“No!” Rina screamed and fought her father’s soldiers. Their grip on her arms tightened the more she struggled. She narrowed her eyes at the guards who were trying to drag her away.

“Rina, go!” her father commanded, brandishing his sword in his hand.

His powers radiated around him. Her mother followed behind the other warriors.

“No. I’m staying!” she said.

Her energy burst from her, knocking the guards to the ground. She stared at the new portal that was opening.

“I refuse to lose you again,” the king snapped, striding over to her. His expression was torn as he gazed at her.

She refused to be thrust into a hidden location, left to wonder what was going on. She wanted to be a part of the fight.

She would fight by her father’s side.

She would fight by Rhodack’s side.

She shook her head and stared up into her father’s eyes that mirrored hers. Ever since she was a little girl, she’d dreamed of battling evil forces by her father’s side. She may not have trained her entire life as a warrior but she knew her powers were stronger than any being on the rooftop.

The veil was off.

She knew who she was now.

“You won’t, Father, I promise,” she urged.

The shrieking sounds of a tortured creature echoed through the whipping wind. She squinted to look around her father and caught sight of the first beast to cross over.

A hellhound.

The beast’s growl reverberated through the air as the creature revealed its sharp fangs. It was a massive beast that crept down the stairs from the portal. Its soulless crimson eyes swept the rooftop. Another brute appeared behind it, this one bigger.

She trained her gaze on the beasts. More curses filled the air. She shifted to stand beside her father. The gargoyles were braced and ready with claws brandished. Rhodack’s gargoyle gave a powerful roar and stepped toward the hellhounds.

He was the alpha.

He was the clan leader.

He was a brave warrior.

Rina’s heart jumped at his show of bravery. She headed for him with her father and his guards flanking her sides.

The first beast leaped in the air toward Rhodack with its mouth wide, ready for the attack. With her heart seemingly lodged in her throat, she ran at Rhodack.

She threw out her hand and sent a bolt of energy hurtling to the creature. Her powers slammed into the animal, and it catapulted back onto the stairs, dazed. She vanished then popped up by Rhodack’s side while her father appeared on the other.

Rhodack’s growl grew deeper as he let out a curse, seeing her there. “I thought I told you to take your daughter and hide?” he snapped at the king.

“I tried,” the king said, attention on the portal. “She never did listen to me, even as a child.”

They turned back to the stairs. The other hellhound flew through the air. Her father leaped, swinging his massive sword. He landed on the ground with the head of the animal tumbling down the stairs. The other hellhound tried to charge her father and met the same fate as the other.

The loud shrieking noise that echoed again grew louder as the source flew through the air.

Winged serpents.

There had to be dozens of them swooping through the portal. She turned, the sky filling with the large, winged monstrosities. They reminded her of small dragons with huge wings and the heads of snakes, their sharp talons on display as they flew overhead.

“Gargoyles,” Rhodack roared, pointing to the sky.

His warriors didn’t hesitate leaping into the air and flying after the winged serpents. They couldn’t let them reach the humans.

“Khantar, you’ve brought this war to our realm and you better hope we can prevent much destruction.”

“I will help. You have my word that Faery will help this realm,” Khantar promised.

“We must close the portal before something else comes through,” Rina announced, her fingers tingling as she moved forward.

Electricity lit up the air surrounding her. The roof shook with the power of a growl that echoed from the portal.

The portal had to close.

Now.

Power coursed through her body, and she lifted her hands, knowing she’d be able to force the portal shut.

Her concentration was broken by a sharp pain exploding on her shoulders. A scream erupted from her lips, and she was snatched off her feet. Talons gripped her shoulders as she was lifted off into the air. She struggled to break free.

“Rhodack!” she screamed, kicking out. She frantically looked at the rooftop.

Demons emerged from the portal, and a battle took place where she’d once stood.

She caught sight of the underbelly of the scale-covered serpent carrying her away from the building. Its shriek pierced through the dark sky. She frantically took in the airspace around them. Other serpents fought with gargoyles, moving fast through the air.

She knew that if she fought the serpent carrying her she’d fall. She glanced down and cursed. The warded building where her father and Rhodack had been fighting the demons was off in the distance.

