“I thought it was assumed.” Lochlan turned in his seat.
“Nothing should be assumed in this. I know nothing about what I’m doing.” I struggled to keep my voice even. I was stressed and nervous. It wasn’t a good combination.
“Then try. If you get the tiniest hint of the demon, come back.”
“Yeah… about that.” Might as well remind him of the biggest problem, although I wasn’t sure how he could have forgotten.
“Yes?” Lochlan asked.
“I don’t actually know how to come back. I wanted to make sure you remembered.” I looked out at the seemingly endless plains outside the window.
“You do, you just haven’t tried hard enough.”
“You don’t think I tried as hard as I could when I met the demon?” He was crazy. Maybe as crazy as Bryant after all.
“That was an extenuating circumstance. Besides, you did come back.”
“Only with help from you and Bryant.” I didn’t even want to think about what would have happened if they hadn’t stopped to check on me.
“You would have come out eventually.”
“You mean dead?” Because in my book that wasn’t coming out.
“If the demon had wanted you dead, you’d be dead. His talk about giving you a head start was only talk.”
“Is there a reason you are only telling me all of this now?” I tore my eyes from the window.
“If I’d told you earlier it would have only served to worry you more.”
“But you’re worrying me now. How is that any better?” I groaned. “It’s actually worse since now I have no time to prepare.”
“You don’t need to prepare. That’s the point.” Lochlan turned back toward the front. “You are overthinking things. Close your eyes and find Netta. We need to know if this spot works before we set up. Isadora is only going to be able to use the crystals once. We can’t waste them.”
“Ok.” I sighed. “But someone needs to pull me back if I get stuck.”
“I’m right here.” Ian squeezed my hand. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“Thank you.” I looked into his deep green eyes. “I will be back.”
“Of course you will.”
I closed my eyes and reached out for Netta. I wasn’t taking a chance with the whole floating around thing. Who knew what I’d run into?—for all we knew there were more demons around. I shrugged off the negative thought. It wasn’t going to help anything.
I cleared my mind and said Netta’s name over and over in my head.
“You’re back?” she responded immediately.
“Yes.”
“For how long?”
“Not long, but I will be back soon with help.”
“Male help or female help?”
“Both.”
“Are you still kidnapped?”
“Not exactly… I’m with my mate.”
“Your mate?” Netta’s voice lilted. “You found him?”
“Yes.”
“Be careful.”
“I trust him. I need to trust him. He’s going to anchor me while I try to help you.”
“Are you taking me home?”
“I don’t know where I’m taking you, but I’m hoping it’s a better place.”
“Anywhere has got to be better than here.” Netta sighed.
“That’s what I’m hoping to.”
I felt the tinge of darkness. “Can you stay exactly where you are?”
“I never move.”
“Ok. Good. I will be back.”
“You promise?” She asked in a small voice.
“Yes, I promise.” This time I could. I would be back whether I wanted to be or not.
24
Ian
I held onto Mara’s hand as tightly as I could without hurting her. I had no idea if she could feel it in the state she was in, but I would be there as much as I possibly could.
It’s why I ignored the buzzing of my phone for as long as possible.
The third time it started to ring Noah shot me a look to let me know he heard it, and I had to take it.
It was the same unfamiliar number again, and I picked it up expecting Trina. “Hi.”
“Hello” A male voice answered.
“Who is this?”
“Willem.”
I thought fast. Was it actually him?
Before I could respond, he continued speaking. “You have something of mine.”
I knew exactly what he was referring to, but she most definitely wasn’t his. “You’re mistaken. I have nothing of yours.”
“She is mine.” He breathed heavily into the phone. “The money has changed hands.”
“She is not a thing to be traded. She is my mate.” My jaw clenched. How dare he talk about Mara that way?
Willem cleared his throat. “Is that so? I guess that means I will have to kill you. I was hoping to spare you. One dead in your family is enough.”
“You killed Jonovan.” I wasn’t surprised. I’d known it all along, but to hear him admit it was something else entirely.
“I did. And I can’t imagine you mind all that much.” His statement was leading. He wanted me to lash out and get emotional.
I wouldn’t give him what he wanted. I stayed as calm as I could. “He was my brother.”
“A brother who caused more trouble than good.”
“Did you even know him?” That was a question I needed answered. Did Jonovan play more of a role in all of this than I originally thought? “Did you know the man you killed in cold blood?”
“In cold blood?” Willem laughed dryly. “Not exactly.”
“What do you mean?” I looked at Mara. Her eyes were still closed tight. I hoped things were going okay for her. I had no idea what she was experiencing. It left me feeling powerless, and I hated that feeling.
“You really have no idea what he was up to.” Willem laughed. This time not dryly. “Yes, then I did you a favor.”
“Just say what you want to say. No beating around the bush.” I was in no mood for games. I was angry and worried as hell already. “Tell me.”
“Maybe I’ll tell you right before I kill you and claim what’s mine.”
“You’ll never have her.” My temperature rose.
There was no reply. I checked my phone again. He’d hung up. I would get revenge on whoever was responsible for my brother’s death and protect Mara at all costs.
