Fucking shit, he roared and drove his sword into Tromos’ side. Again and again, but it hardly slowed the beast. One of these days, he’d have to pick Ryan’s brain about what sort of creatures walked the demon realm. If he survived that long. He hoped to hell there weren’t more of this sort.
Feeling like a damn punching bag, he rolled out of reach to adjust his shield.
And quickly learned where vampires got their speed.
For a big guy, Tromos moved lightning fast. Shield raised high, Bennett blocked the next blow.
A grating crunch rang through the air as a crack ran half the length of his shield.
Diving out of the way, again, Bennett ran for the doorway.
Light emitted through a small crack as the team continued their excavation.
Vann’s deep voice resonated through the hollow. “We’re almost to you, buddy. Hang in there.”
“Sure thing.” Bennett cringed, leaping out of the way as Tromos aimed to pummel him again.
This time running straight for the beast, Bennett leapt into the air and slammed his shield into Tromos’ thick head and jumped out of the way again.
The smallest of the bunch, Lana hauled over the rubble and heaved a boulder from the entrance and growled, “I thought you agreed to wait for us.”
Juking another blow, Bennett ducked and spun, but Tromos was faster, his kick nailing Bennett in the ribs. As he gasped to get a breath of air, flying across the room and crashing against the rock wall, he hollered, “This wasn’t my plan.” Under his breath, he muttered, “Not that anything ever goes according to plan.”
He shook away the vibration in his skull and rose to his feet, lifting his sword again.
Legs trembling from exertion, his fractured ribs scraping against his lungs, he ignored the searing pain and stalked toward Tromos.
“I will rise and rule this realm,” Tromos rumbled, thundering toward Bennett with his fist balled and ready to deliver another jaw-crunching blow.
“I know. And I wanted a damn prophecy. Be careful what you wish for,” he muttered.
Astrid came diving through as the opening widened, her twin swords already swinging as she ran for Tromos.
Behind her, one by one with a furious vengeance, the team came.
Each taking their place, they encircled Tromos, weapons ready, game faces on.
Lana snarked, a wicked grin teasing at her lips, “Really Bennett? He’s hardly even wounded. What have you been doing all this time?”
Bennett rolled his eyes before slicing his sword across Tromos’ spine. “Ha ha. Shut up and let’s finish this.”
Tromos spun, aimed right for Bennett. “You will feel my wrath,” he roared.
Before Bennett could snipe back with a pithy retort, Tromos fist slammed into his chest and sent him flying across the room. His head snapped against the rock and the world went dark.
Warm hands cradled his cheeks, fingertips gracing along the curve of his jaw. Adair’s crooning voice sent waves of relief through his veins. “Hey,” she whispered. “It’s going to be a miserably long eternity if you die on me now.”
Sandbags coated his limbs as he struggled to rise. His eyelashes fluttered. Her watery blue eyes came into view, her bow-shaped lips turned up in the corners. “I’m not dead yet.”
“Then get your ass up. We’ve got a demon to slay.”
“Calloway?”
“Dead.”
“Nicely done.”
She glanced to the fight behind her. “Now the hard part.”
