Page 121 of A Trial By Blood

She tucked my hair behind my ear. “I want a party when I get home, okay? Something to look forward to.”

“You’ve got it,” I whispered.

“Consort,” Death said, and she jolted in my arms.

I swallowed down another sob as she stepped away, grabbed her clothes, shoved them in her pack, and turned to Death. He held out his hand, and she strode up to him and tilted her head up. “Pass on the hand holding. I’m not a fan of PDA.” Then she turned back to me, blew me a kiss, and walked through the archway.

The gate closed immediately, the stones reforming, returning to how they were.

I stood there alone, naked, in shock.

I didn’t have time to freak out, though. Forcing myself to snap out of it, I quickly pulled on my clothes.

I’d just shoved on my boots when I heard the whispers and movement through the trees.

Demons.

I was surrounded.

CHAPTER 34

Rose

The hungry growls, creepy giggles, and hisses grew louder as the demons moved in for the attack.

I should have run as soon as the gateway closed, but I’d hesitated, and now it was too late. I was surrounded completely. I gripped the knife in my hand tighter. I would not die, not here, not now, not after the sacrifice Zinnia had made to keep me here.

She said I was immortal, but I knew for a fact that even immortals could be killed if someone or something tried hard enough, usually by removing their heads.

I backed up as the first demon approached from the trees lining the small clearing. Its eyes were glittering red and filled with hunger and rage. Its mouth was wide and definitely not humanoid in appearance, seeming to hinge just below its ears. Sharp teeth jutted up from its thrust-forward lower jaw, like a warthog. He wore only a pair of grime-stained jeans, and its upper body was muscled and dusted in dark hair.

“Look what we have here,” he said, voice so rough and odd, it was like listening to nails being dragged down a rusted tin. “A gift from the gods.”

Another moved in behind me. “A new toy.”

A third. “Dinner.”

They all took steps closer, as another group appeared a few yards from them, dark and misshapen, their forked tongues darting out. A different breed but just as ugly and angry. “No, she oursssssss,” they hissed at the warthog-looking group. “She our giftsssssss,” one of them said, its eyes darting to me and back as he took a step closer as well.

The four others with him nodded and hissed their agreement, shuffling closer.

I was in serious trouble here.

These two groups of demons weren’t the only ones here, they were just the first trying to claim me. Trees moved, and I could hear the sounds of growls coming from all around the clearing. They were waiting to see what would happen, either waiting for a shot at me themselves or scavengers hoping for something to pick at afterward.

I needed an opening, a moment of distraction. “If you come any closer, I’ll turn you all into slugs,” I yelled.

The warthogs paused, the hissing group as well.

I bolted instantly, running for the opening nearer the warthogs, and sidestepped as one grabbed for me but missed, then I burst into the trees. They growled and hooted excitedly, making chase. The thunder of feet echoed behind me. They were coming after me, all of them, by the sound.

A demon jumped out of nowhere, swiping at me, its dirty claw slicing my upper arm. I spun with my blade, buried it in one of its eyes, pulled it free, and kept running, trying not to gag as I picked up the pace. The hoots and howls and hisses of the demons grew louder as they gained on me.

I was still a long way from the car. I wasn’t going to make it.

A bone-shaking snarl came from behind, the thunder of a heavy gait growing louder as one of them closed in on me.

I pumped my arms, my thighs burning, but he kept getting closer.