Page 94 of Knight’s Retribution

Because it was pumping through his veins, giving him life, feeding his soul.

Fuck, he’d missed this.

Chaos looked around them, serious as ever, brows low, his gaze hitting each of theirs—then his lips peeled back in a wide grin, all white teeth. “Fuck knows what we’re about to walk in on, but I’m fucking glad I’m doing it with all of you at my side,” he said rough as hell. “This has been a long time coming, but for the first time in a long time, even with everything going to shit, I feel like we might have a chance, because we’re all here, because we’re finally all together again.”

Grunts, shoulder bumps, several throats clearing, their agreement was clear. This was how it was always meant to be. All of them, fighting side by side.

“Vorena’s had control of the demons who follow her, and over the last few months only a few dared to step out of line. Something’s changed, and we need to find out what that is,” Chaos added.

The demons who’d attacked when they were freeing Tobias and Scarlet the day before, the ones that came from the city and not through the portal, had to be Vorena’s. There were far too many of them for it to be just a few rogues looking for a fight. This was an organized group sent to attack.

“What are we thinking?” Gunner asked.

“She’s lost control of them,” Rocco said. “She wanted an heir, and she was working hard to get one. My guess is while she’s been distracted, her followers have had second thoughts. A lot of them don’t agree with her, especially when it comes to humans. She’s gotten in the way of their fun, and they’ve had enough.”

“So how do we want to do this?” Zen asked. “We taking the front door? Or are we going for more of a surprise visit?”

Roc motioned to the door on the roof. “I think a surprise is our best bet.”

“You need to hang back, stay behind us and keep your head down,” Chaos said to Rocco. “At least until we know what’s going on. She works out you’re one of us, she’ll know that Willow betrayed her. No way are we putting her at risk again.”

“Agreed,” Rocco said.

Chaos headed for the door, his brothers following. He snapped the chain locking the door and dragged it open on its rusty hinges, and they headed inside.

“Jesus, what’s that smell?” Tobias said. “Hell smells better than this shit.”

Zen huffed out a sound that was as close as he got to a laugh. “Fuck, you’re not wrong.”

Tobias glanced Zen’s way, and there was no missing his shock. He hadn’t seen Zen like this. Before Tobias left them, Zenon rarely spoke to anyone. He didn’t spend time with his brothers unless he had to, and he sure as fuck never laughed.

Chaos led the way, and Roc stayed at the back as they made their way down the stairs on silent feet. The deeper they got, the thicker the moss and slime became on the walls, and the more pungent the stench.

“Is this female some kind of swamp demon? What’s with the green shit?” T asked.

“It’s all the corpses, I guess. They rot and the bits she doesn’t eat liquefy,” Roc said.

“I’m fucking glad I skipped lunch,” Kryos added.

“Lucky you, brother, I had a spirulina smoothie,” Gunner said and made a kind of gagging sound. “Luna has me eating healthy shit. I told her I’m immortal, I can eat whatever crap I liked. She wasn’t having it.”

Chaos chuckled.

A scream of raw agony echoed from somewhere in the building. The sound was horrific, and it lifted the hair on the back of Rocco’s neck.

They all paused, and when there were no more screams, they kept going, moving slower this time. Something wasn’t right here, beyond the obvious.

They left the stairwell and rounded the corner, swords drawn, expecting demons keeping guard in the hall, but there were none.

Another scream came, louder this time. This place was already dark and toxic. The vibe he’d felt the first time he came here, when it had twisted deep inside him, calling to his demon, was still there, only it was worse now. So much worse.

They approached the double doors Rocco and Willow had walked through months ago, the sodden, slimy moss beneath their boots squelching.

Chaos stopped, sword still drawn. This was the part where they would usually wait for Vorena to grant them entry. That wasn’t going to happen today. She’d broken her oath, she’d lost control of her demons.

Chaos stepped back, then he and Laz kicked the doors open. They opened first try…and easily. Vorena’s magic not binding the doors, not even a little bit. Chaos strode in, his brothers at his sides. Roc stayed behind them, being cautious, but he was starting to think that wasn’t necessary. Vorena wasn’t here. Her power wasn’t vibrating through the walls, through the floor like he remembered.

It was…nowhere.