by Lia Davis
Straightening in my seat, I glanced out the window. The guys needed me. They needed closure to heal. I would fix it. Fix them.
When we pulled into the parking lot of a four-story office building, Zane parked the car and sat there. “It’s not your fault. It’s not Wade’s fault for wanting to play that damn game all those years ago. It’s the Council’s fault for wanting absolute power and being prejudiced bastards who are against anyone who is stronger than they are.”
Lifting my gaze, I met his heated green depths. “Thank you. I need your help convincing Wyatt.” I leaned in to him and pressed my lips to his.
A soft growl escaped him a moment before he cupped my head, deepening the kiss. Pinpricks of desire skittered over my skin while my insides warmed and tingled at the same time. Gods, I wanted him. Right there in the parking lot.
He broke the kiss, and I whimpered from the loss.
“You are mine,” he growled out before exiting the car.
Closing my eyes, I took in deep breaths to steady my heartbeat. Yes, I was his. The connection was undeniable. However, I also needed to meet the others and talk to them about fighting with us.
Inside the lobby of Wyatt’s office, a space that looked more like an overpriced living room, I sat in a comfy armchair while Zane stood at the window. I wasn't sure what he saw—if he was looking at anything.
When I’d emerged from the car, I ran my fingers through my hair, letting magic straightened the wild curls. Next, I conjured a lavender pantsuit and white heels.
It felt good to freely use my magic. The pendant hanging from my neck seemed to work blocking me from Salrus. At least the demon hadn't popped in yet.
Zane began to pace in front of the window like a caged tiger. Or wolf, in his case. I was about to tell him to sit next to me when the office door opened. I stood and froze.
Dark, mysterious, and sexy were just a few of the words I’d use to describe Wyatt. His dark, full beard was trimmed close. His black hair was cut short, almost military style. But it was his eyes that held my attention. They were an unusual grey-blue. Maybe they changed color according to what he wore or his mood.
His gaze darted to Zane, and the muscles in his temples ticked. "Come in, both of you."
I entered his office without a word. When Zane came in and resumed his position at the window, I held out my hand to Wyatt. "Reese Summers. I believe you were given orders to track me down and kill me."
I smiled. Wyatt did not. Dark shadows passed over his features. "I refuse to give that demon anything he wants."
Reaching for my amulet, I pulled it over my head. Zane was at my side instantly, grabbing my hand. "What are you doing?"
"I need to see if the bastard is paying attention. Since Wyatt isn't protected, Salrus can harm him." I locked gazes with Zane. His wolf peeked out at me. The animal wasn't happy with my idea either. Tough.
When Zane didn't let go of my arm, I sighed and put the amulet back on. "Fine." I gripped Wyatt's hand. He jerked at first, but when he couldn't break the hold, I put his fear to rest. "I want my father dead."
Relaxing, Wyatt nodded. I linked our fingers together. "Can you call Trevor in? Zane said he worked here, too."
"Yes."
When Wyatt let go of my hand, I grabbed his again. "Use the cell phone. The amulet I'm wearing is spelled to protect me from the demon. Dimitri and Zane have tattoos that protect them. I'll explain when Trevor gets here."
There was suspicion in his gaze, but he pulled out his phone and sent a text.
Five minutes later, Trevor entered. He frowned as sadness clouded his blue gaze.
I motioned for him to come farther into the room. When he did, I willed the shades to lower and the door to lock. Next, I created a circle and pushed the edges to the walls so we would have enough room to move around. I let go of Wyatt's hand and sat in the chair. "The circle will keep Salrus out of this room. Please, relax."
When the guys didn't move, I rolled my eyes. "We have a common enemy. No. Two. The demon and the Council. Zane brought me here to ask you to help us defeat the demon."
Wyatt laughed. "You aren't serious."
"Yep. Alone, he and I are too evenly matched. Somehow, he is gaining strength. He's not a souleater, so it's not that. My guess is that the Council is somehow providing him with the means to gain power. The five of us are already bound together through our marks—my father's brilliant idea. It was also his mistake." I smiled. "By linking us with the mark, he gave us the ability to combine our powers. Together, we are stronger than he and the Council."
