I smirk to myself at the way he’s slightly in front of her. Not protecting her my ass.
“So young and beautiful. Does he still love you, daughter of Heaven?” the measured female voice asks, and I’m hit with the strongest sense of déjà vu. “I smell your aching soul. You yearn for him. And he you,” the voice trails off and my lips part in recognition.
I lift my gaze to the water figure. “It was you, in the field?” I half-question, half-state, recalling the vision I’d had when staying with Marcus and the Manhattan Clan, in New York.
“When you get to Heaven, do you think they’ll let you bring your protector?” The male voice enters the conversation and I spin to face the genderless-looking creature on the chaise.
“Siren?” Asher says while watching me worriedly.
“D-do you hear them?”
“No,” he answers, looking between the two beings. Crap.
“The prince, he’s so full of darkness,” the woman whispers flirtatiously from behind me.
Her words cause my heart rate to increase and my pulse to make itself present in my ears.
“You’re one of flesh and spirit now. Your dark side radiates almost as much as the light. You’re tainted.”
“I don’t understand,” I say on a quiet exhale, as I did in the vision.
“Understand what, love?” Gage asks. Clearly, I’m the only one who can hear them.
“Your mistakes are great, innocent one. You chose to be tested. To prove yourself. Falsehoods have put you in harm’s way. A narcissistically distracted bloodline trait, Eve.” The male voice rises in anger as it floats through my mind again, bringing with it a haze.
The hand clutching Asher’s begins to shake, along with the rest of my body, and my vision becomes fuzzy. My muscles ache, causing me to release a painful groan. I squeeze my eyes closed in an attempt to alleviate the strain on my brain, but it’s not helping. Psychedelic, nonsensical images run through my mind, both confusing and scaring me simultaneously.
“Eve, remember you’re protected,” Nassa says from somewhere in the distance.
I let my mind recall the warm embrace her spell enfolded me in, and my body begins to relax, pushing out the bizarre images. Once I’m calm, I lift my challenging eyes to the mystic and stand straighter, resisting Asher’s protective attempt to pull me closer.
“Wrong human to fuck with, psycho.”
“Siren!” My nickname is a warning off Asher’s lips.
At my lack of response to his admonishment, Asher steps between the mystic and myself.
I scowl. “Who did Galena betray and why was she hurt?”
“Stupid child,” the female voice answers.
In response, I dip my chin, looking over my left shoulder at her.
“The shifter’s soul suffers for pleasure and protection,” she continues.
“We need to help Galena. How do we do that?” Asher asks.
“You must let what happens happen as it is meant to,” she answers.
“Enough of your riddles, spell weaver. Who. Did. This?” Asher asks with a harsh tone.
Guess everyone can hear them now. I inhale a relieved breath.
“I did.” A baritone intonation cascades over us, causing goosebumps to form on my skin.
With shocked expressions, the four of us turn at the same time.
Asmodeus saunters into the keep. The demon of lust’s tall, long-limbed, muscular body is outfitted in his signature look, black leather pants, black boots, and a white button-down shirt, reminding me that he looks more like a rock star than the King of the Nine Hells.
“What are you doing here, my lord?” Nassa manages to question, slightly bowing.
As he approaches us, the hairs on the back of my neck stand at attention. Cool, black irises train themselves on Nassa before shifting to me, roaming over my body. The heat in his gaze, once again, makes my skin crawl.
“Eve,” he drawls out the seductive greeting.
“Creepy uncle,” I counter.
The demon of lust stops within a foot of us and slides his focus back to Nassa. “My dear niece, you’re lovely. It’s a shame your beauty is marred by the supernatural trash you’ve chosen to keep company with these days.”
“What the fuck do you want, Asmodeus?” Asher asks briskly.
The demon lord’s cold eyes bore into my protector. “It would seem you are not as astute as one would expect a gargoyle prince to be,” he admonishes. “Do you think a dark entity as powerful as Onix would grant you an audience without my favor?”
Asher barks out a laugh. “I didn’t realize mystics played on Team Lucifer.”
