I smirk. “You and I are all that’s left of the Cosmic Council, Vincent. And wouldn’t you know it, you’re not even the strongest anymore. You can feel that, can’t you? I am stronger than you. Even the jinn knows it.”
Kill him, Jarron growls through to me, strengthening me. He’s still in such pain.
Bea is coming, I tell him.Hold on.
Kill him.
Before it’s too late, he doesn’t say. His strength is slipping, but I refuse to dwell on the chance that Bea doesn’t make it on time because I have to focus on this.
The pale demon’s roar of rage shatters through the night, and he charges.
For the last time, monstrous claws fly at me.
I’m ready for him, though, potion in hand. I’ve imagined this moment more times than I should be proud to admit.
I twist away from Mr. Vandozer’s mindless attack, ignoring the pain the jostle causes, and then throw my vial at his feet with my left hand. There’s a sparking explosion as the two potions combine and splatter onto the demon.
The effect is instant.
Vincent Vandozer gurgles out a cry as his body convulses, eyes rolling to the back of his head. He drops to his knees. I don’t know how long the stunning will last, so I make my next move as quickly as possible.
I grab my orange vial and slam it onto the back of his head.
This time, there’s a beat as the whole world stills. The pale demon’s body goes rigid still. Then, he tips over and falls to the ground, stick straight.
I’m dizzy, vision blurring. I’m almost unable to enjoy the victory.
Liz gasps. “Did you—”
“He’s alive,” I say, panting. “And conscious.”
Vincent stares up at the ceiling. He blinks three times, but his body doesn’t so much as twitch.
“What did you do? How?”
“Stunning bomb, thanks to my friend Thompson, and a paralyzing potion. He can’t move. I think he can speak, though.” I step forward and put my foot against his throat, pressing tightly. “Can you talk, Vincey?”
I love the helplessness in his eyes. It’s everything I’ve been imagining for the last year.
I press harder.
“Yes,” he gurgles out.
I remove my foot. “Good to know.”
“I don’t understand,” Liz says, her gaze distant. “Isn’t he more powerful than you? The strongest in magic are supposed to have command of me.”
“I am more powerful since the nullifier is in his system.”
Liz jerks back. “What?”
“Bea put death potions at the bottom of each cup. Just one drop was all that was needed. But for Vincent’s, I had another plan. Instant death is too easy for him. I want him to suffer. So, I made a few adjustments to my nullifier.” I was able to strengthen it enough that even just residue on the side of the cup would have sucked his magic away.
Liz’s nostrils flare.
“But you have no magic at all,” she says.
“I have plenty of magic. I have Jarron’s, through our connection, and that tiny, far-removed fae drop in our blood. It’s enough to have an edge on a demon with zero magic.”
