Page 38 of Peacemaker

The two swords collided, and the resulting shock flung me so hard into the side of my car that my entire body went numb. The air was slammed from my lungs, and the back of my head collided with the side of my car. Hard.

I slid into the waiting black arms of unconsciousness.

But only for a minute.

When I opened my eyes, Silverlight and the demon’s black-lighted sword were still struggling, locked in their brutal, vicious fight for dominance.

The sound of their screams was worse than my physical pain, and I couldn’t move because I couldn’t think.

Then Angus, Shane, Clayton, and Leo were in front of me, facing off against the demon, the swords, and the overwhelming crush of power.

I struggled to my feet and lurched toward my men, terrified for Silverlight. There’d never been a challenge for her—not really. But this new sword…

It was a challenge.

Neither one of them could stray long from their masters, and finally, dark went to the demon and light flew back to me.

When Silverlight attached, I felt a difference in her. She was just a little weaker. Her light was dimmer.

“All right, Trin?” Angus yelled, not taking his stare from the demon. “All right?”

The demon answered for me. “She’s fine. For now. But I’m afraid she’ll have to die soon, and Silverlight with her.”

He began to grow. As we watched, he grew. Taller, bigger, more awful.

Leo stepped out of the line and walked toward the demon.

“Leo,” Angus cautioned.

Leo ignored him. He cracked his neck and loosened his shoulders. “Take me on,” he told the demon.

“I’ll take you all on,” the demon promised. “But first….” He waved the black sword gently. “My sword will have her reward. And her reward is you.” He pointed the blackness at Clayton. “You know my sword, don’t you, boy? You feel her.”

I looked at Clayton. His face was pale, his eyes terrible. And I realized finally what he already knew. The sword, forged in hell by the demons, was Miriam.

“Blacklight,” the demon said, almost tenderly. “Her name is Blacklight, and she wants her fucking golem.”