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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.
    â€œGods,” she couldn’t help but breathe. “How can we defeat a horde of these?”
    â€œOver 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
    â€œSmell 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.
    â€œYou were warned,” she said, bracing herself.
    â€œWait 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.
    â€œPlease, 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.”
    â€œI 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.
    â€œ 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.
    â€œStay,” 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.
    â€œSomething’s happened,” Geryon said, sounding confused.
    â€œ I happened,” she said, proud of herself. “Watch.” To the demon she said,