Demon Day Penelope Fletcher (which ebook reader TXT) 📖

let him go. I was notworried; he knew how to protect himself. I just hoped that he wouldbe able to escape unscathed if this went sour.

Amelia had finished shifting, andslinked back and forth before our odd defensive line. She was a tadstockier than her twin as human, and in cat form, this revealeditself in greater muscle definition. Nimah remained human, her wiryarms crossed over her chest and eyes slitted as she took in theadvancing line of red. Briefly, I wondered what she would look likein cat form, and why out of the two Amelia alwaysshifted.

Tomas simply inclined his head at methen disappeared into the shadows at the edge of thecourtyard.

The Clerics drew their weapons; thefirst few paced forward, boots stomping across the concrete.Disturbingly, Disciples now watched from the shadows, faces ashenand wild with anticipation of the fight. If they decided to take uparms and fight there would be too many. Magic or no magic, therewere too many, and I had not the stomach to wield magic with theintention to kill them.

“He won’t make it in time,”I said quietly, tears pricking my eyes.

Ana patted my arm and I shrugged heroff. Gods, these people, and the touching.

“Have faith, Rae,” shesaid. “He’ll get here soon. He’ll find you.”

Taking a deep, bracingbreath I set my two feet apart. I drew strength from Ana’sunwavering confidence my mate would make it here in time to save meso I could save him. Hmm. This was not one of my more intelligentmoves. Then why did it feel like I needed to be here, rightnow?

I sensed him draw nearer, movingimpossibly fast across the earth to reach my side. I could feel thedetermination, his single-minded goal to reach me.

My tail cracked like a whip and mywings, fully healed, spread, reflecting a brilliant gold light ontothe ground before us. I took hold of the Source, bared my teeth,and hissed menacingly.

Like a punch to the gut I felt apanicked command slam into my mind.

Be still.

Chapter Six

Eyes wide I spun looking for thesource of the noise. I knew his voice, his presence, but had neverfelt him so strongly in my mind before.

A screaming Cleric fell from the sky,and hit the floor in the centre of the courtyard with a loud thump,arms and legs sprawled. This in itself would have caused a stunnedreaction, but since Conall was crouched on his chest as he’d rodethe Cleric to the dirt like a sled created some uproar.

Broad chest bare his dark hair flowedacross his shoulders. His brawny legs were covered with darkleather plates engraved with leaves, and a think strap of leatherlatched his sword to his back.

A Cleric half mad with rage boundedtoward him and a small ball of fire appeared in Conall’s hand. Hesent it at the man with a wide throwing motion and it collided withhis face in a shower of sparks and blood. Conall calmly unsheathedhis sword and sounded an ululating wail to the sky. Then he set hislegs apart and braced himself.

The wall of Clerics roared in fury andsurged forward.

A swirl of fiery hair and green limbsdropped down to stand behind my brother. Maeve, with a bow in hand,dressed in amour sleeker and darker than Conall’s, hissed at theline of Clerics. She notched her bow and sent and arrow flying inone smooth fluent move, ducking as a tazer probe went flyingoverhead from a Clerics gun even as her arrow impaledhim.

A panther with long white whiskersleapt down beside her, and brushed his boxy head and ebony flankacross the back of her calves.

A massive male cougar, his entire bodyrippling with muscle under mottled yellow-gold fur, followed him.The were-cat – missing one eye – had fluffy tufts sticking out ofhis pointed ears, and his mouth opened wide to release a loudstring of enraged growls.

Amelia tipped her head back andscreamed. She bunched her fore and hind paws together, short, sharprumblings breaking from her throat. Nimah looked fierce beside herswaying from side to side her fingers curled into claws. Theshifter twins took one glance at each other, back at the malecougar, and leapt forward toward their Alpha.

Lex darted behind them – a whitestreak of death. Ro followed a moment later.

The demons launched themselves on theouter line of Clerics, determined to fight and protectme.

A Cleric drifted too close to theshadows and was yanked back into the darkness. He did not appearagain.

I was appalled by it – them - all ofthem protecting me. Wasn’t it supposed to be the other wayaround?

Even as I fretted for the safety ofthose who fought for me, it was the fairy darting between theClerics on Sanctuary roof that captured my total and immediateattention.

Men draped in red cloaks were flungscreaming from the rooftop by a blur of black and silver to landhard on the concrete with a sickening crunch, twitching before theywere still.

He leaped down and landed protectivelyin front of the others.

Breandan.

I opened my mouth to call to him butmagic thickened the air and was practically shoved down my throat.It was disgusting, vile, and I retched. I wasn’t the only oneaffected. Ana’s hand covered her mouth and clutched herstomach.

Unable to take hold of me the magicswirled away.

The Disciples freaked, batting theirclothes and clawing at their faces. In eerie synchronicity theyfell silent and still. At some hidden signal as one they steppedforward, small knives, and batons unhooked from their belts. Theirfaces were vacant, like the personalities that animated themweren’t there anymore.

“Gods help us,” Ibreathed.

“The spell,” Ana suppliedhelpfully. “At least we know what all that black magic was aboutnow.”

I darted looks from the Disciples, tothe Clerics, over the demons, then back to Ana. I set my jaw.Truthfully, from the moment I saw the Disciples standing on theoutskirts of the courtyard I’d decided what I was doing to do. Irocked back on my heels.

“Oh, thank the gods. You’regoing to stay out of harm’s way.” Ana sounded beyond relived.“Would you like to try meditating with me to prepare for Breandan’stouch? In some futures that helps–” Her eyes became