Page 4 of Knight’s Dominion

"Yes."

"We don't answer to you. And I'd like to see you try; you have no power here," she called down, a whole lot of smug coming through every word.

She was right. This close to a portal minutes from opening, a knight’s powers were rendered useless. Still, he had no idea why she thought that would stop him. "I don't need my powers to spank your stubborn ass."

She stiffened, and the sound of her sharp, indrawn breath traveled down to him, tugging somewhere low in his gut. Why the hell did I say that?

“I hate to interrupt foreplay, that's never cool, but y’know, demons,” Rocco muttered.

Seconds later the wall ahead shimmered, golden light rippling across the brick surface like it was liquefying before their eyes.

Demons immediately scrambled through and charged them.

Chaos spun and with one swing removed the head of a demon coming at him full speed.

More quickly followed. Impaling one on the end of his blade, he slammed his fist into the face of another. Rocco came up behind the demon and removed his head.

Chaos couldn't stop his gaze from lifting again to the most maddening female he’d ever encountered. She had her bow raised, body lithe and strong, movements graceful yet sure as she fired bolt after bolt with precision, picking off the demons one by one as they fought or ran to escape into the city. Her people rushed in, removing their heads.

The battle raged on, and although they fought to cut them back, the demons kept coming.

One ran out, rushing to the side, pressed up against the brick wall, arms in the air, calling for sanctuary.

It happened occasionally. Demons wanting out, wanting relief from the darkness. Before Lazarus's mate, Eve, had joined them, it had been near impossible to decide who should be allowed to remain. But now they took the demons to her. Her ability to read minds had grown and took out the guesswork.

Most of the demi-demons were now fighting side by side with the knights on the alley floor. Even though they were all dressed the same and wore masks, he knew exactly where she was and wasn't surprised when she made a beeline straight for the demon trying to stay out of the action.

Chaos ground his teeth. Killing indiscriminately was not something they could or should do, for several reasons. Something the little vigilante didn't have the first clue about.

Slinging her crossbow over her shoulder, she slid a blade from her boot and pulled back. Chaos grabbed her wrist before she could let it fly.

He squeezed, and she released the blade, the thing clattering to the pavement.

“Let me go, jackoff…” Her gaze snapped to something over his shoulder.

Chaos spun around.

Two orthon demons rounded the corner at the entrance of the alley and gunned it straight for the portal. Not the brightest bulbs in Hell but deadly, and once given an order they would not stop unless you put them down. A female screamed and fought between them. Her wild, dark hair obscuring her face as she struggled to get free.

Chaos sprinted toward them, but demons crawling from the portal crowded in, blocking his way, and by the time they’d cut them down, the orthon had made it to the gate.

An extremely tall male stepped from the portal, deathly thin, but the power he was radiating was worrying on many levels. He took the female from the orthon, wrapping his fingers around the back of her neck.

Chaos searched for an opening, a way to stop him without hurting the female, a way to get her back, and edged closer.

The powerful demon’s gaze slid to Chaos, and he made a tutting sound. “Not another step.”

Chaos froze, although it went against every instinct he possessed.

Maybe the demon wanted to make a deal? Negotiate his escape from Hell? He hoped like fuck that was it, because there was no way they could get to her. All the demon had to do was take a step back and they’d lose them.

The alley went silent, the fight ceasing all around them. No one drew a goddamned breath as they waited for what would happen next.

Zenon cursed beside him. "Taren. Diemos's right hand."

Fuck.

Taren smiled. “Run, children,” he said to the demons still in the alley, and they immediately took off, disappearing into the city.