Chapter 227

Heather

Only the demon’s taunting laugh.

I started to let go, giving the pack back what was theirs, but a wave of reassurance crashed through the bond. Not just the bond to Brent, but to the pack. More power surged through.

Stop! I yelled through the lines of the pack bonds. I wasn’t sure if they’d hear me, but I had to try. I can’t beat him. I don’t want to drain you, too. I rested my head on the table. I love you, I sent through my bond to Brent. I started to relax my grip.

No!

I raised my head. Brent? I clamped down on the table. The splinters cut into my hands, but I wasn’t letting go. Not now.

Claudia is working on something to help.

A seed of hope sprouted. If Claudia was helping, then I had a shot. I grabbed what the pack was offering. The power grew, and I realized it was more than just my pack now.

The table groaned. It was going to shatter any second. Tell her to hurry! I can’t hold on much longer!

Then it was like there was too much of everything. Too much air. Too much pressure. Hot liquid dripped down my face. The copper scent of blood filled the air, with undertones of pine and something so familiar I—

Brent’s blood.

On the count of three, let go of the table. Crash into the demon. Brent’s voice echoed in my head. I didn’t know how he knew what was happening here, but I wasn’t going to think about it too hard.

But his plan was crazy. No! I can’t let go. There’s a vortex around him. If I touch him, I’m worse than dead. They had to have another plan. One that didn’t involve me going to Hell and having the demon use my magic.

Trust us. Claudia says you need to touch him to break his hold on you. But it has to be timed.

Timed? I wasn’t sure what he meant, but it didn’t matter. No. There has to be another way. If you’re wrong—

He was quiet, and I could almost hear him thinking again. Claudia says she’s not wrong. You’re my other half and I wouldn’t tell you to do something unless I knew it would work. Please, trust me. When I say, let go.

One of my claws broke, and I screamed.

Don’t let go! Not until I say three.

Hurry!

We’re moving fast!

“You’re not getting away. I own you.” The words slid down my spine like ice.

“Never!” Maybe it thought it owned me. But no one did. No one but me.

One.

Two.

Three! Now, chérie. Let go!

But I couldn’t make my fingers move.

Let go! I promise. You’ll be okay.

If anyone else had said those words, I would’ve told them to fuck off, but I trusted Brent with every fiber if my being. He wouldn’t tell me to let go if he didn’t know for certain that I’d survive.

I closed my eyes and let go of the table.

“Shit!” I screamed as I fell through the air toward the demon.

And then I slammed into him.

I thought that would be it. That hitting him would somehow shatter his hold, but that didn’t happen.

He wrapped his hands around my neck, squeezing. I choked as I clawed at his hands, trying to break his hold. This close up he couldn’t hide what he was. His red eyes flickered like fire and heat radiated off him. His fingers were rough, scaly, and impossibly strong. No matter how hard I pulled, I couldn’t get them to budge.

He squeezed harder and I gasped for air.

I kicked my feet into his stomach as hard and as fast as I could, but he didn’t even flinch.

Calm, chérie. Claudia said you had to be touching him. Now tell him to let you go.

I already tried that.

Do it again. Do it now!

Brent shoved more power into me until I was swimming in it. I looked straight into the demon’s fire-filled gaze. “Leeett. Meeee. Go.” The words were soft and raspy, but slowly I squeaked them out.

Power and magic mixed. Everything turned to darker than night.

But no hands tightened around my neck. No more spinning. No more falling. No more evil magic.

I was frozen.

“Breathe for me. Come on, chérie. Take a breath.” Something brushed my face. “I can hear your heart beating. I know you’re there.”

I gasped, and my eyes flew open.

“Shit.” Brent pressed his forehead against mine.

I licked my lips and tasted blood. “What the hell just happened and why is your blood on my face?”

He started laughing, only it kind of sounded like sobs.

“Brent?”

He rolled off to lie next to me.

I tried to sit up to look at him, but the room swam. “Are you okay?”

“No.” His fingers brushed mine, and my hand felt numb as I tried to grab hold of them. “Not even a little bit.”

We laid there for a while, just breathing. I wasn’t

sure how to process what had happened, but I knew that a demon had attached itself to me. A very powerful demon. Even if we’d broken his hold on me tonight, he wasn’t gone. I could feel the evil magic like a tick that had burrowed under my skin and I had no idea how to get rid of it.

It’d taken the power of hundreds of werewolves to escape whatever nightmare I’d been sucked into. If I had to go head to head with this thing, I’d lose. Big time.

What were we going to do?

We stayed laying on the floor together, catching our breath. My teeth were chattering loud enough to annoy me. “I can’t stop shaking.”

“The adrenaline’s wearing off. It’ll pass.” Brent’s voice was a weak rumble, and from what he was feeling, it was with good reason. I’d never seen him so exhausted before. “I’ll be fine. Just give me some time.” Brent said as he squeezed my hand.

I tried to squeeze back, but even my fingers felt weak. Brent wasn’t the only one exhausted.

This was so messed up. I never wanted to go back to that place again, and since that place was kind of in my head, I wasn’t sure how to stop the demon from taking over again until I broke the tie he had on me.

I swallowed the lump in my throat. I was scared.

No, scared was too tame a word. Terrified fit better. “How long was I out?”

“Four hours.”

“What? What time is it?” I tried to sit up, but couldn’t gather the energy.

“Just after midnight.”

“Shit.” I’d been in that abyss for hours. “Where’s my phone?” I needed to talk to Claudia. Maybe she’d know more about demon ties and what I should do.

“On the coffee table, but I can’t get it for you. I’m not sure I can move yet.” He was a blob on the floor, eyes only half-open.

I wasn’t much better off. It was probably better to wait anyway. I wouldn’t be able to hold the phone until my shaking stopped. I gripped my hands into fists, hoping that would help, but it only used up precious energy.

I licked my lips and winced as I tasted the coppery-yuck of dried blood. “Why do I have your blood all over my face?”

I couldn’t reach you with my bond, so I called Claudia. She told me that my blood would renew and strengthen our bond. I grabbed the first knife I found in the kitchen.

I felt flashes of his panic through the bond. He’d been frantic as he sliced his arm, way too deep. If he’d have been human…

I reached over, grabbing his arm. “It’s healed.” I couldn’t tell what exactly was under the dried blood, but I didn’t feel any cut.

Yes. I knew I’d be fine. But… He sighed. You’re a mess. Worth it though.

“Agreed.” Once I had some energy, I’d see about washing my face. The floor felt wet with blood, too. But I was less worried about cleaning that up. “Any chance she’s still on the phone?”

No. The call failed right as she was finishing her spell.

Right. Because that would’ve been too easy.

After a few minutes of laying there, trying to get ahold of myself, I realized I was having zero luck because I wasn’t feeling just my own fear. I’d thought the terror I was feeling was all mine, but it wasn’t.

I’ve given you CPR twice in one day. It’s going to take me some time… Brent said through the bond. So, no. It’s not just your fear.

Wait, what? Twice?

The last couple of minutes, you weren’t breathing. And the phone was dead. I wasn’t sure if the spell worked and if you’d… His fear blossomed again. The shaking stopped all at once as it hit me. If I hadn’t been breathing, then that meant I’d almost died. Or kind of had died. Again.

My teeth chattered again, and the shakes returned full-force. “What are we going to do?”

I don’t know.

That was enough sitting around. I couldn’t just stay here swamped by fear.