Deidre's Death

"Definitely not," she snapped.

"How about me?"

She whipped around at the voice of the second demon.

"You have no business with me," she told them coolly. "Leave, before I take matters into my own hands."

One laughed.

"Word on the street is that Darkyn took your power," the other said with a toothy grin. "Making you … mortal. A sweet treat for a demon."

Uneasiness drifted through her. "Did he send you to harass me?" she demanded, mind on the demon lord's parting words about ensuring his mate won their deal.

"No. We're just hungry."

"Immortal Law states that the mate of an immortal or deity is beyond -"

"Immortal Law!" the first one laughed again. "Demon Law offers you no protection, Death's mate or not."

Deidre shifted. She found herself reaching for her power again, only to find it gone. The reminder made her feel something colder than worry.

"Gabriel will kill you if you touch me," she said quietly.

"If he can find us. He can't find souls, let alone demons."

She frowned. She'd left him the soul compass and his soul in her jewelry box, along with the ring he gave her, so he knew they were intended for him. Before she could warn them off again, one grabbed her. The grip around her arm was tight enough to cause a new sensation: pain.

Deidre tried to pull away but was unable to move. She was too weak.

Like a human.

His fangs lengthened, and she stared at them, the reality of her situation beginning to sink in. The other demon snatched the back of her neck, and she gasped.

"Don't worry. We won't kill you," the demon in front of her said. "I don't need Death tracking me down. But I want to be the first demon to taste a deity." With the second demon holding her, he closed the distance.

"Don't -" she shouted, bracing her hands against his chest. He gripped her wrists and pushed her hands down with little effort while the second demon pushed her head to the side to expose her neck.

Deidre panicked. The intense fear broke within her, and she struggled.

"I love my breakfast fighting," the demon before her whispered a moment before his fangs sank into her neck.

She screamed, not expecting the level of sharp pain.

"Deidre!" Cora shouted.

Deidre was flung aside. One demon fell beneath Cora's flashing swords while the other bound away and disappeared.

Stunned, Deidre placed a hand to her neck and lifted it away. It was covered in blood. Her blood. Hot, throbbing pain was in her neck, and she felt woozy. Cora dropped to her knees beside her and pressed Deidre's hand back to her neck.