“Levet . . . no. Please.”
“Stay out of this.” The Dark Lord launched another attack at Abby, driving her back several steps before turning back toward the quivering Levet. “If he wants to die, then who am I to deny his wish?”
The lightning flashed toward him, and with a curse he leaped to the side, his tail twitching. Some hero, he wryly acknowledged, sensing Abby escalating the power of the goddess as he darted from yet another bolt.
This wasn’t helping.
So what would?
As the question was rattling through his brain, he made another dodge, his gaze catching sight of the strange form that haloed the Dark Lord’s slender body.
Although most of his skills were questionable, the one constant was his ability to see through illusion.
Any illusion.
Squatting to avoid the latest strike of lightning, he ignored the fact the Dark Lord was forced to turn her fury back toward Abby, who was draining the last of her power into the wicked bitch.
Instead, he kept his attention locked on the aura that flickered in and out of focus around the Dark Lord.
There was something strange about it.
It was like the spirit was attached to the Dark Lord . . . but not fully integrated.
Or perhaps not fully committed.
Either way, he suddenly knew that this was his one shot.
Staying low as the two powerful deities continued their private battle, Levet inched his way forward.
The heat and pain pounded against him, but he forced himself to put one foot in front of the other. The closer he was to the Dark Lord, the less chance his spell would backfire and hurt someone else.
Vampires were so testy about friendly fire.
A sickly smile curved his lips as he lifted his hands. This was it. Do or die.
Concentrating on the spirit hovering around the Dark Lord, he released the magic that was as ancient as the beginning of time.
At first there was nothing more than sparkles of color that danced over the silhouette of the Gemini. It was a pretty display, but it didn’t even make the Dark Lord notice. Instead, she continued her ruthless attack on Abby, veins of crimson running beneath the pale ivory skin.
Stubbornly, Levet refused to concede defeat.
It was the Gemini protecting the Dark Lord.
Without that protection the bitch would be vulnerable to the Phoenix’s attack.
He lifted his hands, but even as he was preparing to launch another spell, the sparkles began to sink into the dark aura. The darkness quivered, as if the pinpricks of light were causing it pain. Or injury.
Levet was hoping it was injury.
He released his second burst of magic. This time the sparkles struck directly into the aura, exploding like tiny firecrackers.
The scent of burned flesh mixed with the charred odor of sulfur and a foul stench of a rotting carcass. As if someone had just yanked open a grave.
The darkness shuddered, then like thick molasses it began to pull away from the female form.
Levet gagged, belatedly realizing the Dark Lord had sensed her danger and whirled in his direction.
“What have you done?” she screeched, her hands reaching for the ephemeral spirit as if she could physically hold on to it.
“Exactly what I promised,” he croaked, drained to the point he could barely stand.
With an audible snap, the spirit pulled away from the Dark Lord, shooting away from the lights that danced in pursuit.
“No.” The female stumbled backward, clearly aware of her vulnerability. “This is impossible.”
“‘The word impossible is not in my dictionary,’” Levet quoted Napoleon, a smile curving his lips as Abby stepped behind the female and wrapped her hands around the Dark Lord’s neck.
“Die,” Abby whispered softly.
“You . . .” Shuddering as the power of the goddess flowed through her body, the Dark Lord glared at Levet with a soul-deep hatred. “You will pay for this.”
Levet was hoping it was an empty threat.
The evil putain was beginning to rot from the inside out as the goddess’s power poured into her, her skin splitting open to allow the crimson flames to spill out.
But even as she was dying, she reached out her hand and pointed her finger at Levet.
He darted to the side, but he was a half beat too late and even as the Dark Lord was enveloped in a shimmering mist, she sent out a bolt of lightning that struck him square in the chest.
He cried out, an unbearable agony exploding through his tiny body. Sacrebleu. This wasn’t the sort of pain a gargoyle could survive. Then, thankfully, he was tumbling into a waiting darkness.
His last thought wasn’t of death or sacrifice or even the scent of Yannah that suddenly filled his senses.
It was that he’d finally done it.
He was a bona fide hero.
He hoped they’d write a song.
Chapter 25
Having inched her way toward the battling deities, Cassie was acutely aware of the moment the Dark Lord died.
It wasn’t just that the entire room came to a silent halt. Or that the blinding lightning was no longer flashing.
Or even that the stench of sulfur was suddenly gone.
It was in the change in pressure that had been beating down on them. As if a terrible storm had passed over, leaving behind the fresh lightness of a spring day.
But she barely noticed as the evil creature was swallowed by a shimmering mist that obscured her from view. Her only thought was that Levet was lying motionless on the ground, his wings broken and his chest ripped open by the lightning strike.
“Levet.” Reaching his side, Cassie dropped to her knees, grasping his hand as she glared at the tiny female demon who appeared at her side. “Dammit, you promised to protect him.”
The demon regarded her with an unwavering black gaze, her expression giving nothing away. “I will take care of the gargoyle.”
Cassie bit her lower lip. “Is he . . .”
“Don’t worry.” The female offered a mysterious smile as she glanced over Cassie’s shoulder. “You should brace yourself.”
“What?”
There was the scent of anxious Were before she was pulled off her feet and hauled against a broad, naked chest.
“Cassie,” Caine growled, his heart pounding beneath her ear. “I told you to stay put.”
“Wait.” She glanced over her shoulder, heaving an exasperated sigh as she realized the demon had already disappeared with Levet.
For the female’s sake, Cassie hoped she took good care of Levet.
Otherwise, she intended to . . . well, she didn’t know what she would do, but it would be bad.
Really, really bad.
“Cassie?”