In the Arms of the Beast (Kings of Hell MC 5)

But it wasn’t the egg he wanted.

With a sharp cry, Theodore charged at Knight.

Chapter 9 - Laurent

Within the blink of an eye, Elliot became a raging demon, baring his teeth and swinging the rusty blade at Knight, who retreated, even though he could have taken control of the situation without much effort. A well-placed punch could have subdued the ghost’s fury, but his soul temporarily resided in Elliot, and it was clear as day to Laurent that Knight couldn’t bring himself to hurt him.

“I will not allow this travesty! My wife did not die so that the devil can flood the world with evil!” Theodore screamed, forcing his raspy voice through Elliot’s throat in his old-timey, heavily accented French. “Shut up when I’m speaking!” he yelled at the well out of nowhere.

Knight clenched his teeth, taking a long step back when Theodore sent Elliot’s long arm after him in a stabbing motion, remaining hunched over and hissing like a cornered animal.

“Calm down. We can talk about this,” Knight said, but the backs of his legs hit the well, and his entire body tilted backwards, dipping toward the black hole ready to swallow him down its dark throat. His long hair fell into his face, but he reached out to Theodore in a frantic motion.

“Elliot!”

Theodore bared his teeth, turning the familiar features into those of an old man as he raised the knife, ready to strike a final time.

Laurent was like a salt statue, but Beast dashed forward on time. He grabbed Theodore’s hand and squeezed it so hard the blade fell. A single shove was enough to send Elliot’s gangly body tumbling to the ground. Laurent’s heart beat so fast he could sense it in his throat, but Knight managed to break his fall with both arms and rolled off the open well in a whirlwind of jeans and leather.

Laurent ran up to him, wary of Theodore, who blindly reached for the knife. His hand was bent at an unnatural angle that had Laurent’s guts twisting with nausea. Beast darted at Theodore like a grizzly about to maul a gazelle, but Knight pushed him out of the way, once more, sending his possessed boyfriend into the grass.

“Don’t hurt him!” Knight yelled, standing between Theodore and Beast, as if he hadn’t been a step away from death moments ago.

Laurent watched it all with his arms protectively cradling Marcel. He wanted to run, hide the egg, get as far away as possible, but as the sole person who could understand Theodore, he needed to stay here and act.

“Please, calm down. Let’s be civilized ab—” He stopped when the newly freed ghost rolled over, using Elliot’s broken hand to help himself to his feet. The fallen knife was only inches away, and he grabbed it before charging at Laurent.

His movements were those of a cougar out for blood and so fast the edge of the rusty blade pressed to Laurent’s throat before he could have even considered running.

Knight and Beast both stilled, their eyes trained on the metal that could bite into Laurent’s flesh at any moment.

Laurent feared to even swallow, but his focus was on the baby he carried in the backpack. He should have never brought Marcel here. “We’re trying to fight Baal! We’re on your side,” he uttered, hit by an unfamiliar musky scent that clung to Elliot’s flesh like borrowed perfume.

Theodore shook his head, leaning closer until his breath tickled Laurent’s ear and made him shudder with disgust. “Tell them there is no other way. Someone needs to die for the ritual to stop. He is part of it,” he pointed to Knight. “Those trees are demons, and their very existence threatens this world!”

“So we cut down the trees,” Laurent said, meeting Beast’s focused gaze. His insides were in knots, but Marcel’s weight in his arms was way more important than fear.

“No! That will only gain us a bit more time. His hands need to go. I cannot take chances!” Theodore roared, and this time, the blade did cut Laurent’s skin, turning him into an animal frantically pulling away from the butcher’s knife.

Laurent took a deep breath. “Knight, he’s after your hands.”

Knight swallowed, his nostrils flaring, but he got down to one knee and rested his hand on the rim of the well. “Then he’ll have them. He needs to let you go. I’m waiting!”

“He’s making the offer,” Laurent whispered to the ghost, but his eyes still darted to Beast, who inched closer, awaiting the right moment to strike.

The twisted hand was still pressed to Laurent’s side, but the tremors running through Theodore’s body spoke of his dilemma. He let go so rapidly Laurent might have fallen to his knees if Beast hadn’t been there to catch him.

The ghost roared in an unnatural voice, rising the blade over Knight’s hunched form.