“Maybe.”
Hades tapped his chin with his forefinger. “Let me think. How about I make you the supreme leader of my troops? You’ll have untold wealth and power. I might even be persuaded to release the Lady from Hell. After you’ve defeated my brothers’ armies, of course.”
“Naturally,” Marko agreed. “What about Kellsie?”
“What about her?”
“I want her to go free, unharmed, now and forever.” Marko took note that Mordecai was watching Hades and not him. It would soon be time to make his move.
“I’m not so sure that would work. You would need to show your alliance to me.” Hades flicked his hand out and pointed at Kellsie. “Some small token of your esteem.”
Marko’s blood ran cold. Hades wanted him to kill Kellsie. That would taint Marko’s soul and the blood offering would bind him to the god forever. Keeping every emotion locked down, he reached behind him, grabbed Kellsie by the arm and dragged her close to him.
Hades smiled and crossed his arms over his chest. Marko could read the certainty in the god’s eyes. He thought he’d won.
Kellsie sucked in a breath but didn’t fight him. He peered down at her. She had one hand wrapped around the bear claw at her throat. The other rested against his chest. He expected to see anger, fear, betrayal and accusation in her eyes. But he saw none of those emotions. What he did see almost killed him—trust. In spite of all evidence to the contrary, Kellsie trusted him not to hurt her, not to use her as a pawn in this war. He’d told her he’d protect her and she believed him.
Energy surged into him, strengthening his powers and doubling his resolve. In the distance, he could hear voices chanting. Their message was lost to the vast distance, but he could feel their intent. He didn’t know who the voices belonged to, but they were fueling him with their offering, giving him great strength. With some luck, he just might get them out of here.
“I’m waiting.” One corner of Hades mouth turned up in a grin. Mordecai’s hand went to the hilt of a dagger that sat on his right hip.
Marko leaned down and inhaled Kellsie’s unique scent. He’d be able to find her no matter where she went in the world. He’d know her by smell alone, even if they were lost in the darkest reaches of Hell. Fresh and clean, like a field of lavender.
He couldn’t even warn her of his intent. Hades would hear him if he spoke at all, even in a whisper. He raised his head and allowed the change to partially take him. His jaw snapped and elongated, displaying two impressive rows of teeth. The arm he wasn’t using to hold her morphed into a bear foreleg, complete with gigantic paw tipped with lethal claws, while the other one remained human.
He pulled Kellsie closer and she shivered in his grasp. He could hear her teeth chattering and smell her growing fear. How he wanted to reassure her. He tilted back his head and roared out his pain. He’d failed to release Leander and Arand. He’d put Kellsie in danger and the Lady was still trapped. He’d failed most of his mission, but he would not fail in this. He would keep Kellsie safe if it meant he had to take on Hades and all his demons.
His only hope was that Hades would not want to expend the energy to fight him. A surge of that magnitude would certainly attract the attention of Zeus and Poseidon, exactly what Hades didn’t want to do until he was ready to start this war of his. As it was, the other gods knew he was in this realm. Hades wouldn’t want them to suspect it was for more than just a passing visit.
Mordecai took a step toward them and he knew his time had run out. He snatched Kellsie off her feet, tucked her under his still human arm and raced toward the side of the tent, claws extended. He was plowing through the canvas even before he’d finished ripping it open.
“Hold on!” he yelled and felt Kellsie clutch at his neck and shoulders.
He barreled through the side of the tent with Hades’ roar of anger following them. The wind began to whip around them, making it difficult to run, but he didn’t stop. Kellsie’s tote bag beat against his side as he raced toward the woods.
“Let me down. I can run.” Her voice reached him over the din of the rising wind. “You need to be able to fight.”
Cries and screams echoed from the carnival. He glanced over his shoulder and swore. Demons were pouring out from every trailer and they were all headed toward them. He released Kellsie but grabbed her arm and dragged her behind him. “Run!”
If they could make it to the forest they’d have a fighting chance.
An eight-foot demon stepped out from behind a concession stand and roared, displaying three rows of sharp, dagger-like teeth. Marko allowed the bear its full freedom. The change was instantaneous. On his hind legs he stood almost twelve feet tall. Claws extended, he swiped at the demon and sliced its throat wide open. Blood sprayed everywhere, covering the ground and splattering his fur.
Marko roared and turned toward Kellsie. She was frozen in place, her face speckled with blood, her skin as pale as snow.
Chapter Fifteen
Kellsie had seen many blood-soaked movie scenes in her time, but this was beyond anything she’d ever experienced. For one thing, it was real. The blood that sprinkled her face wasn’t the synthetic stuff created by the guys in special effects. It was warm and sticky and—shit, it was burning her skin. She yanked off her jacket and swiped at the blood with the sleeve. She finished cleaning her face and tossed the soiled garment aside.
Every inch of her body was hyperaware. The fight-or-flight instinct was strongly in favor of running. And thankfully, Marko seemed to be on the same page.
She’d had a few bad moments back in the tent where she’d truly thought he’d gone over to the dark side. But something inside her didn’t quite buy what he was selling. So far, he’d been nothing but honorable and determined. No way was he going to give up that easily.
Still, when he’d grabbed her and partially morphed into a giant bear she’d had some doubts. Those teeth and claws were razor sharp. But she’d resigned herself to her fate, hoping, praying for the best. There was no way she could fight off Marko in his human form, let alone his bear form.
For once in her life, her faith had been rewarded. She’d seen it in his eyes when he’d pulled her close and she’d known he was going to make a break for freedom. And when he’d moved, boy, had he moved. Her head was still spinning from how fast he’d hustled them both out of the carnival tent.
“Kellsie.” He grabbed her shoulders and shook her slightly. He’d shifted back into his human form while she’d been staring at the dead demon. “We have to go. Can you run?”
She nodded. “Yes.” Footsteps pounded behind them. No way did she want to even turn to see what was following them. The dead demon bleeding all over the ground was more than enough for her to deal with right now. He’d been a massive sonofabitch with leathery brown skin and protruding reddish eyes. Not to mention those teeth.
They started running, dodging around trailers and rides, trying to put as much distance between the demons and them as possible. She knew they had to get into the woods. Marko was the king of the forest. That was his terrain.
The wind tore at her hair and tugged at her clothing, trying to slow her down. Her lungs were already burning, but she knew there was no way she could stop. She’d run until she dropped. There was no other choice. She hoped all her cardio training at the gym was about to pay off.
A whoosh of something above them made her look up. A huge demon with wings passed them, swooping down on them. It gave a bloodcurdling cry and attacked, claws extended.
Marko’s huge sword suddenly appeared out of nowhere. He grasped it in his hand and slashed at the flying demon, cutting its two arms off in one powerful strike. Kellsie dodged most of the shower of blood that rained down to the ground and heard the loud crash as the demon fell from the sky. Its cry of pain raised all the short hairs on her body.