Page 126 of Knight’s Dominion

There was a whimper, then they were in the air, Vince's body dangling below him.

“He knows where she is,” Zenon said. “We’ll get her back.”

Chaos dipped his chin and climbed out onto the fire escape, taking flight.

He wouldn't rest until Grace was home.

CHAPTER 35

The second kick to her ribs was brutal. The demon wasn’t holding anything back, but Grace refused to cry out in pain. She could barely see at this point, her eyes too swollen to open properly. Fuckers.

"I thought I was a gift to some whacked-out demon cult leader? Won't he be pissed if you kill me?" She was pleased at how strong her voice sounded, even if it was kinda slurred, especially when her whole body felt, and more than likely looked, like raw roast beef.

Feeling helpless was not something she enjoyed, but with her hands and feet tied, lying on the cold, concrete floor, she couldn’t do a damn thing to help herself. Vince knew what she could do, she’d stupidly told him, and the demons had made sure she couldn’t touch them—add in the chains forged in Hell wrapped around her again, and she was utterly defenseless.

The demon fisted her hair, yanked her head back, and got in her face. His rancid breath washed over her. "Oh, I'm not going to kill you, demon butcher. Where would the fun be in that?"

She was in deep shit, and if she didn't find a way to get out of these chains, she was toast, no matter what this asshole said. "I can see you enjoy your work,” she said to him. “I can respect that. You know, I don't think we've been formally introduced." She turned away and spat the blood welling in her mouth on the floor and smiled. "I'm Grace, and you're…?”

He stayed silent, but was still close, his blurry outline right in front of her, his rank odor singeing her nostrils.

"No name? No worries." Being as thick as a post, she doubted the male could multitask. Maybe if she kept him talking, he'd stop beating the crap out of her for a few minutes. "So how long have you been part of the commune? Sounds like a good deal. So when Diemos is freed from Hell, you what? Get some virgins to despoil and a pot of gold?"

His fingers were suddenly wrapped around her throat. "You have a smart mouth for someone tied up and lying at my feet. You’re at my mercy, don’t forget that. Vince isn’t due back until tomorrow night. We could have a lot of fun in that time, couldn't we, demon butcher?"

"If you untie me, we could really party.” She spat out some more blood. “Why don't you take off the chains and I'll show you just how fun it could be?" Yeah, then all she had to do was grab the asshole and suck the life right out of him, because getting to her feet so she could kick his ass, no matter how much she wanted to, might be out of the realms of her capabilities at that moment.

She was pretty sure a couple ribs were broken, possibly some internal injuries as well. Blood kept filling her mouth, and with how weak she was feeling, she was starting to think it wasn’t just from her cut lips and gums.

"Do you think I'm stupid, female?"

Well, duh. “Course not—”

The slap was a shock since she couldn’t see it coming, the kick even more so. If she wasn't worried about what he'd do to her, she'd be hoping for blessed unconsciousness about now.

“I’ll teach you, bitch, I’ll show you—”

The sound of something heavy landing on the ground cut him off, followed by a whole lot of female cursing.

Grace recognized the low, husky voice instantly. "Goth girl?”

The chains fell away from her wrists and ankles. “You look like shit. Can you stand?”

If they were on their way out of this hellhole, she could dance a goddamned jig. "Yeah.” With some help and a lot of hissing and cursing, Grace got to her feet.

"We have to be quick, the guards will be switching in about fifteen minutes."

Pain sliced through Grace’s body as she worked at staying upright. Thankfully, goth girl clung to her, all but dragging her out of the room. Grace’s sight was still for shit, but she could make out shapes and colors. "We have to get Hannah.”

“Spencer, the male you met in the kitchen the night of the party already got her out. I thought it best if we split you up."

“The others?”

“Trust me.”

"Why are you doing this? Why are you helping us?"

"Stairs," she said before Grace could trip.