Read The Demon Within for Free Online Page A

singed the exposed skin of her throat, cooling only when the beast disappeared. A fine stain of black soot sifted over her.
    Caly’s legs wobbled pathetically as she gasped for air. She caught her balance, straightening in time to see Henry destroy another demon. But instead of assisting Oscar, the bastard turned his back and looked at her.
    He shook his head. “One of us has to survive.”
    He actually did look sorry when he turned tail and ran like a rat from a sinking ship. She clenched her fists, a growl rumbling at the back of her throat. When she got ahold of him, she’d rip out his yellow spine.

 
     
     
     
    Chapter Five

     
    “O scar!” Caly’s shout emerged as a whisper, her throat too damaged to speak louder. Anticipation hummed along her nerves, a relish to destroy so deliciously dark she could barely curb it.
    All her anger, all her rage funneled into one thought. Kill the demons quickly and bury the secret deep. With a short run, she launched herself at the creatures before they could overwhelm him. Arm out, blade at the ready, she landed dead center of the demon’s chest. The impact buckled her knees. Shards of pain shot up her back.
    With a sharp jab, the last remaining demons dissolved. They were alone for now, but not for long. If they were going to move, they had to do it now. Blinded by the bright light that signaled their death, Caly ran her hands along the floor. “Oscar?”
    She found him cradling his arm, lying on the frigid stone. “We have to leave.” Crouching, she lifted his uninjured arm over her shoulder and struggled to rise. The strain tore at her body, and her overworked muscles trembled in protest. He had to get up. She couldn’t get him out by herself.
    Two more creatures slunk into the room. One headed toward them, the other toward the bombs. She refused to go through all of this for nothing. Untangling herself, Caly sprang for the knife a few feet away, landing hard on her side. She haphazardly tossed it with more muscle than grace.
    By luck alone, the blade hit the base of the skull and sank deep. The bright flash was blocked by the second demon as it ran toward her. Lashing out with her boot, she smashed her foot against the creature’s knee with bone crushing force, dropping him to the ground.
    She scrambled back to Oscar’s side as the half-destroyed beast snarled and dragged itself forward by his claws. Out of weapons, she picked up Oscar’s spear, prepared to finish him off. Oscar placed a shaky hand on her arm, preventing the killing blow.
    “Too late. Leave. Find my will. You’re named as my heir.” She whipped around to face him, shock striking her near speechless.
    “But Henry is second in command. He—”
    “—Is an idiot. Show them the new will.”
    She stubbornly shook her head and bent to heft his arm over her shoulder again. “We can make it. They’re only two demons.”
    He shoved her roughly. “Five. Six. And more are coming.” Oscar gazed over her shoulder, a grimace contorting his face. “I won’t make it out by myself and neither of us will survive if you try to help me. You have to make sure this place is destroyed. I won’t have you sacrifice yourself for an old man.”
    Caly shook her head in denial. Oscar never cared whether she lived or died. But she knew his rules inside and out, having had them beaten into her thick skull. He could damn well follow them, too. “Never desert a soldier in battle. Your rule.”
    The back of her spine tingled. The skin on her shoulders tightened. Something was waiting for her. A purr of pleasure rumbled inside, wanting release, wanting to play. Her stomach hovered in her throat as Caly turned and faced the door.
    The statue she had so recently fantasized about stood in the opening.
    Moving.
    As in alive.
    And so gorgeous she lost her breath.
    Only the statue had nothing on this man. Even across the room, she couldn’t tear her gaze from him.
    He gripped an ivory handled knife in his right hand, the