Trevor shook his head and sank into the chair next to me. "He will kill us before we get close enough."
A haunted look passed over Trevor's features. I reached for him. "That's why you and Wyatt are getting tattooed. I am protected by an amulet. It'll buy us enough time to train and come up with a solid plan of attack."
Wyatt leaned against this desk and crossed his arms. "We have jobs and lives."
Fear rolled off him in thick waves. I rose and moved to him. When I stood in front of him, I took his hand, placed it on my cheek, and spoke softly. "I watched the demon kill my mother. After he failed to kill me, I locked myself away in a nut house and self-medicated to keep him from finding me. I could have stayed there in la la land. Someone convinced me that I needed to fight. To find the four of you and end this. Once the demon is dead, and the mark is removed, you never have to see me again."
A small part of me wanted him to stay with me. It was odd, like I'd known him for years. Maybe it was the link from the mark that gave me the sensation of having had him and the others with me the whole time. Though I hadn't realized it until just then.
Wyatt's grey gaze held mine. Recognition registered within the depths. I could feel his hesitation and desire to destroy the demon who haunted his dreams. The urge to go to him, wrap my arms around him, and tell him that everything would be all right was strong. The pull to each of the guys was intense.
The mark.
I speared Trevor with a glance. He wouldn’t hold my gaze for more than a few seconds. Fear, anxiety, and anger swirled beneath the surface of the control he used to hide his feelings from everyone around him. Gods, they needed me. All of them. They just didn’t know how much.
Wyatt sighed, breaking through my thoughts. "I want nothing more than to avenge my brother's death. What do I need to do?"
Trevor nodded and said, "Wherever he goes, I go."
Relief rushed through me. "Then pack some bags and come to the Rose Lake Coven. The sooner, the better. And if you have vacation time, take it. Or work remotely. You won't be able to come to the office without putting everyone here in danger."
Wyatt nodded. I pulled out the second amulet that Dimitri had made while I slept and placed it in Wyatt's hand. "Keep this on you and stay with Trevor. It will block you from Salrus and piss him off."
Trevor stood. "I guess I'm coming down with something and need to leave." He winked at me.
Wyatt still looked hesitant, but he agreed as he stood.
Zane spoke next. "I'd feel safer if we followed you to your condo to get your things before you come to the coven."
I had to agree with him. I might not be able to defeat Salrus at the moment, but I could wound him enough for everyone to escape if needed. "All right, then. Let's go."
I dropped the circle and saw the guys shudder. When I reached the door, I glanced back at them and said, "Y'all will find out just how crazy my mind is once we complete the bond."
I didn't stick around to hear all of Wyatt's inquiries—and, likely, his protests. But, really, how else did he think we were going to combine our powers and take the demon down?
Chapter 9
We made it back to the coven without incident. That both concerned me and made me curious. For Salrus to be quiet, it meant that he was plotting something big. After I had entered the house, I sought out Dimitri. Finding him in the family room watching a movie, I sat down beside him, and he instantly wrapped an arm aro
und my shoulders.
Relaxing into him, I couldn’t stop the smile on my lips. It was surreal how much I’d missed him in just a few hours. “How much do you know about demons?”
“Not too much, why?”
I shrugged, embarrassed that I didn’t know enough about the race as a whole. “The only one I’ve ever known or come across is Salrus. We didn’t run into him at all today. Either the amulets work a lot better than we thought, or Daddy Dearest is sleeping on the job.”
Dimitri curled his arm up to run his fingers through my hair. I fought a groan as he massaged my scalp with his fingers. “From what I researched, most demons can’t enter the daylight. So he might be one of those.”
“If that’s true, how can I?” It came out as a whisper, but D heard me.
“Because you are only half demon. That is your advantage.”
I pulled back and stared into his gaze. “So smart and powerful, yet you are afraid of magic.”
