Page 91 of Demon Unleashed

“Vintoq? Where is he?”

Yannick motioned to one of the corridors. “In your study.”

So the traitor had told everybody to assume Zoltan was dead and made himself the Great One? Zoltan made a few steps toward the tunnel heading to his study, but he had no intention of going there. There was no time, as much as he wanted to drive his dagger into the traitor.

“Thank you, Yannick. You may go.”

“I’ll show you to him,” Yannick said, to Zoltan’s annoyance. Before Zoltan could protest, Yannick added, “For your protection.”

“Lead the way, then,” Zoltan said. Damn it, there was no time for this now, but Yannick was in the tunnel already, and Zoltan could feel the eyes of the two demon guards on his back, watching him for as long as they could from their position at the vortex circle.

Yannick’s footfalls as well as Zoltan’s own disguised Enya’s much lighter ones. She pulled on his shoulder, and he felt her warm breath ghost over his neck.

“Yannick, he’s the one Tessa identified,” she whispered.

Yannick turned. “Did you say something, oh Great One?”

Fuck, Yannick was the traitor. It all made sense now. As the demon in charge of the vortex circles, he kept track of everybody’s comings and goings—and had falsified records to make Vintoq look like the traitor. Why hadn’t Zoltan seen this before? It was so clear now. Vintoq had been set up to take the fall.

“No. Now go. I want to speak to Vintoq.”

But Yannick didn’t want to comply. He glanced past Zoltan, inclining his head a fraction, as if giving a sign to somebody, before he said, “I’m afraid your loyal servant can’t help you anymore.” Yannick pulled his dagger, his grin triumphant. “He had a little accident.”

Behind him, Zoltan heard heavy footsteps. The demons guarding the vortex circle were approaching, no doubt following Yannick’s unspoken command.

“Lower your weapon,” Zoltan said calmly, and pulled his dagger from his pocket.

Yannick didn’t comply with his command. He snorted. “You can’t give me any orders anymore. I’m the leader now. You were weak. Soft.” He spat on the ground. “You showed mercy far too many times. Like a fucking human. No more. You don’t deserve to be the Great One. Hell, you don’t deserve to be a demon. But you’ll be dead soon enough. I’ll make sure of that.”

“I doubt that very much.” After all, Zoltan had an ace or two up his sleeve.

Yannick glanced around. “She’s with you, isn’t she?”

Zoltan didn’t blink.

But Yannick looked undeterred. “Fine, have it your way.” He glanced past Zoltan. “Do it!”

Enya let out an audible gasp for everybody to hear.

Zoltan whipped around and saw the two approaching demons. Each held a spray bottle with green liquid in one hand, a dagger in the other.

Knowing he didn’t have much time, Zoltan made himself invisible and pivoted. He charged toward the unsuspecting Yannick, who’d probably expected him to attack the two approaching demons first, so Enya wouldn’t be sprayed with green demon blood, revealing her position. But Zoltan knew Enya could take care of herself. He slammed into Yannick, who lost his balance and tumbled backward, but held on to his dagger. A split second later, he’d regained his balance and flicked his wrist, releasing the dagger, but without a clear visual, Yannick’s aim was off. Zoltan had already jumped to the side and was now crashing down on Yannick, slamming his dagger into the traitor’s throat. Gurgling sounds rolled over his lips, together with green blood.

Zoltan made himself visible, wanting the dying Yannick to see him. “You know what the problem is with traitors like you? You talk too much. And act too late. Should have killed me when you had the chance.”

But Yannick didn’t hear the last words. He was already dead.

Zoltan jumped up and whirled around. One of the demons attacking Enya was dead on the ground, but the other had pinned her to the tunnel wall. Her clothes were stained with demon blood, robbing her of her advantage. Zoltan raced to her, grabbed her attacker from behind, pulled his head back by the hair, and sliced his neck open. More blood spurted onto Enya, but that couldn’t be helped now.

“Thanks. That was tight,” she said, and took a deep breath. “Sorry I didn’t tell you about Yannick earlier. I totally forgot.”

“Doesn’t matter now. He’s dead.” He pointed to Yannick’s body. “We’ve gotta stash the bodies quickly, before somebody comes.”

“Where?”

“There’s a little alcove around the corner that should be big enough for three bodies.”

They went to work, carrying each body about ten yards, where they dumped them behind a large rock outcrop. Then they covered any of the blood spatter with dirt.