Page 56 of Knight’s Dominion

He wanted them to wait.

“Hold,” she said to James.

He repeated her command using his power of telepathy to communicate to the rest of their team. James could transmit words with his power, and it was seriously strong. He’d once screamed stop telepathically to a demon trying to escape them and it had slammed on the brakes so fast they’d nearly run right over it.

There was a small shed at the back of the yard that had caught Grace’s eye, and she signaled to James that she was going to check it out. Crouching low, she ran for it.

The thing was covered in grime, and she brushed away the cobwebs clinging to the window, trying to look inside. Nothing. Up close, she realized the glass had been painted black. She checked the door. It was locked with a padlock. She quickly picked it, trusting James to have her back while she concentrated on the task.

The padlock was shiny, new, and clicked open smoothly. Gripping the edge of the door, she pulled. The well-oiled hinges moved freely, the heavy wood swinging open soundlessly.

The fetid air hit her instantly, and she jerked back, lifting her arm to her nose and mouth. The stench coated her tongue, hitting the back of her throat. Retching, she turned and spat onto the ground behind her, barely stopping herself from throwing up. She pulled a small flashlight from her back pocket and lit up the interior. “Jesus.” She stumbled back a step.

The floor was littered with human remains, most of the bones picked clean.

James moved up behind her. “Holy fuck.”

They'd seen some disgusting things over the years, but nothing like this. This jumble of bones and gore and rotting flesh had once been someone’s mother, father, sister, child. Somewhere, someone was missing them, wondering where they were, what had happened to them.

A wave of emotion hit her and she struggled to swallow. She never let her emotions get the better of her, but all this thinking about her family lately…then Tina, it was messing with her head.

This was how they were feeding the beast, keeping it full and sleepy, docile until it was needed. Lazarus landed beside them, looked into the shed, and cursed under his breath.

He stilled suddenly, his head twisting, his gaze slicing to James. He quirked a brow at the smaller male.

James squared his shoulders. “This is where I belong, Laz.”

The corner of Lazarus’s mouth curled up, then he was gone, joining Chaos and Zenon.

“Fuck,” James muttered under his breath.

“You okay?” she asked him.

“Yeah, I mean, I prepared myself for this, for whatever happened tonight after they saw me.” He lifted his hand and crossed his fingers. “Here’s hoping they don’t throw me out on my ass.”

She patted his shoulder and tilted her chin to the knights. “I need to know what is going on over there.” She was done waiting on the sidelines.

Her people looked to her, and she would not let them go into any situation blind. So ducking low, she sprinted across the yard and joined the knights gathered by the back door of the house.

“It’s under the house.” Chaos motioned to the adjoining two-car garage. “The floor’s been dug out. It gets in through the garage. We’re going to try to tie it down.” Each of the knights had heavy chain looped over their shoulders. “We can sense demons in the house.” His gaze stayed locked with hers. “No idea how many. Can you hold them off while we contain the beast?”

“Yes,” she said without hesitation. “Those chains, will they be strong enough to hold it?”

“Honestly, I don’t know. They’ve been charmed by a witch. To most creatures they would be unbreakable. I’ve no clue if it’ll work here. But we have to try.”

She nodded. “We’ll move in on your signal…and, Chaos?”

His gaze locked on hers, and God, it telegraphed so much. There was no missing what he was thinking. I believe in you. Take the fuckers out. Be safe. But what came through the loudest? I want you. You are mine. She suddenly found it hard to breathe.

“Good luck,” she rasped.

He dipped his chin, those eyes not wavering from hers, and she forced herself to walk away, which was way harder than it should have been.

She and James followed the knights to the front so she wouldn’t miss the signal, and her blood began pumping thickly through her veins, adrenaline quickening her breath.

Brent moved up from the edge of the yard, standing at her side. He gave her a chin lift and bumped fists with James.

“Ready?” James asked as the knights moved to the garage’s entrance.