When he released me and moved to stand, I pressed my hands to his chest and straddled him. Framing his face with my hands, I said, “I’m not judging. I want to help you. The Council had no right to lock your powers away. They were the ones who called the damned demon in the first place.” I took a breath and tamped down my anger. “It’s not your fault, or anyone’s but the Council’s. We have to clean up their shit. We owe Wade, your mother, and the coven. Not to mention the human race. Salrus is out there doing the gods know what. Probably torturing humans. I want him stopped. We can do that together. Will it be easy? Not a chance in Hades. But I’m not giving up. I’m here for you. I want to help you.”
Clarity entered his blue eyes a moment before he gripped my hips, his fingers digging in, and then captured my mouth in a raw, toe-curling kiss. I moaned as his tongue slipped between my lips and met mine.
He broke the embrace, nipped at my jaw, and then trailed his lips down my throat. My body felt alive, humming with magic and desire. To test just how far Dimitri was willing to let me go, I pushed a tiny bit of magic into him. He gasped and tensed but didn’t push me away. I smiled. Progress.
The sound of footsteps brought our attention to the archway of the living room. Zane, Wyatt, and Trevor stood in the entryway, staring. Trevor smirked as if he were enjoying the show. The other two just stared as if they weren’t sure how to react.
Bringing my attention back to Dimitri, I kissed him quickly on the lips. “When you are ready, I’ll unlock your magic.”
I stood and faced the trio still in the archway. “What’s for lunch?”
When they didn’t move, I glanced back at Dimitri. He smiled as he stood and took my hand. Linking our fingers together, he pulled me through the middle of the trio and to the kitchen. We were about halfway across the foyer when I heard the guys follow.
I pressed my shoulder to Dimitri’s, hugging his arm, and said, “This should be fun.”
He laughed. “I hope you know what you’re getting yourself into.”
I really didn’t. I was making it up as I went along. When we got to the kitchen, I spotted Wade drifting out the other door before he circled around to the stairs. The ghost was avoiding his brother. I let it go for now. Eventually, I’d have to see if Wyatt even wanted to see his twin. For now, it was best if Wade stayed clear. My heart ached for them. I’d never had the pleasure of siblings. Some would call them a displeasure because of the arguing and competition for attention. But I’d have taken all the arguments and fights just so I didn’t have to be alone while growing up.
Dimitri stopped, released my hand, and faced me. He cupped my face and studied me intensely. “What’s wrong?”
“Just thinking.” I kissed him quickly on the lips like it was the most natural thing in the world. Like I’d always been able to. “I’ll tell you later. Or tomorrow. Tonight, I want to get to know Wyatt.”
The corners of Dimitri’s lips lifted. “You know he and Trevor are a couple, right?”
“Yeah. I can sense it through the mark.” I stepped back and waited for a hint of jealousy from Dimitri, but he didn’t show any.
My heart lifted. One down. Three more to go. Oh, gods, what was I thinking taking on four men?
With a sigh, I went to the fridge and pulled it open. It was filled with an assortment of veggies, fruit, lunchmeat, and other things.
Dimitri spoke from behind me. “The green bowl has some potato soup I made yesterday.”
“That was good. Is there enough for everyone?” Zane said as he stopped next to me, leaning into me.
Dimitri glanced over my other shoulder, putting his face close to mine. “No, maybe not. Grab the milk and eggs. I’ll make waffles.”
“For lunch?” I asked.
Zane shrugged. “It’s not quite lunchtime, and I missed breakfast so it works for me.”
I turned to Wyatt and Trevor. They shrugged and sat at the kitchen table. “Okay, waffles it is.”
I carried the goods to the counter behind me where Dimitri had pulled out a waffle maker and a bowl. He nudged me and pointed to the table. “Go. I got this.”
“Okay.” I rolled my eyes and made my way to sit across from Wyatt and Trevor. “What do you know about Salrus?”
Wyatt flicked his gaze at Trevor and said, “I know he’s your father.”
I ignored the bitterness in his tone. “Something else. That’s public knowledge. And I told you earlier.”
Trevor covered Wyatt’s fist with his hand. “We never researched the demon. Never went looking for him.”
“Did he come after you?” I asked because I didn’t want to reveal that I’d been talking to Wade just yet. Plus, I was curious how they’d gone on with their lives without the demon fucking things up a few times a week.
