Collin said to Lorren, “He’s drawing her pain into himself. Finish this Lorren. Hurry, or you’ll kill both of them!” Panic snuck into Collin’s normally controlled voice. His fingers pressed against mine.
As I lay on the golden slab with my eyes closed, I felt peaceful. The pain coursing through me seemed distant, like a memory. But it wasn’t the numbness that Locoicia taught me. It was better. Something else. Later I learned it was Eric, thwarting his curse, feeding me power and taking my pain for me. When his lips pulled away, I sucked in a gasp of air and sat up breathing hard. My hand flew to my racing heart, pressing it, willing it to slow beneath my palm. As my breathing slackened, my eyes focused again and I realized that I was sitting up half naked. And I didn’t really care.
Breathe, Ivy, breathe, I told myself. My gaze was turned down, not seeing much, but I did see him—Eric—sitting on the floor ripping his hands through his hair. He felt my eyes on his face and turned his head toward me, his eyes still downcast.
“Thank you,” I said softly, though I didn’t think he heard. Someone wrapped a blanket around my shoulders, and lowered me down on the table. My eyelids were drooping, heavy with sleep, as I felt Lorren’s hands pressing into the soft tissue on my chest. Collin’s familiar touch traced the path that the Guardian’s tooth left across my torso.
“Will it stay like that?” he asked. But I didn’t hear more. I blacked out into a blissful sleep.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
There were no dreams, only silence and security in my sleep. I felt his arms around me, never letting go. I was aware of Collin holding me and speaking nonsense, stroking my long hair. When I stirred, I breathed in deeply and peeled open my eyes. I was lying against Collin’s chest, and he was singing softly. I pressed my eyes closed to listen to his song, but he’d already seen I was awake.
“Hey,” he said quietly. “Feel better?” He was smiling at me.
As I glanced up into Collin’s face, my eyes widened in horror. His mark! I darted up in his arms, and twisted toward him, “Its red! You’re a Valefar again!”
But Collin calmly took my hands and said, “yes, but I’m your Valefar. You made me this time... not Kreturus. It’s okay, Ivy.”
Licking my lips, I tried to stop staring, but couldn’t. Eric’s breath in my ear made me jump when he spoke, “Ivy’s second Valefar is much tamer than her first. He seems the same.” Eric sounded disappointed. I glanced at him, and he shrugged. “What? I had to make sure the guy wasn’t still commanded by Kreturus. Couldn’t have him fucking with you when you go to kill the bastard.” Did they fight while I was asleep?
I bristled, but Collin turned my face toward his and away from Eric, “It’s better this way. You have your soul back. I’m still me. And he’s still...” he jabbed his thumb at Eric, “him. Only one thing is different. Your scar from the tooth—it has healed but drawing out the venom seems to have changed it. Look.” Collin unwrapped the blanket that covered my shoulders. I looked down at my skin and saw the arch of pale blue vines tattooed on my distorted flesh. They spanned from my shoulder to the center of my chest, following the line of the scar across my torso. My jaw hung opened as I stared.
“I’m sorry,” Lorren started to say, but I tugged the blanket around my body, suddenly aware of the gender of the eyes on me. “The magic I used to heal you left a mark and the scar from the tooth will always be there. I tried to remove it, but … ”
I hushed him, “Don’t apologize. It doesn’t matter. And it’s better than demon scales and snake hair. Thank you, Lorren.” I smiled at him, hesitant to meet his gaze and was surprised to see him smile back. What’s another scar? Another marking on my body? In a few moments it wouldn’t matter much anyway. I’d fight Kreturus and kill or be killed. Living was the only thing that mattered right then. Living and having this strange collection of friends I’d gained since the night Jake attacked me. We were such an unlikely match that I knew it had to be fate that brought us together.
All eyes were on me, waiting for whatever was next. I cleared my throat, “So, somebody give me a shirt ‘cause I don’t care what the artist of the Thirteenth Prophecy thought—I’m not killing Kreturus half-naked.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Shannon’s dagger was clutched tightly in my fist. We walked the frozen earth with the wind howling, looking for the demon. After much debate, we decided that Eric and Lorren couldn’t free the stone in the hilt because they’d already used it. Collin couldn’t remove it because he wasn’t me. And that was true. When I touched the polished black stone on the bottom of the dagger’s base, it slid out in my hand. Satan’s Stone was identical to the pendant around my neck, except the center flowers burned like they were on fire. I’d pressed my finger against the glowing rock, surprised that it didn’t burn. The tips of the intertwined peonies flamed white hot, with the centers burning deep reds and oranges. This part of the stone was alive. The flames moved within it, pulsating, and waiting to be used, waiting to unveil a surge of power so vast that it all but destroys the one who uses it.
Before going topside, I inserted the stone back into the dagger. It ensured Kreturus couldn’t use it if something went horribly wrong. My feet were frozen as we trudged through ankle deep snow. The ground was covered with flecks of dirty sleet, the sky was bright and still stained red. Snow clouds drifted lazily above, unaware of the turmoil below.