“Your wit is infamous, dark prince.” Asmodeus’s lips lift disingenuously. “Onix is indebted to me. Hence why I am here today. To collect the balance due.”
Asher’s eyes flash with anger. “Why would a dark mystic indebt themselves to a demon?”
“In exchange for Onix’s assistance with a . . . personal matter, I’ve agreed to protect this realm.”
“And what exactly is the debt owed to you, Asmodeus?” Gage interjects.
“My mate was recently beheaded. I’m in the market for a new one.” He pins Asher with a cold, challenging stare. “Your kind responds to the eye-for-an-eye principle.”
I stiffen at the demon’s statement. Asher’s raven wings violently snap out of his back and his posture takes on a rigid warrior’s stance. A low, warning rumble releases from his chest, directed at the demon lord’s insinuation as he steps slightly in front of me, shielding me.
“The fairy queen’s death is on you, not us, Asmodeus,” Gage reminds.
The black of the demon’s eyes deepens. “Do not speak of my dead mate.”
A sick horror makes its way into my gut. “How does Galena fit into this?”
“Galena is my—how shall I put this delicately? Favorite mistress.” The demon watches our stunned expressions, delighting in our shock and disgust.
“You lie,” Asher accuses.
“I do, dark prince. In fact, I do so often and as much as I can. However, I never tell untruths when it comes to a beautiful woman and sex. Especially about one that is as good on her knees as the panther-shifter is,” he taunts.
“Galena would never consort with the likes of you,” Asher says, stepping menacingly toward Asmodeus, and my heart pounds against my rib cage out of fear.
Gage grabs Asher’s upper arms, holding him back. “Easy.”
“When my kitten lover discovered I had taken Lady Finella as my mate, she was . . . upset. In her blind rage, Galena threatened to go to you, Asher, and warn you of what my queen and I were conspiring to do with regard to the Eternal Forest and Priestesses. That, I couldn’t let happen.”
“So you bartered with Onix to spell her?” Nassa deciphers.
“A dark mystic’s spell weaving is impenetrable and undetectable. Onix placed Galena in a state of unconsciousness, essentially silencing her before she could reach Asher and tell him of my musings,” the demon confirms. “In exchange for the hex, I offered the mystics protection from my boss and the dark army. Everybody wins, really.”
“If Galena was such a nuisance, why not just kill her?” Gage asks, pointedly.
The demon smiles, holding a wicked secret. I swallow hard.
“Insurance. I know how much Fiona, and her daughter, mean to the dark prince and his clan. Therefore, I knew that when the time came, she would serve a purpose, alive.”
At the release of Asmodeus’s words, several of his guards enter the chamber, taking their stances around the room, including his Samoan bodyguard, Isaac.
“You’ve cursed her as a means of blackmailing me?” Asher snaps.
“I will allow Onix to return Galena to her healthy state, in exchange for Eve.”
“You’re out of your fucking mind, demon,” Asher replies coldly.
Asmodeus cocks his head. “Surely, dark prince, you wouldn’t allow the woman who raised you and your brothers as her own, to suffer the loss of a chi
ld? Imagine how devastated Fiona would be to discover the death of her only daughter happened at your selfish hands?”
My heart sinks and my stomach roils at the pointed threat. He’s right. Fiona would never survive losing Galena. I study Asher’s erratic breathing pattern. He understands too.
“You will get your hands on Eve over my stone body,” Asher bites out.
“I’d be happy to arrange that, Your Highness,” the demon offers, motioning to his guards.
Gage scoffs. “You know what I think, demon? I think you’re full of shit. I’m sure there is another way to save Galena without negotiating with the devil himself.”
Nassa solemnly shakes her head. “There isn’t, Gallagher.” Her voice is defeated. “A mystic’s spell can only be broken by the spell weavers themselves. Only Onix can heal Galena.”
I slide my focus to Gage and observe the way he drags his top teeth over his bottom lip in a combination of frustration and contemplation. Crap. This is going to end badly.
