Haunted by the King of Death Read Online Free PDF Page A

attack.
    The large demon hit the earth with a thud and a growl, and Grave sprang to his feet, scooped up his fallen blade and brought it down in a fast arc, little more than a blur of silver cutting through the low evening light of the Seventh Realm.
    It sliced through the demon’s neck just as easily.
    Blood sprayed in a burst of crimson and then dwindled to a steady trickle that pumped in time with the male’s heart as it slowed to a halt.
    Grave breathed hard, the scent of blood overwhelming as it drenched the churned earth and the bodies strewn across it. Several of his men had fallen, their corpses resting in tangled heaps beside those of their allies, the demons of the Seventh Realm, and their enemies, the demons of the Sixth.
    He licked his bloodied fangs, savouring the rich tang of his victims. The darkness within him pushed harder and he embraced it, savoured it as he savoured the blood. Nurtured it.
    Asher, his second in command, a male with ice blond hair stained crimson in places, halted beside him for a heartbeat, long enough to check on him and give a brief nod before he kicked off, a blur in the falling darkness.
    The male knew better than to coddle him in battle, or question him, although it had been clear he had wanted to do both.
    With a low snarl, Grave stalked forwards, prowling through the fallen demons and vampires, his scarlet eyes locked ahead of him on the battle where it had moved back towards the border.
    They were winning, driving out the demons of the Sixth Realm who had dared to invade the Seventh.
    The battle still raged, hundreds of demons of the Sixth Realm, marked by their golden-brown horns, chestnut hair and golden eyes, clashed against his men and the demons of the Seventh. The sound of war filled his ears, and his heart, the constant din of battle axes and swords striking and agonised bellows as warriors fell mingled with shouts of victory.
    Gods, he loved war.
    Courted it almost as fervently as he courted his bloodlust.
    Foolish were the vampires who feared it.
    He licked his fangs and bit back a moan as he thought about sinking them into demon flesh together with his claws, tearing apart his foes to sate the dark hunger riding him.
    A dark hunger that gave him strength, power to defeat any foe he met in battle. Bloodlust that had given him the reputation he had fought for and deserved. A reputation that meant more to him than anything else.
    Two large demons of the Sixth Realm cut down one from the Seventh and turned his way, slow smiles curving their lips as they saw he was alone. Fools. They thought they could end him?
    He laughed as he flexed his fingers around the black and red hilt of his katana, the sound so out of place in the midst of battle that it gave the demons pause.
    Grave used it to his advantage.
    With all the preternatural speed of his kind, he closed the gap between them and had his blade buried hilt-deep in the gut of the demon on the right before the male had even seen him. The male let out a garbled cry and the other one turned on him, raising his double-axe to cut Grave down.
    He left his blade in the stomach of the first demon and spun to face the second. The axe came down fast and he grunted as he raised his right arm above his head and the thick black handle struck his forearm. Pain splintered in a ring where it had hit, warning of a fracture. Grave paid his body no heed and snarled as he shoved upwards, knocking the axe and the male’s arm up with it.
    The demon staggered backwards and Grave sprung forwards, sank the claws of his right hand deep into the demon’s fleshy left shoulder and bit down hard on the right side of his throat. The male roared and grabbed him, and Grave’s fangs tore through his neck as he was ripped away.
    He flew through the air and landed hard on a corpse with a grunt.
    Bastard.
    He licked his fangs and pushed onto his feet, coming to face his foe again.
    One of his men was there already, battling the demon male, and Grave growled