As much as I wanted to run now, it was too late. We couldn’t let these demons loose, and we definitely couldn’t leave a portal to Hell open.
“Hurry!” I yelled into the parking lot as the last of the school employees scurried into cars.
There were so many demons now that I couldn’t see Astaroth anymore. They were all contained in the circle. Climbing on top of each other like a ball of baby spiders itching to break free of their sack.
I shouldn’t have worried about not being able to see Astaroth because a second later, the demons parted and he came through.
“Teresa.” His voice saying my name sent terror skittering through my body.
“Leave me alone.” I wasn’t his. No matter what evil magic Luciana used on me.
“You are mine.”
He was wrong. “Never.” My voice sounded confident and calm when everything in me was screaming to get the hell out of here.
I needed that jar back. It had to be the key. If he used it to get here, then if I destroyed it, he would have to go back.
It was a theory, and the best I could do. I was going to focus on that and shut out all the other noise. Especially anything Astaroth said.
I think that’s a good plan, Dastien said.
There was no time to consult with Claudia. The circle grew brighter, flashing so bright that I couldn’t look at it. And then it was gone.
It took me a second to be able to see, but I could hear the crunching on the grass, feel the ground rumbling under their feet, smell the sulfur getting stronger.
I didn’t have a backpack with supplies loaded in it. I didn’t have any words that would help me fight the demons. So, I used the one weapon I did have.
I yanked off my Uggs, threw my hoodie—dagger still in the pocket—on the ground, and then pulled my shirt over my head as the wolf rose up in me, growling. Between one second and the next, I shifted from human to wolf.
My senses were stronger as a wolf. I could hear more. Scent more. See more.
The wolf was also more confident. She wanted to take on Astaroth. If this was going to be a fight, then I was going to face it. I let the wolf take hold fully and rushed forward.
My teeth slashed into a demon, grabbed its leg, and jerked. Black blood burned my mouth, but I kept moving. I let my claws and teeth do the damage. Dastien had been training me in both forms during our honeymoon, and I was getting better. Much, much better.
I leapt from demon to demon. Ripping off a head at the neck. Clawing through their bodies.
Closer. Foot by foot. I was making my way toward the circle. Toward Astaroth.
I leapt through the air to get to another one, but a demon bit my side. I howled as pain ripped through me.
I hit the ground and power poured into me. I rushed to push the power back to him. No. Stop. Dastien hadn’t been hurt yet, but now his attention was divided. He was worrying about me.
Focus on the fight in front of you.
He ignored my pleas, sending more power. Take it! Get the jar.
Fine. I hated it. But fine. I took the power and the searing pain dulled just enough not to be debilitating. I’d take care of it later. I had to keep moving.
I tore through another demon. And another. And another.
I’d lost sight of Astaroth, but I knew he was here somewhere. But I was getting closer to the circle. I could see the red glow. I ignored the burning in my side as I kept moving faster, faster, faster.
Howls of pain filled the night, and I knew I didn’t have much time left.
One more foot and I could—
A hand wrapped around my throat and I was lifted from the ground. Astaroth had grown taller. His face darkened and shadowed under the hood of the jacket. His eyes were two glowing red orbs.