“Right? And give that bitch of a goddess a place by Lucifer’s side? Not a chance.” She forced the wind toward me, gaining distance in our elemental standoff.
“All I want is to find my parents and go home.”
“All I want is your head on a stake.”
I glanced at the ledge above. Discord’s fist connected with Bedlam’s jaw. The hunter lunged, and they both tumbled, landing at our feet with grunts and groans. The distraction was enough for me to dart left, out of the wind stream, and barrel into Seraphine, shoving her with everything I had.
She landed on her butt at the river’s edge and scrambled toward the crossbow. Bedlam turned his fingers into talons and slashed at Discord, ripping his stomach open. My demon fell. Bedlam pinned him to the ground.
Seraphine grabbed her crossbow and notched an arrow, aiming at my chest. Bedlam lifted his taloned hand above Discord’s chest.
22
CINDER
I dropped, spinning and kicking out a leg like Ember had taught me. My move knocked Seraphine off balance, and I grabbed the crossbow as she fell, aiming it at Bedlam’s heart. He struck out, but before his claws could penetrate Discord’s heart, I pierced his with Seraphine’s poisoned arrow.
His eyes widened, his jaw falling slack as he clutched the shaft protruding from his chest. Discord shoved him to the ground and rose, his face contorted in pain.
“My demon!” Seraphine jumped to her feet as Bedlam’s skin turned the telltale icy blue with black lattice.
She rushed toward him, hatred and fury igniting in her eyes. I hit her with a fireball, knocking her back. She lifted her hand toward me, making the claw-like gesture she’d used the last time she sucked the air from my lungs.
“Not this time.” I drew in a breath and held it.
Discord shot a stream of flames at her chest. I threw a fireball at her head. She staggered backward, falling into the river with a splash.
Seraphine screeched and screamed, flailing in the acid as it ate at her skin. If I’d had another arrow, I would’ve put her out of her misery. Instead, I stood there watching, my heart aching as she dogpaddled to the opposite side and dragged herself onto the stones. She let out one more agonizing wail before collapsing face down on the rocky bank.
My stomach soured, and my chest ached at the sight of her lying on the riverbank. Never would I ever wish that kind of pain on anyone…even someone trying to kill me.
Bedlam groaned, drawing my attention away from the lump of burned flesh. Ice crept up his neck, and he wheezed as his lungs began to freeze. “She…will avenge me.”
I scrunched my nose. “Not in that condition, she won’t.”
A high-pitched whining noise emanated from his form, and he crumbled into ashes.
I looked at Discord, and he looked back at me, his expression a mix of concern, relief, and admiration all at the same time. We stood there for a bit, locked in each other’s gazes, and warmth expanded in my chest, making it ache in a good way.
“I’m okay,” I finally said, and I closed the distance between us.
“As am I. It’s already healing.” He lifted his torn shirt to show me his wound. The edges had begun stitching themselves back together.
We stood a foot apart, his sigil on my arm heating and pulsing in response to…our proximity? Our magic? My desire?
“Looks like we beat the first level of the game.” My lips tugged into a smile, and a weird giddy sensation spiraled through my stomach.
“Indeed we did.” He reached for my hair, brushing it from my forehead and tucking it behind my ear as he stepped toward me.
The giddy sensation bubbled up to my chest before shooting into my brain and erasing all logical thought from my mind. I slid my hands up his chest, clasping them behind his neck and pressing my lips to his.
He responded, wrapping his arms around my waist and pulling me against him. Cradling the back of my head in his hand, he drank me in. I opened for him, and he brushed his tongue to mine, sending an electric jolt through my entire body.
All my muscles turned to goo, and I leaned into him, allowing myself to get lost in his essence. I fit in his arms as if I were made specifically for his embrace. His lips were soft, the kiss firm and purposeful.
Was I certifiable for standing next to an acid river, making out with a demon? One hundred percent. Did I care? Not right then. Not at all.
I reveled in the warmth of his embrace, wishing the moment would last forever. But you know what they say. All good things must come to an end.