Wyatt snorted. “Yes. He showed up at work and outside our home. A few times a month.”
“And?” I prompted. There was something they weren’t telling me.
It was Trevor who answered. “He checked in on us and never harmed us because we were actively looking for you.”
I froze, staring into Trevor’s sad eyes. I glanced at Wyatt, and he refused to make eye contact. An overwhelming sense of betrayal, hurt, and understanding settled in the pit of my gut. I didn’t understand the emotion. Wade had said they were looking for me. But would they tell Salrus where I was? Did they already? “You found me. It’s how Wade found me and Salrus.”
Wyatt crossed his arms and hardened his stare. The twitch in his left eye told me he knew his brother’s ghost was here. Was he ignoring him? “You were just a name. The half-demon I was supposed to track down and kill. I only resisted out of spite for the death of my twin—”
“Wyatt, enough!” Zane let out a low growl of warning.
I jerked back. My nose tingled, and lump formed in my throat. I didn’t understand my reaction. Why did it hurt? Why did it bother me? They didn’t know me or owe me anything. After all, it was my father who’d taken everything from them. So, yeah, if I had the chance to remove the mark, I’d do anything. Including hunting down the reason—aka me—they’d been marked to begin with.
Without a word, I stood and left the room. Suddenly, the reality of my situation hit me. They didn’t trust me. I couldn’t blame them. Too many emotions swirled inside. Once in the foyer, I ran to the nearest bedroom and slammed the door.
My breaths came in short gasps as the panic rose. I held it in until I got behind closed doors, away from the guys. They couldn’t see me lose my shit like a crazy person. Okay, Reese, breathe.
It wasn’t like Salrus didn’t know I was here. So Wyatt could tell him all he wanted. However, if he were working with the demon, then I’d let him inside. Salrus could use him to get to me. And to the others.
I sank to the floor as memories of the night my mother died flooded my mind. We’d been preparing a trap for the demon.
“You must do as I say. Repeat every word when I say it. It’s important for combining our powers.” Mom stared at me with real fear in her eyes. If a fierce, powerful councilwom
an was scared, shit was about to get real, fast.
I nodded. “Understood.”
The hairs on my neck rose, and electricity pinched my skin. He was close. So close. “Mom.”
“I know, baby.”
We didn’t have time for the ritual. Salrus burst through our front door, tearing the thing off its hinges. My body froze in place at the sight of him. He was different from the last time I’d seen him. When he marked me at age ten and Mom saved me by running. We’d stayed on the run for eight years. Now, the demon had found us.
Large was an understatement when describing the demon. He had to be at least eight-feet tall. His broad shoulders barely fit through the doorframe. In fact, when he walked into the house, he tore a hole big enough for three men to walk through side by side.
His size wasn’t what scared me, though. It was his power. Dark, thick, and lethal. His black, menacing eyes targeted me, and he moved forward. Fear burned my insides, but I didn’t take my gaze off the demon as I called my magic like Mom had shown me. Suddenly, I was grateful for all the harsh training she’d put me through since I began walking. She’d been preparing me to face my father.
Raising my hands, I pushed the power down my arms and out my fingers. The blast hit him in the chest, knocking him across the room. Wow. I’d never known how powerful I was until then. I blasted him again, but not with as much force. Still, it was enough to stun him so Mom and I could escape.
“Mom, let’s go.”
She stood there, glaring at the demon and shaking her head. “Run, Reese. I have to finish this.”
“No, Mom. Come with me!”
She glanced at me over her shoulder. Her eyes glowed with magic. Tears streamed down my face. Before I could grab her arm and tug her with me, she raised a circle around her and the demon and blocked me out.
Everything from there happened so fast. Salrus rose to his feet, grabbed Mom by the shoulders, and then bite down on her neck.
I screamed and blasted the circle with everything I had in me. I didn’t expect the magic to rebound and slam into me, tossing me through the sliding glass door. Pain erupted up my arm to the base of my throat. I glanced down to see two pieces of glass sticking out of my arm and a larger piece in my side.