in time to see the black boot coming for her face. She rolled swiftly, her ribs screaming in protest. Air breezed past, lifting stray strands of hair with the missed strike.

Raising her hands, she called to the elements only to have her arms slammed down to the ground before she could siphon power. Straddling her chest, the vampire held her wrists down by one hand.

With his other, he gripped the fingers on her right hand, her sword hand, squeezing mercilessly. Sounds popped loud enough to echo off rock as he easily broke the small bones.

Evelyn screamed.

“That was for breaking my nose,witch. I was just going to kill you and be done with it, but now I think you need a lesson before dying.”

Evelyn glared at him through her watering eyes. His nose was swollen from where she’d head-butted him, the blood already drying on his face.

He let go and pulled back his fist. A severe blow landedsquare on herface and stars burst inside her skull. Her ears rang and her nose bled.

Stay awake, stay awake, stay awake, she chanted inside her mind. If she lost consciousnesses, he would kill her easily.

Evelyn refused to die like this. With her one good hand, she reached down and grabbed his testicles, squeezing as hard as she could. Dmitri howled in pain, and teleported away.

He reappeared to her left, breathing heavily and doublingover. Keeping her eyes on him, she scooted backwards until she felt the cool rock on her shoulder blades.

It was then she noticed they were in a cave. A fire was going a little further inside. Next to it was a thin pallet. This is where he’d been hiding.

The air was tinged with salt and the tranquil sound of ocean waves systematically hitting the shore. They could be on any coast, but she suspected they were on or near the Corak Peninsula. Dmitri was the most likely candidate to be manipulating the rogues.

“You’re going to pay for that, witch.”

“My name is Evelyn, you horse’s arse.”

“Doesn’t matter. You’ll be joining your mother soon, then so will your sisters once I get to them. The threat from the West will be no more.”

“What threat? My sisters and I are no threat,” she said as her eyes darted around the small space, looking for her sword.

The misshapen reflection of firelight shone just behind the male. He glanced where she was looking.

Dmitri bent and picked up her blade. “Looking for this?” he mocked, pointing it towards her. “You are the threat. Your own mother predicted it.Northland, Eastland, and Southland quest. Heed the threat from the West. The king from each of those kingdoms has found a fated mate in Elora’s children. It cannot be allowed. Your family will not be allowed to control all of Imperium.”

Evelyn kept her hands behind her back, trying to draw on the elements closest. Her right hand was growing numb from the swelling.Good. It will make this easier.

“We’ve no desire to take over the continent. Did you miss the part about fated mates? You’re toiling with the will of the Goddess above. You can’t possibly win. She’ll have her revenge on you, no matter what happens to me and my sisters.”

“Enough talking.”

His manic green eyes flared, his lips peeling back in a snarl. He pulled a knife from his side holster, waving it around joyfully.

“Maybe I’ll cut out your tongue first.”

Dmitri threw her sword away, too far for Evelyn to attempt at the moment, not when he could teleport and get there first. She focused her magics, the elements only too happy to answer her call.

The second he advanced, she set him on fire. His screams echoed off the cave walls as the flames ate away his flesh. Evelyn crawled as quickly as she could to the sword, her head still swimming from the vampire’s assault.

Dizzy, she rose to her feet slowly, never looking away from the spectacle before her. The stench of burning flesh filled the air and she gagged.

The vampire managed to take two stepscloser. She lifted her steel, channeling what was left of her energy into staying upright. With all her might, she swung.

In slow motion, she watched a dagger fly out of the flames as her blade reached Dmitri’s neck. His head flopped, then bounced off his shoulder. White hot pain exploded in her chest. She dropped to her kneesand her world went black.

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