“Clock’s ticking, future king. What will it be? Eve or Galena’s death?” Asmodeus prods.
I step around Asher, willing my voice not to crack. “Eve.”
The demon’s lips turn up gleefully.
“No fucking way, siren,” Asher barks and tries yanking me to him.
I turn and level him with my glare. “Let me go.”
“Over. My. Cold. Stone. Body.” He bites out each word through a tight jaw.
“Asher—,” I begin, but he cuts me off.
“Is that what you want? Me ceasing to exist?” Asher tries to sway me emotionally. “I will fight until my last breath, siren, before I allow you to go anywhere with this piece of shit.”
“If something happens to Galena that we could have prevented, Fiona will be devastated. It’s the only way, Ash. You have to let me go,” I plead.
“Never,” he growls. “You’re mine.”
“Let go,” I whisper.
“No.”
“This is the only way to save her. I’ve got this.”
“Fiona would not want you to sacrifice yourself like this,” Asher says.
“Don’t do this, love,” Gage adds. “We will find another way. I promise you.”
“You don’t even know Galena well enough to make this sacrifice on her behalf,” Asher inserts desperately. “Giving yourself over is not the solution.”
“Fiona is like a mother to you and your brothers, Asher. She raised you, which makes her and Galena family. I promised to protect your clan, as your mate and future queen,” I remind him, taking a small step back, out of his grip, toward the demon king.
“Siren. Do. Not. Do. This,” Asher implores, taking a step toward me.
“I’m sorry.” I take another step so I’m out of his reach.
“You promised.” Asher holds my watery eyes with an angry glare. “You said you wouldn’t leave me of your own accord. This, what you are doing, is choosing to leave me.”
I shake my head slowly. “I love you. This is simply my way of protecting our family.”
“Siren.” Asher’s voice cracks.
“It’s the only way.” I ignore the desperation reflecting back at me in his eyes and turn to face the demon. “Tell Onix to release Galena before I go with you, or there is no deal.”
Asmodeus smirks wickedly at me. “The cruelty of youth and innocence.” His voice draws out as he nods his head to the two entities which make up the dark mystic.
After a long, tense pause, the male’s voice breaks the silence. “It has been done, my lord.”
With my back to Asher, I inhale. “Asher, text Keegan and make sure Galena is awake.”
“Eve,” he growls.
“Do it, or I’ll have Gage do it,” I reply.
“Fuck,” he spits out. A few moments later, I hear him sigh. “She’s awake.”
I take a step toward Asmodeus, and Asher grabs me, spinning me to face him. When my eyes meet his, my heart stops in my chest. My resolve crumbles instantly. “Stop,” I implore.
“I won’t let you do this.” Asher’s voice is even and raw.
“It’s already been done,” I retort and drag myself out of his safe arms.
Immediately, I’m yanked into Isaac’s large and rough hold. Asher whips out his Angelic Sword and Gage steps closer. “Get your fucking hands off her, asshole.”
“Don’t ever try to outsmart a demon lord. We win every time,” Asmodeus mocks.
“I will come for you,” Asher states firmly, holding my gaze.
“Trust in me, Asher,” I release in a strong voice and his brows pull together.
“Checkmate,” the demon king taunts my protector.
“Compel me,” I whisper and all eyes swing my way.
“Pardon me, daughter of Heaven?” the demon lord inquires.
“Demand me to give up my free will and join you by your side,” I suggest.
A small evil glint appears in the demon’s eyes. “You want to play rough in front of your love? I underestimated you, Eve. I think I’ll rather enjoy having you as my mate.”
“Then demand it of me, or I won’t go,” I counter.
“My lord,” the mystic interrupts with urgency, probably sensing what I’m about to do, but Asmodeus’s ego is too large to not meet my challenge. His hand lifts, silencing Onix.
The demon lord steps to me with a snarl on his lips. “Something you’ll come to learn about me, as the demon of lust, I don’t mind taking what I want by force. Today, I curse you. I strip you of your free will. From this day forth, anyone who you’ve ever loved, shall suffer. You will fight for only me. Be loyal to only me. You will be by my side as my eternal slave while your heart feels nothing but anguish. Your soul belongs to the darkness now.”
