Hellhound Born (Kasadya #3) by Karen Swart

him. A knock at the door stopped us. We broke apart and I stood there gasping for air.
    Oh no! It’s happening to us now!
    My fingers found my lips, grazing over the spots where they still tingled from his caresses. Chax recomposed himself and opened the door to find Michael standing there.
    “We are all accounted for. Shall we begin?” Michael asked, surveying us.
     Chax looked at me and questioned, “Are you ready?”
    My brain was still stuck on that kiss, so I stood there with my jaw hanging open.
    “We shall begin,” Chax replied when he noticed that I wasn’t going to react to his question.
    He closed the door again and moved back to me.
    “Listen to me in battle. Trust me,” he pleaded.
    I nodded, not trusting my voice. He turned around and opened the door, indicating that I should lead the way. Still in a state of stupor, I walked out to the front of the house where everyone was waiting. I stopped and let him take the lead. Still frazzled from our kiss, I knew I wouldn’t be of much use for a few more minutes.
     
    “I will shift us to the agreed location. We must bide Kasadya time to take the prince’s head. Your duty is to give her that time!” Chax bellowed to the others.
    He shifted us all to an open field with no houses in sight, a few trees were on the south side the rest were long yellow grass. I turned in circles, taking in the full view of the field, as the blood began to leave my body.
    Oh crap! It’s the same field as in my dream .
    “Kasadya,” Chax said next to me, his hand on my shoulder.
    “It’s the same field as the one in my dreams. This is where everyone dies,” I whispered.
    He moved to stand in front of me, cutting off my view.
    “If we succeed, your dream will never come true. I need you to concentrate on the present. When she shifts him in, kill him Kasadya.” His face pleaded for me to understand.
    I hoped to hell I was able to do this. With a nod I followed him to the others. Max, Ben and Abby were standing in an almost complete square, waiting for us. The rest spread out around them.
     
    Looking around, I could see some of the Archangels between them. I was watched by everyone. Some nodded in support, while others merely stared. Chax stopped when he reached Max and the others, motioning with his head for me to go to the center.
    “I have already spoken to the princess so be prepared, they will not be announcing their arrival,” Chax warned me.
    I nodded and pulled out my swords. Looking around, Max and Ben smiled at me.
    “You take him down Kas,” Max instructed.
    I swallowed the lump in my throat and prepared myself for the impending battle.
     
    The air shifted and I knew they were about to appear. I stepped back and transformed, ready to take him down. Luxuria shifted in, followed by another. She had barely landed before she shifted out again, leaving the male by himself. He looked around, but Chax and the others had already dropped the silver balls. The prince’s face turned to me and I could see his shock.
    You’re trapped buddy.
    Suddenly chaos broke out around us. Demons were shifting in and the Fallen were giving me the time I needed. I moved swiftly towards him, but he blocked my swipe with his own sword.
     
    Turning around, I refocused my attention, my own glare meeting his.
    “Luxuria will pay for her betrayal!” He bellowed before launching his attack.
    I ducked and brought up my sword, slicing his thigh. With a roar, he came at me again, his swords missing me by an inch as I was already back on my feet.
     “It’s just me and you,” I said to the demon prince.
    He attacked again, but before I could reach him, he disappeared. Pain sliced through me and when I looked down, I saw my blood dripping down my side. I whirled around, looking for him.
    Where the hell is he?
     
    “Chax, where is he?!” My heart was pounding in my throat. More pain raced through my leg. When I looked down, I found a deep cut oozing blood.
    “Chax!” I yelled again. I