Read Online The Demon's Covenant by Sarah Rees Brennan - Free Book Online

the hilt carved with strange symbols Mae couldn’t make out. Nick fiddled with it without looking at it. He was still looking at Gerald.
    â€œI wasn’t aware Jamie
had
a use.”
    â€œOh please,” Gerald said, a note in his voice that sounded genuinely incredulous. “We’re all perfectly aware of how handy a pet magician would be for a demon. And here he is, tailor-made for you. He’s young, he’s impressionable, he’s got real power, and he already owes you a debt. As soon as you had an excuse, you rushed down here to offer protection and friendship. It all fits.”
    Nick gave a sharp bark of laughter. Jamie stood stricken.
    He looked back over his shoulder at Nick, eyes wide and doubtful, and Mae could practically see the memory of yesterday passing through his mind as it was passing through hers.
    Hey, Jamie. Want to be friends?
    â€œNo,” Jamie said slowly. “You’ve got it wrong, Gerald. Nick’s not like that.”
    â€œEveryone’s like that, Jamie,” said Gerald, his voice gentle, as if he didn’t want to tell Jamie this harsh truth. “Everyone wants power.”
    â€œI have enough,” Nick said. Then he smiled, sudden and wild. “Or do you want to try me?”
    â€œI wouldn’t make any threats, demon,” Laura said. “Do you have enough to protect your human allies every moment of the day? Watch your tongue when you talk to our leader. Some night when you’re asleep we could come into your house and tear the human boy apart in his bed.”
    The whole sky went black. The magicians went flying backward, Laura and the stranger hitting the wall so hard it was clear Nick did not care if they broke. Gerald hit the ground.
    Nick was on his feet and towering over Gerald in one movement.
    â€œYou can’t do anything if I kill you all now,” Nick told him, his voice echoing and rolling like thunder.
    He lifted a hand, and Gerald made a thin sound, as if Nick was wielding an invisible sword and slicing into him. He was pinned and struggling desperately on the earth. Nick laughed.
    Jamie dived forward and caught Nick’s wrist. Nick whirled around, lifting Jamie off his feet for a moment.
    â€œWhose side are you
on
?” he roared.
    â€œThe side of not wanting anybody to get hurt!” Jamie yelled back.
    â€œSo not mine,” snapped Nick. He shoved Jamie clear across the alley and into Mae.
    Mae caught his weight, even though it made her stagger, and held on even though he struggled, her arm tight aroundhis heaving ribs. Nick spun back to where Gerald lay, and the wind howled. The other two magicians were scrambling to their feet, Laura looking pale with pain, magic starting to shimmer between their palms. Over the wall Mae could see gray tombstones poking out of the earth like a leering mouth full of broken and decayed teeth. She could see Nick’s face in profile, the hungry swing of his eyes from face to face, like the swing of his sword when he was fighting. She didn’t know what he was going to do.
    She had entirely forgotten that Alan was there. She remembered with a vengeance when he limped forward, grabbed a handful of thick black hair, and pulled Nick’s head back. A small, wicked knife glinted in the shadowed space between Nick’s shirt collar and throat.
    Nick drew in a short, sharp breath and went still.
    â€œStop that,” Alan said in his ear. “They came here to talk to Jamie. How do you think Jamie will feel if you slaughter them all?”
    Nick made a low snarl of protest that Mae guessed did not indicate deep concern about Jamie’s emotional state.
    â€œShe said—”
    â€œDon’t listen to her,” said Alan. “Listen to me. Stop.
Now
.”
    The thunder made a low complaining sound and died away. Alan stepped back and slid the knife into his pocket, then reached out and offered Gerald a hand up. Gerald took it.
    Nick went over to the