Demonstorm: Heart of a Vampire #6 Read Online Free PDF Page A

finding comfort by merely touching the thing. After sliding it into her bag, she tied the bag to her belt. “Let’s get out of here.”
    Sean mumbled, “Hopefully it’s not too late,” as he followed her back inside the hidden passageway. They headed through the maze once more, soon reaching the door to the outer courtyard. That they’d managed to avoid detection so far was now leaning more toward luck than skill.
    He didn’t trust luck.
    You couldn’t control when it would run out.
    Sean eased through the courtyard, avoiding the sleeping demons sprawled over the ground. Mayah walked silent behind him. Half way across, someone nearby rolled onto their back and began snoring wetly.
    Sean eased past, staying between the creature and Mayah, hoping the sound didn’t wake any of the others. As they continued on, the demon’s snores quieted.
    He felt tense, strung tight from the worry that they would be caught. They should have been long gone by now, but no, the woman had needed her little gold box. The crystals inside better be as important as she’d claimed.
    Metal clattered on the opposite side of the courtyard. He froze. Mayah did the same. Sean studied the deep shadows, searching for the cause of the noise.
    A good twenty yards still separated them from the wooden door, with mounds of sleeping demons in the way. If they woke now…
    Long moments passed with no other alarming sounds. He waved at Mayah to keep going. They finally reached the door and he urged her through.
    Sean stepped forward to follow her out when a hoarse shout of alarm rang out. “Who are you?” a demon roared.
    Sean spun, staring at the creature rising to its feet. The beasts in the yard stirred.
    The creature’s eyes widened. “The prophetess is escaping. Wake up, you louts!”
    “How in the hells are we supposed to cross the moat?” Mayah asked, her voice tinged with anxiety. “It’s hot enough to burn even demons, from the hell fire Brüs uses.”
    Sean grabbed her around the waist, holding her tight to his side as he took a few steps back. Claws grasped for a hold, trying to drag him into the mass of demons. Jerking away, he rushed forward and leapt across.
    After finding their footing on the other side, he let her go and pushed her toward the tree line. “Run!”
    * * *
    Mayah didn’t have to be told twice. Racing as fast as she could from the horrible place, she prayed to her mother’s spirit to help her escape. As they reached the tree line of the immense forest, a roar echoed from the castle behind them.
    “Mayah!” The very ground shook beneath her feet from the bellow.
    Brüs. He must know she was running.
    If he caught her, both she and her brother would be doomed. There wouldn’t be any more chances.
    The wind whipped around her, tugging at her clothes and long braids. Leaves spun in the air, hiding obstacles on the ground. A chill filled the forest from a thin, creeping mist.
    Brüs’s magic.
    Sean took the lead and she followed—for now—hoping he knew his way.
    She felt the call of freedom as she headed farther from the damned castle, farther than she’d ever gotten before.
    The feeling died quickly as the sounds of armored men galloping after them thundered into the night.
    Her heart was a loud thumping beat. Her temples throbbed as her head spun. Thoughts of everything that could happen, that could go wrong, circled endlessly as she ran through the trees.
    Her vision wavered, head pounding more painfully. A vision danced on the edge of her mind. She bit her tongue until she tasted the spicy tang of blood. Concentrated on the pain.
    Now wasn’t the time to lose herself.
    She stumbled over something and sprawled on the ground. Rocks and sticks sliced into her palms.
    Then the man was there, lifting her into his arms. He ran on. She felt his heartbeat thundering, his chest heaving with each breath he took, but he didn’t seem fazed. He moved with an unwavering strength, even while carrying her.
    She wanted to push