74

You decide to ignore Dorian and finish off the demon before you move on. Neve has waited this long; surely you can spare another few minutes to save the Grand Proving Arena’s service staff the trouble of encountering a pride demon while they’re trying to do their jobs.

Turning your attention back to it, you shift your grip on your sword to deal a more punishing blow. Seeing that you’re not going anywhere, the others stand and fight with you—Tarquin’s sword, Dorian’s staff, and Ashur’s spells all finding their mark on the demon’s tough, spiky hide.

But even as you fight, the demon seems to grow. Its tail lashes out, cracking like a whip in the air beside you; its horns and spines grow longer, a hazard to you and Tarquin, who have to rely on close-quarters combat; you can feel its hot breath on your face and see the acid dripping from its teeth.

In the end, though, it’s not the demon that gets you. With everyone’s attention on the biggest, noisiest threat, it’s hard to keep an eye on the Venatori creeping around silently in the background—and it’s the mages who eventually strike the killing blow.

Maybe you should have listened to Dorian after all.

• THE END.