Page 105 of Beauty At Stake
Killian chuckled. “I'm telling Sever you said that.”
“Are you kidding? He'd agree with me.” I pushed at Kill, then headed out of the altar room. “Let's get out of here. This place gives me the creeps.”
“I'm down with that.” Kill came after me, with Daxon bringing up the rear.
We went past several rooms with open doors—rooms that had been shut on my initial trek down the corridor. I glanced in one and saw a toilet in the corner, opposite a bunk bed. Grimacing, I put on speed.
Then the howling stopped.
“Shit!” I hissed as I began to run.
If someone killed Rue, the Coven would be pissed. And since Killian and I were the Ambassadors in charge of the mission, they'd be pissed at us. Rightfully so.
I ran up a set of stairs and burst into a spacious kitchen. Ignoring the questionable liquids bubbling on the stove and the acrid fumes coming from them, I darted through the room and out of a door that led into the yard. Outside, I found the remains of a slaughter.
My footsteps faltered as I navigated the bloody terrain spotted with bodies and body parts. But there was a gathering up ahead that I had to reach ASAP. So, I put aside my horror and put on speed. My team was circled around something.
“Don't kill him!” I shouted and pushed through them.
When they saw it was me, the extinguishers, vexes, hunters, and Demons parted, making a path. I reached the center in seconds to find Star standing over a comatose Rue. Rue's hands were before him, bound in hellchains—Hell's version of magic-dampening manacles.
“He's alive. We had to knock him out before he hurt himself.” Star brushed off his palms and kicked Rue in his side. “Who's taking responsibility for this baggage?”
“That would be us.” Leo stepped forward.
“Uh, I don't think so,” I said. “You're too invested in this, Vex. Stand down. I'm taking custody of the prisoner.”
“You need to take care of our other issue first.” Star motioned to his right.
Apitron and Nassar brought a Demon bound in hellchains forward. The Demon stared at me balefully, but then he brightened. “You're the Light-Bringer! Queen Seren, I'm freed. Please, tell them I was bound by that Witch, but now, I'm free. I was released upon her death.
“She was a sorceress, not a Witch,” I said. “But yes, her death should have freed you.”
“Just in case.” Star waved at him. “Do you mind?”
“Sure.” I laid a hand on the Demon's shoulder and the purple glow of my Uncrossing Magic seeped from me into him.
He continued to stare at me. No change to his expression.
“He's clear,” I said.
The Demon looked at his captors. “You see?Now,will you unchain me?”
Nassar and Apitron looked at their king.
Star nodded. “Go back to Hell. Now.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. Thank you for the rescue.” The Demon bowed even as they released him from his chains. He inhaled in relief, then vanished in a rain of embers.
“All right!” Killian clapped his hands together, then rubbed them. “You're hosting this time!” He pointed at the Vexes.
“Hosting what?” Melissa, the Quake Vex, asked.
“The victory party.” I crouched to grab Rue, then looked at my husbands. “I'm going to deliver him to the Coven. I'll meet you at the vex house.”
“Very well,” Dax said.
“I'll save you some stuffed chicken wings,” Kill added.