Collin and I walked shoulder to shoulder. Eric trailed behind. I asked, “Do we need to worry about the dragon? Omen or not, I thought it was Kreturus’.”
Eric spoke, “The Omen doesn’t belong to anyone, if that’s what it is. He may appear and interfere. But we won’t know what that interference will look like until he does.” Eric smacked the front of his pants, breaking ice off his thighs as he walked.
Collin lifted my hand to his lips, and pressed a kiss onto the back of my hand. Turning toward him, I could see him smiling. The boys seemed more stoked for this than I was. Killing stuff didn’t make me giddy. I did it because I had to. I smiled back, enjoying his company until we heard a grackle screech in the distance. I stopped and turned. My jaw dropped in slow motion as my eyes widened. The horizon that had been blood red seconds ago was turning black. The bodies of grackles poured over the edge like hot tar. They shrieked through the air, intense and angry—and headed directly toward us.
My heart pounded in my chest, ready to run, when Collin grabbed my wrist and shook his head. “You don’t need to run anymore. This is nothing for you. Blast them out of the sky.”
Uncertain, I glanced at Eric and could see that he wasn’t running either. He stood there with his arms folded, nodding in agreement with Collin. I was overruled. I huffed, “You both suck.”
Collin smiled at me, “With any luck, you’ll draw Kreturus out.” A grin twisted across his face. But the only thing I could watch was the sky filling with grackles, pouring closer and closer in an endless stream. They covered the red sky like spilled ink. My throat tightened and my heart pounded in my ears. We were going to let them come. It would draw out Kreturus. It would end this battle once and for all. Knowing that, however, didn’t erase the visions of these birds destroying Collin, plucking him apart piece by piece with their pointy beaks.
Eric turned away from us, watching the screeching birds flying closer and closer with fascination. He finally spoke, without turning around to meet my gaze, “These creatures terrify you, Ivy. I can feel your fear... Mute it. Now,” he growled.
I had no doubt Eric was devising a way to torment me with the hideous birds, using them to rip my flesh open as he kissed me or some other deranged fantasy. I searched for the numb place within me. Locoicia taught me to be numb, to allow it to flood me so I could pay the pain price associated with my spells. Over time, the bloodlust weakened and no longer interfered. It dulled like it was supposed to. This time, I was able to pull up the apathy to spare Eric and to think more clearly. I knew I detested the birds, but I didn’t realize how much they terrified me until Eric said something. When I finished, I looked up and saw an odd expression on Eric’s face.
He grinned, and said, “You’re far more twisted than I am.” I blushed. It was as if he heard my thoughts—my fears. I wondered if he could. I didn’t think that was possible, and yet—the expression on his face said he saw something within me. I pushed the thought away. Eric glanced up at the birds and then back at Collin and said, “Good luck with her.”
I wanted to take the bait and fight with him, but I didn’t. The birds were too close, swooping lower and lower. Their beady black and gold eyes were crazed, and they shot like arrows toward us. Eric and Collin flanked me. I held up my hands and moved my lips, saying a simple spell. My power flowed through me and formed a wall around us. The barrier wasn’t visible. It didn’t stop the wind, but it would prevent anything living from crossing its boundaries. It was perfect.
The first few birds, the strongest that flew ahead of the flock—smashed into the invisible barrier, cracking their necks and falling to the snow at our feet. Closing my eyes, I chose the spell. The spell that would decimate the entire flock of evil, flesh-loving creatures—and catch Kreturus’ attention. The word rolled in my mouth and off my tongue in a whisper. Energy coursed through me, stronger than before. Starting with the grackle closest to us, the black glossy feathers slowly glowed red like embers, before they combusted into bright red flames. The bird’s shrill screeches intensified, as one by one, the entire flock of birds fell from the heavens in a ball of flames. The black wave that covered the sky, burned brightly for several moments, screeching the loudest wail that I’d ever heard, before the last grackle fell dead in the snow. The charred bodies turned to ash, melting into the frozen ice at our feet.
Collin slid his hand around my waist, staring at the empty sky, “He definitely saw that.”
“Or heard it,” Eric added, staring at the horizon. “Get ready...”
As if I could be ready. As if there was a way to mentally prepare myself for what would happen. Instead of saying those things, I nodded and threaded my fingers through Collin’s, squeezing tightly. The ring he gave me for my birthday bit into my skin as I squeezed.
Our plan was simple, but it hinged on Kreturus acting as he had every other time we met. He was insistent on gaining my allegiance. This time I would draw it out. Things would go differently this time. As soon as he was close enough, I would use the stone. Proximity mattered. It was everything. If Kreterus didn’t come close enough, I knew I had to lure him closer. Collin and Eric would help me draw him closer if the old demon didn’t comply. It was simple. It should have worked. All I had to do was surrender and say yes. One single word would change everything. This would end.
I smiled at Collin before returning my gaze to the horizon. That’s when I saw him. The boy dressed in black was illuminated by crimson light from the moon. Kreturus. His dark hair whipped around with the wind. There was no coat on his body to seal out the frigid air. He stood there, still wearing his tattered tux as if he’d been waiting. He was too far away. He stopped out of reach. I had to draw him closer.