She bit her lip, gazing down. The city street appeared minuscule beneath her. The tiny city lights were twinkles from their height.

Could she use her powers to flash somewhere else? She knew she could, but then since the serpent was carrying her, if she flashed she’d take it with her.

She couldn’t risk the serpent dropping her. She wasn’t sure if she fell that she’d be able to disappear while falling thousands of feet to Earth’s surface.

There was no way she was letting this winged devil spirit her wherever it planned to.

No.

Not this day.

Not this princess.

She closed her eyes and imagined her destination.

“Close the fucking portal!” Rhodack ordered the king.

Khantar would be powerful enough to close the portal. They had to ensure that what had crossed over already was contained and nothing else came through.

The rooftop was in utter chaos with the demons and winged serpents keeping the gargoyle and Fae warriors busy.

He fought two large demons who thought they’d double-team him and take him out. He looked in the direction the winged beast had taken Rina.

As soon as he got these fuckers off him, he’d go after her.

His gargoyle gave a fierce roar and threw the two demons off of him. He shot his arm out and grabbed the first one by the throat, burying his claws deep into the flesh of its throat. A dark, thick fluid ran along his talons, and he dug deeper. He pulled with all his strength, ripping the throat out.

Blood gushed down the demon’s chest. Rhodack pulled back his blood-covered claws, and the beast fell to his knees, grabbing at his neck and falling to the ground. Rhodack bellowed out a roar, his eyes meeting those of the dying creature.

Rhodack turned—the other demon charged him, slamming his shoulder into Rhodack’s solar plexus. The air escaped his lungs, and he fought to free himself.

He bared his fangs. His attacker tried to take him down, grunting. Rhodack’s feet slid backwards before halting for a hard stop. He fought to remain standing, knowing that if he fell, the demon and others would follow him down.

With a growl, Rhodack wrapped his forearm around his assailant’s throat, cutting off his air supply, pressing it close to him. He used his strength to snap the neck. The demon’s body went slack, dropping to the ground.

Rhodack pushed out a deafening roar and took in the chaos that consumed the rooftop. Demons, Fae, warriors, and gargoyles stumbled from the force of his power that exploded from him.

The gargoyles and Fae fought fiercely to defend the rooftop. There would be no way that they would allow the demons to go down through the building and enter the underground lair.

“Vikuth,” he called for his head of security, who had just thrown the body of a demon to the ground.

“You’re in charge. I’m going after Rina,” he said.

Vikuth arrived at his side. “I’ll go with you—”

“No. The demons must not get inside the lair,” Rhodack replied, moving closer to his longtime friend. He narrowed his eyes at Vikuth. “I need you here to ensure they don’t make it below the surface.”

“Yes, my lord.” Vikuth nodded before returning to the fight.

Rhodack squinted at the sky, looking in the direction that the winged serpent had carried Rina off into. He leaped up on the ledge of the building and dove off.

The wind blew around his face, and he flexed his leathery wings, which carried him off toward where he needed to go. There was no telling where the beast would take her. His wings increased his speed. He had to get to her.

His mate was in danger.

His beast growled again, and he picked up the presence of bodies near him. He whipped his head around. Three serpents encircled him. He homed his gaze in on the beasts as they flew closer to him.

The first one dove in. Rhodack flipped over on his back and gripped the serpent’s neck. Its mouth snapped at him, and they fell through the air. His wings tried to steady him, but he was unable to push the slithering beast off him.

He growled once more—another one jumped on him. His wings were immobilized by the second serpent.

Fuck.

He was falling through the air with the ground rushing up.

Fast.

The serpents wrapped themselves around his body, still keeping him from being able to flap his wings. His arms were trapped at his sides, and his captors pulled him up, stopping him from slamming into the ground.

He bit back a curse.

They slowly rose higher. The more he moved, the tighter their long tails became. His wings, crushed against his back, were unable to help him.

They picked up speed, cutting through the air, and he gritted his fangs together. Wherever they were taking him, Rina had to be there. He’d allow them to take him.

The minute he was free, he’d kill them.

All three of them—and whoever was at the location they took him to.

Nothing would keep him from Rina.