you versed in glamour?'
His voice was deep and rough and caressed every one of her weeping senses. Surely she did not disgust him. Surely she did not repel him. He had held himself back during their kiss, had stopped it, but when he looked at her, he made her feel as if she were the only woman in the world. The most beautiful, the most desired. A treasure, something to cherish.
He paused before entering. 'Kadence?' Cleared his throat. 'Goddess?'
'I will glamour myself and stay by your side,' she told him, though inside she beseeched, Tell me why you continually push me away.
He didn't. He nodded and stepped forward. She stayed close, as promised, mentally projecting the image of bones and scales. Anyone who glanced in her direction would think they saw one of their own. She could only hope her fear was masked as well.
Taunting laughter and pain-filled cries immediately assaulted her ears. Gulping, she sent her gaze around the room. So many demons…they came in every shape and size. Some were like the image she projected, bones and scales. Some were half man, half bull. Some were winged like dragons with snouts to match. Yet all of them crowded a stone slab. A moving slab?
No, not moving, she realized, horror claiming her in a bruising grip and nearly crushing her lungs. Human spirits were atop the slab. The demons were ripping them apart, eating their insides. Unfortunately, there was no peace for the damned. Only endless torture.
'Gods,' she couldn't help but breathe. 'How can we defeat a horde of these?'
'Over here.' Geryon edged them to the side and out of the way, and she knew it was so that they could observe the happenings without drawing notice. 'The creatures you see here are minions, soldiers and servants. They are not what we will be fighting.'
That's right, she thought, stomach sinking. Violence, Death and the like were Demon Lords. While minions enjoyed their prey's agony, their main focus was the fulfillment of a basic need: hunger. The Lords cared only for the agony. Prolonging it, increasing it to the depths of insanity. And the more agony they inflicted, the more screams they elicited, the stronger they became.
Oh, yes. They were far worse than anything here.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
'Smell good, like fear,' something suddenly growled beside Kadence. 'Mmm, hungry.'
Startled, she gasped. Geryon tried to pull her behind him, but she resisted. This time, she wouldn't sink into the background, forcing him to do all the work, take all the risks. This time, she fought. 'Move away or die,' she told the demon.
It frowned at her. 'Look like me. Why you smell so good?' It licked its lips, saliva dripping from the corners of its paper thin mouth. It was covered in yellow scales and only reached her navel. And while it appeared lean, she suspected unyielding strength rested underneath those scales.
A tremor moved through her. Remember who you are. Remember what you can do.
It stepped closer.
'You were warned,' she said, bracing herself.
'Wait outside, Kadence. Please.' Geryon tried to move in front of her.
She blocked him, not facing him. 'No. You will not fight them alone.'
As they spoke, the demon continued to inch toward them, its claws lengthening.
'Please, Kadence.' Geryon tugged at her. 'I need to know you're safe. Otherwise, I'll be distracted and a distracted warrior is a defeated warrior.'
'I cannot act the coward. Not anymore. Besides, if this works, you will not have to fight him at all.' She was hell's warden; it was past time she acted like it. Past time she ruled rather than merely observed.
'If isn't good enough. Not when it comes to your safety.'
Any moment the creature would cease its stalking and spring. She knew it, felt it. Kadence reached inside herself as she angled her chin to stare deep into its eyes, surprised to find her power easily accessible. She shouldn't have been surprised, though. She might try and suppress it, but it was always there, never silent, a churning sea inside her.
'Stay,' she said, and the creature locked in place, its mind still active but every part of its physical form hers to command.
For a long while, she simply drank in her handiwork, amazed. I did it. Not once did the fiend try and approach her again—even though murder gleamed in those beady eyes.
'Something's happened,' Geryon said, sounding confused.
'I happened,' she said, proud of herself. 'Watch.' To the demon she said, 'Raise your arms over your head.'
Instantly, it obeyed, shooting both arms into the air without a word of complaint. But then, she had possession of its mouth, as well. Clearly, it had not wanted to comply with her demand, for its gaze continued to translate its hatred of her.
Joy burst through her. For once, she had used her ability for good: to save someone she greatly lo—admired. Dear gods. Did she love Geryon? She loved being with him, loved the way he made her feel: cherished, protected. But did that mean she had given him her heart? Surely not.
'Look, Kadence.' Geryon pointed to the slab. 'Look what's happened.'
She followed the direction of his finger and gasped. Every demon had frozen in place, their hands in the air. Even the spirits had stopped writhing. There was no laughter, no cries. Only the sound of her own breathing could be heard.
'You did this?' Geryon asked.
'I—yes.'
'I am amazed. Awed.'
Her joy intensified. 'Thank you.'
'Can they hear me?' When she nodded, he slowly grinned and shouted to the creatures, 'Hear me well. Go forth and tell every Demon Lord the guardian is here and that I plan to destroy them.' To Kadence he added, 'Release them.'
Though she wanted to protest, Kadence did as he'd asked. In less than a blink, the creatures were racing from the building as fast as possible, leaving her and Geryon alone. 'Why?'
His grin widened. 'Now we wait. They will come to us.'
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Geryon fortified the building against attack as best as he was able, given the lack of supplies and tools. Kadence remained at his side, lending a spiritual touch whenever needed, forcing the planks and stones to bow to her will. He noticed she grew paler with every minute that passed.
'What's our battle plan?' she asked when they finished, settling against the far wall. The only place without blood or…other things on it.
Keeping you alive, by whatever means necessary. He joined her, careful not to touch her. One touch, and he would pull her back into his arms. He needed to be alert, on guard. 'You'll lock them in place and I'll slay them.'
'Quick and easy,' she said with a ring of hopefulness in her tone. 'How long do you think we have?'
'A few hours. It will take a while for news of my arrival and intentions to spread. Longer still for the Lords to gather their forces and plan an attack.' Geryon raked a claw across the floorboard to mar the curse etched there,
