Page 77 of Craving Demons

Then Mammon lifted his other hand, holding that strange remote thing from earlier, and clicked a button. I heard a loud clanking coming from the next room.

“No,you’veasked for it, my dear. I’ve released the chimaera, but I can still control it. Submit to me and I’ll let those men out there live. You care for them, yes?”

Shit. He’d called my bluff and I was screwed.

Something crashed and someone screamed, making my heart race.

No. Please no.

Except there was no way in hell I’d submit to Mammon, either.

I had to think of something quick.

FEN

There wasa loud creaking and clanking noise as the cage door slid aside, and the slavering and savage chimaera leaped out at us.

I didn’t even have time to curse before the beast split in three: a giant venomous snake, an oversized, fire-breathing goat, and a massive, savage lion, one coming for each of us.

Not to mention Nemain, who dove at Ramsey.

I’d suspected things might go this way but hadn’t really thought Mammon was crazy enough to unleash a chimaera at us.

Off all of the Great Beasts, chimaeras were the most dangerous, since there was no known way to kill one. They were thought to be invincible. But then I’d never fought one, so perhaps the tales were wrong?

I hoped so.

The goat charged at me, breathing a gout of flame, and I threw myself to the side, feeling the heat far too close to my back, burning away my shirt. I came up with long claws on my hands and a howl. I could control my wolf enough to let just a bit of him out to fight, but it was a tenuous thing. If I lost consciousness while like this, that might just release my beast on the world.

But I wouldn’t let that happen. I’d never put Ana in danger like that.

I leaped with the strength of a world-ending beast and tackled the goat, tearing at it with my claws, taking chunks of its tough hide with me.

The goat let out a horrid sound and twisted its head around to breathe more fire at me despite its body being in the crosshairs. I assumed it was immune to its own fire, so I tried to leap over it as the flames erupted, but I wasn’t quite fast enough.

Flames incinerated my pants and burned my calves. My thicker shoes had protected my feet, but the leather disintegrated when I hit the floor.

Howling, my wolf took just a bit too much control and I laid into the beast with claws and my mouth, which was now a snout full of fangs. I tasted the bitter, rancid flesh, laced with the snake’s venom, and immediately spit it out.

The beast turned its head to burn me again and this time I headed straight for that massive horned head. I swatted its face with my claws as it breathed, knocking its head — and the flames — to one side.

The fire incinerated the drywall and studs of the wall nearby, revealing the reinforced steel of the vault, and I prayed Ana was safe, even as I vowed to tear out Mammon’s throat for this betrayal.

Except I had other things to worry about now. Mammon would have to wait.

I wrestled with the beast’s head, keeping it from turning toward me, but I forgot that goats had hooves, and one of its front legs lashed out and caught me in the leg.

Pain screamed through me as my bones snapped and shattered.

Roaring, my wolf dug its claws deeper into the goat as I stumbled back, digging deep trenches into the beast’s hide. But I had to let go or it would kick me again. So, I threw myself to one side and fell next to a long table. I immediately grabbed the table and threw it at the goat as it breathed fire. The table took the brunt of the flames but was incinerated too quickly, and fire licked over me, searing flesh.

I screamed — no howled — again with my wolf struggling to break free.

Damn it. I could easily swallow this massive goat in my wolf form, I could swallow this whole building… and I would, without thought or care for anyone, even Ana, if my beast was released.

I had to keep it contained. But the pain from my broken leg and my burns were nearly too much as I strained to remain in control and still win this fight.

I rolled away from another blast of fire, feeling burns blister my one arm and leg, then roared, blocking out the pain as best I could as I came to my good leg and launched myself at the goat once again.