Bryony’s eyes found his, but her gaze was unfocused, and she sagged in his arms like dead weight. He didn’t know what was wrong with her, only that he needed to protect her, get her to safety. Nurse her back to health again if he could. “Ludo?” she said, speaking his name in much the same questioning way as he had spoken hers not a moment earlier.

“I’m here, Bryony,” Ludo said. “I’m going to get you out of here.”

Perfidy

Perfidy shrank back in the shadows, breathing heavily. The immediate threat to Cainan seemed to have passed with the appearance of the man now holding Bryony, while the dark-winged demon seemed intent on burning them all alive.

She hurried toward Corinthia, who was still pawing at her singed nose. I’m ’ere! Perfidy called through their bond.

You need to get out of here NOW! Corinthia growled back.

I won’ leave ye.

Stubborn girl.

As stubborn as a left-footed mule, Ma always used to say.

Any further conversation was cut off as the demon angled a series of smaller black fireballs toward the bloodpanther, forcing her to dart to one side, each missing by a hairsbreadth as she dodged and bounded away, flames erupting in her wake. The demon turned with her, continuing his fiery assault. Kept turning, in fact, until his back was to Perfidy.

No, Perfidy, it’s too risky! Corinthia shouted, reading her intentions, but Perfidy was already on the move, refusing to miss this opportunity to catch their enemy while he was momentarily distracted. She might not have learned how to fly, but she felt like she was flying all the same, pouring all of her strength into the sprint, the demon’s back her target.

Perfidy, watch out!

The bloodpanther’s warning came too late. Whether it was a sixth sense or his keen ears picking up on the sound of her pounding footfalls mattered not. Because the demon turned just before she arrived, slashing out at her with a clawed hand. She tried to skid to a stop to avoid the blow, but her momentum carried her into it, carving across her chest, pain immediately flaring as she fell back with a cry.

And then he was upon her, two sets of claws stabbing into her back, burrowing deep like hooks in a fish before picking her up. Powerful wings thumped at each side as she was lifted into the air.

Oh gods, he’s gunna carry me off an’ murder me an’ no one’ll see or hear from me ever agin, were Perfidy’s frantic thoughts as she watched the darkened ground begin to pull away from her reach.

Not on my watch, came Corinthia’s growl in her head. The impact came an instant later, the demon grunting as he was twisted around by the panther’s weight.

Perfidy couldn’t help it—she screamed. The pain tore through her as the demon’s claws twisted in her flesh. But then a portion of the pressure released, one of his claws withdrawn. Perfidy felt no relief, however, because a moment later she felt a worse pain, a yowl in her mind as those same claws were turned on Corinthia.