Knox sighed. “Bad decision.”
A black flame flicked out and hooked around Foreman’s throat. He screamed and kicked his legs as it lifted him high, and then it dragged him down. His howls of pain cut off as the flames swallowed him whole.
“The gaps in the walls are getting bigger,” said Levi.
Big enough to fit an arm through, but not a body. And if the flames didn’t destroy the snare before the bomb detonated, they were totally fucked.
Urgency riding him hard, Tanner again tried reaching out with his mind to touch Devon’s, needing to know if she was alive. But, again, the fluid prison blocked his attempt.
Even as they all knew it was likely pointless, the three of them battered at the walls with everything they had—orbs of hellfire, raw strength, waves of sheer power. Nothing worked, but they didn’t stop. Still, it was likely thanks to the flames alone that a break finally formed in one of the walls that was almost wide enough for them to squeeze through.
“I know you’re eager to get to Devon,” Knox said to Tanner. “I’ll pyroport you right to her the moment we take care of the bomb—that can’t wait. Foreman seemed to be guarding that portion of the wall over there,” he added, pointing to their right. “Which was exactly where Muriel’s scent seemed to be leading you. The second we get out, you get your ass to the bomb. I’ll direct the flames at it, and then I’ll get us the fuck out of here. Agreed?”
Tanner nodded, even though the only thing that mattered to him was getting to Devon. He’d heard the ticking; knew the bomb was close.
“We can fit through the gap now, but it won’t be easy,” said Levi.
His prediction proved right. Knox ordered the flames to move away from that part of the wall—they’d cause him no harm, but they’d eat Tanner and Levi alive. The prison walls were so cold they burned Tanner’s flesh as he awkwardly struggled through the large crack. Although they were fluid, they scraped and scoured him, just as a huge block of ice would.
When he was finally free, he hurried his ass to find the bomb, but didn’t bother to check how much time they had once he found it. Didn’t need to, because Knox called on the flames, and they rippled along the ground toward the bomb, consuming it.
“Now we leave,” Tanner growled.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Prowling towards Leticia, the feline peeled back its upper lip, baring its venom-tipped fangs. It snapped its teeth, and she flinched.
“Oh no, there’s no way you’re getting near me with those teeth.” Leticia pushed off the wall. “You’re one scary-looking bitch, I’ll give you that. You’ll also be a dead scary-looking bitch when I’m done with you.” She flicked her hand, and power slashed out like a knife. The feline moved fast, avoiding the blow. Porcelain shattered as the scalpel-sharp energy sliced right through the empty mug.
The feline sneered at her poor effort but didn’t retaliate. It wanted to play with its prey a little before it killed this bitch who had sent Devon back to a time in her life that had almost destroyed her. Oh, the female would pay for that.
Control and power were important things to her—the demon could sense it. So it would show her just how much weaker she was than the feline; would take away the control she needed; would make her feel a terror so thick she could choke on it, just as Devon once had.
Backing away, Leticia made an exasperated sound in the back of her throat. She flicked out her hand again. The feline ducked, and the curtain rod behind it clanged to the wooden floor as the power severed it.
Leticia’s fingers retracted like claws. “For fuck’s sake!”
She struck out again and again. Wicked fast, the feline ducked and dodged, evading each one. Glass splintered as pictures fell to the floor. The coffee table toppled after one leg was shaved off. The sofa dipped after it was almost sliced in two. Each time the harbinger missed, the feline would sneer or let out a chuff of disgust.
Still, Leticia redoubled her efforts. Items fell, crashed, shattered, and snapped. But the feline remained untouched.
It sniffed at her and twitched its tail, communicating how very unimpressed it was. The harbinger’s heart was pounding hard and fast now with a fear that the feline delighted in. The scent of said fear was wafting from her like the sweetest perfume, making satisfaction unfurl in the demon’s belly.
Licking her lips, she looked to Eric for the briefest moment, as if to ask him for help, but he was still engaged in a struggle with Finn. “Will you just fucking die!” Leticia flicked her hand hard, and a wave of sharp power slightly scoured the feline’s flank, shaving off fur but not cutting into flesh.
The demon bared its fangs and scratched at the floor with its paw. It sent Leticia a telepathic image of herself lying dead in a puddle of her own blood. Then it pounced.
Leticia backpedaled fast and skirted the sofa, placing it between them as if it would protect her. The feline chuffed in disdain at her cowardice.
A loud cry of sheer agony burst out of Finn. The hellcat looked to see the male clutching at a heavily bleeding chest wound. Devon pushed to the surface, worried for him; urging the demon to help—
A blazing pain sliced the feline’s ear, almost ripping it off. Redhot fury surged through its veins. It leaped on top of the sofa and roared, letting out a thin stream of fire that rippled along the rug and licked up Leticia’s pants, chewing the material.
She squealed in shock. A wave of Leticia’s hand put out the flames, but the feline could smell charred flesh, knew it had scored a hit.
Cheeks flushed with anger, eyes bright with fear, Leticia tossed a series of hellfire orbs in quick succession—one, two, three. The first two missed. The third slammed into the feline’s shoulder; it was like being bit by a boiling hot rock, and it made the demon awkwardly slide off the sofa. It landed on its feet, hissing at the burn on its shoulder.
Ignoring the pain, the demon leaped over the sofa and roared again, directing more flames at its prey. But Leticia had already scrambled backwards and put distance between them. Still, the fire licked at her bare arm.
She screamed as the searing heat scorched her, making blisters pebble her flesh. “You fucking—”
The feline dived at Leticia, knocking her flat on her back. She held the feline’s head in place with both hands, screaming as it clawed at her belly; ripping, burning, and charring her skin with its flaming paws. The smell of her blood and terror only spurred it on.
It shook its head hard, trying to break free of her grip so it could sink its teeth into her throat, but she held it firm. The feline kept on shredding her stomach with its claws, slicing it open and tearing at her insides until its paws were slick with her blood.
Her screams faded, her eyes clouded, her grip weakened … and the demon sank its hard-as-steel, razor-sharp teeth into her throat and yanked, ripping it out.
“Fuck, no!”
Something heavy careened into the demon’s flank, sending it skidding along the floor. Seeing Eric bent over Leticia, the demon righted itself and bared its blood-stained fangs at him.
Eric’s fists clenched as he turned to the feline, his eyes blazing. “You fucking killed her.”
The feline’s head whipped to the side as a psychic blow slammed into its head, almost dazing it. With a chuff, the demon gave its head a little shake, clearing its cloudy vision … and saw that every bit of glass from the floor was hovering in the air. A muscle in Eric’s cheek jumped, and then the pieces of glass rocketed toward the feline and sank into its skin.