I lift my head in a show of defiance and Asmodeus steps in front of me, snatching my chin between his fingers harshly, forcing me to tip my head back and look him in the eyes.
“Welcome to the end of your existence, Eve Collins,” he sneers.
I release a short, biting laugh into his face.
Asmodeus narrows his eyes. “Something funny, daughter of Heaven?”
“Checkmate,” I say softly, and Isaac drops my arms as if they’ve burnt him.
A light is released from my hands, swirling around the demon king and singeing his skin.
“What is happening?” Asmodeus roars, looking around in confusion while dropping the hold he had on my face.
I inhale and step to Asher’s side, lifting my hand slowly and revealing the stone. “Mugglestone. It deflects darkness, sending the curse back to its originator. By compelling me to be yours, you’ve just damned yourself, Asmodeus. Everything you’ve obliged from me is now your burden to contend with.”
The King of the Nine Hells just stares with a perplexed look on his face.
A low growl vibrates from Asher’s chest, expanding his wings and raising his sword.
“Seems my queen is much smarter than you will ever be, demon,” he snaps.
“This isn’t over,” the demon spits out.
Asmodeus’s skin singes and smokes, releasing the putrid smell of sulfur. I swallow the bile threatening to rise in my throat and take a small step back. One by one, I watch as the demon king’s minions disappear, leaving blue flames in their wake, including Isaac.
Nassa steps in front of Asher’s slightly lowered sword and stares down her uncle. “It is over. You see, I had the light mystic, Aigle, spell the mugglestone. As you are aware, dear uncle, a spell weaver’s enchantment cannot be undone, except by the original weaver.”
Cold, black eyes lift in anger. “You set me up?”
Nassa shrugs. “Look at it as more of a compliment. I’ve learned from the best. As soon as I assessed Galena’s condition, I picked up on Onix’s spell. Don’t ever try to outsmart a sorceress. We win. Every. Single. Time.” She throws his words back at him with disdain.
“I warned your father to destroy you at birth. You’re a disgrace to the demon blood running through your
veins,” he snips.
Nassa bends at the waist while the demon falls to his knees in pain. “Since we’re discussing the cruelty of my youth, you should know that I did this. To end you,” she pushes out through gritted teeth. “I had the light mystic add a differing layer to the spell. Your hexes have been returned to you. Your free will—gone. You now belong to the divine.” She smirks. “Your soul belongs to the light. Welcome to the end of your existence, uncle.”
Asmodeus’s eyes widen at her statement and she steps back triumphantly.
“Christ. Your manipulative side is hot, buttercup,” Gage says.
“Keep it in your pants, Gallagher,” Nassa replies.
“I’ll offer you redemption, Asmodeus,” I announce at a barely audible level.
“What?” Nassa and Gage bark out at the same time.
I step toward the suffering demon. “I’ll release you of the reversal, allowing you to go back to serving the dark army, and your boss, conditionally.”
“Siren?” Asher’s voice flitters over me.
“He’s not meant to serve the light,” I explain. “Everyone deserves redemption.”
“Meaning?” Asmodeus grits out of clenched teeth while trying to suck air into his lungs.
“Nassa will have Aigle release the reversal spell if you promise never to come after my family or me again. That includes Nassa and the sorceresses, Fiona and the clowder, and the entire gargoyle race. No harm must come to any of them, ever, at the hands of you or your minions. In addition, you must also promise never to go after innocent souls.”
“You do realize I guard the Nine Gates of Hell?” the demon challenges.
“I’m not saying you can’t take deserving souls, just not innocent ones,” I clarify.
“The dark army will continue to hunt you, regardless of my involvement,” he adds.
“Understood.”
Asmodeus’s face pinches as another wave of pain from the light hits him. “You’ll release me of the divine sentence if I promise not to harm you, the gargoyle race, the panthers, or the sorceresses?” he reiterates.
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