Page 51 of Fallen Demon

He prepared to send another bolt at her, but she was faster. She threw her light magic at us. Levi’s grip loosened around me and I jumped away from him—and landed right beside the discarded key.

I wasn’t sure if this would work, or if they would find it, but I grabbed the key and flung it over with a small prayer that somehow Rage had survived the fall, and that they would find the key.

With a growl, Levi surged over me, wrapped one arm around my waist and flew straight up, fast and hard, taking my breath away.

With me secured, he sent another bolt her way, and she took to the air to avoid it.

Then Levi zipped away from her.

I frowned, watching as he kept throwing bolts Ylena’s way, until all the dodging made her lose steam, and she was left behind.

Why was he doing that?

Then it hit me. Levi knew certain parts of the underworld, probably the castle and the main entrance and he didn’t want Ylena to follow him.

When Levi emerged past a tall mountain that looked like a strategic wall and into the river of lava, I knew I was right.

And somehow, King Tanner had been prepared for this as at least two dozen demon hunters stood at the bridge.

Levi flew up, toward the infinite-looking ceiling, avoiding any of the hunters and their strikes.

He arced around the castle and went to the gates, which were also heavily guarded.

Levi sped up, and when we were close enough to be hit by the demon hunters, he draped his wings around us like a shield and barreled into the last line of defense, taking a couple of hunters with us as we crossed the portal into the human realm.

On the other side, the demon hunters tried striking him, but Levi didn’t stop. He didn’t even slow down as he opened his wings, flew higher, and disappeared into the sky, taking me with him.

I instantly recognized the gate we had come through, near Winnipeg. Once we left the gate’s grounds, the glamour went up and we flew past the fake farmhouse.

The sky was stained orange and blue and purple as the sun set to our right, which told me we were going south. The ground was covered in fresh snow and it was freezing. I had a thin leather jacket, but it wasn’t enough for this cold.

Though he seemed more demon than human right now, Levi was smart. He flew fast and far from the underworld entrance. We were following the twisting flow of the Red River, which went on for hundreds of miles. At some point, I was sure we had crossed into the United States.

He held me tight the entire time, and only glanced at me once or twice. I knew he wouldn’t let me fall, but I still grasped his arms as tight as I could. However, after hours flying, I didn’t have any strength to hold on anymore and slumped against him.

I looked up at his menacing, yet handsome face. He looked more monster than anything else like this, but I could see the traces of his human form underneath it all.

I placed a hand on his chest, feeling the fast beat of his heart. I had to believe he was still the same underneath the monster, and somehow, I would get to him.

When the sun was gone, Levi veered inland, taking us from the river route, and deep into the woods. He stopped in some hills and found a cave—just a wide overhang under the trees where we could hide for the night.

He dropped me inside the cave and stepped back. Knowing I couldn’t run from him—and honestly, not sure I wanted to—I sat on the cold, hard ground and hugged my legs.

There was no snow here but it was still too cold.

Levi frowned and snarled at me. “Don’t run.”

I didn’t dignify his command with an answer.

He disappeared for a good ten minutes.

I did consider running, but what then? If I wanted to reach past his demon self, I had to stay with him.

So, I patiently and coldly waited for him.

Levi came back with an armful of firewood. He deposited it at the mouth of the cave and sent a spark of darkfire to them. The wood caught on fire instantly.

I scooted closer to the fire, my palms out. “Aren’t you going to sit?”