I pushed thoughts of Willem from my head. I looked at Mara. Her eyes were still closed. “Is she okay?”
“She should be snapping out of it soon.” Lochlan caught my eye in the rearview mirror.
“Has it been too long?” Panicked swirled through me.
“Not necessarily.” Lochlan sounded anything but convincing. “But you might want to try to revive her.”
“Revive her?” My heart rate accelerated. “You make it sound like she’s dead.”
“She isn’t dead—or shouldn’t be this time.”
“This time?” Forget Willem. I would get Lochlan before this was over. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”
“It means she was brought fully into a death state last time. It shouldn’t happen again.”
“Shouldn’t happen again?” Did he think he was being at all reassuring?
I gently pushed her arm. “Mara?”
She didn’t stir. I leaned over and shook her gently. “Mara. It’s me. Ian. Wake up.”
Once again she didn’t stir in the slightest.
I pressed my ear to her chest. She was breathing. She was alive. I shook her again, this time less gently. “Mara? Mara please wake up.”
“I already told you. She’s not sleeping.”
“Then help me!” I yelled. “If she’s not sleeping, make her snap out of it.”
“We can’t make her do anything.” Lochlan opened his car door. “But we can try our best.”
“You will bring her back,” I demanded.
Lochlan opened Isadora’s door. She slid out. “Let’s g
et Mara out of here. Whatever we need to do will be easier outside the car.”
“What if someone sees us?” Noah asked a very obvious question.
“We’ll be blocked by the car anyway.”
I didn’t care what we did as long as we got Mara out of wherever the heck she was. I carefully helped her out of the car and sat down on the grass covered ground. I rested her head on my lap.
Bryant walked out of the woods. “What’s wrong?”
“Lochlan told her to reach for the dead girl, and now Mara won’t wake up.” I threw Lochlan under the bus, even though I felt guilty for not stopping her. I’d known she was nervous, yet I’d still let her do it. I was just as much as to blame as Lochlan.
“Evidently that didn’t work out so well.” Bryant knelt down beside me.
“Shut up unless you can help.” I was so far past angry at the whole situation, but it was worry and fear for Mara that had me ready to pounce.
“I can help.” Isadora strode over with her bag. “It’s not too late to set everything up.”
“Brilliant.” Lochlan nodded repetitively. “We go after her.”
“Go after her?” I was willing to do anything to help her, but I wasn’t sure how any of this could possibly work. I was used to being in control and knowing everything about a situation. I knew nothing now, and it terrified me.
“Yes. We stick to the original plan except she’s already gone in there.” Isadora set her jaw.
“The fact that she is already there means it’s not the original plan.” I wasn’t going to let anyone gloss over that detail.
“Wait.” Bryant frowned. “You allowed her to go back before we had a binding.”
“Forget the binding.” We had no time for anything but finding her. I wasn’t going to sit around doing magic while she was in danger. “Mara is in danger. That is what matters.”
“But you don’t want me bound?” Bryant quirked an eyebrow. “To be good? You’ll just hand the demon over to me. Interesting.”
“Do the binding.” Noah sent me a warning look. “Didn’t you listen to the Pterons? This guy is dangerous. What would stop him from using the demon to kill all of us as soon as he has it?”
Noah was right. He was absolutely right, but I wanted Mara back now. “How long will a binding take?”
“We can do it quickly.” Isadora fumbled with a side pocket of her bag. “I like Mara, I’d rather she not die, or worse, be brought over to the demon’s side. She’s too strong. We’d all be in trouble.”
“She won’t be brought over to his side.” I was sure of that. Mara was good through and through.
“You can’t know that.” Isadora moved to her knees. “No one can know their propensity until tested.”
She’d been tested. The demon had asked her and she’d said no. Something in me knew I needed to stay quiet about that. “I know she is good.”
“Fine, either way, I want to get her back, so I will work quickly if everyone cooperates.” Isadora opened an old worn black book.
“What do we need to do?” Noah knelt down beside her. “I assure you we will cooperate.” Noah understood the important of acting fast. Once again he was proving how helpful he could be.
“As will I.” Bryant raised his hand as if he’d been called on. “I’d like my pet demon sooner than later.”
“Don’t take your responsibility so lightly.” Lochlan frowned. “To do so may lead to dire consequences.”
“Relax, old man. I understand my job.” Bryant smirked.
“Do you?” Lochlan stepped toward him. “Do you truly understand?”
“I do.” The smirk disappeared from Bryant’s face. “I don’t actually want our world destroyed. There are some parts of it that are worth saving.”
“Oh how generous of you to concede.” Noah went heavy with the sarcasm.
“As if you are any better?” Bryant turned to him. “Instead of mourning your brother’s death, you hid it.”
Noah’s hand flew to his chest.
Bryant smiled, likely noticing Noah’s surprise. “Of course I knew. I do my research.”
“In other words, Willem told you.” I wasn’t going to listen to him pretend. “Not that it matters. What matters is doing this binding so we can go after Mara.”
“Fine with me.” Bryant shrugged.
“I need everyone in a circle. Ian can’t move right now, so let’s build it around him.” Isadora patted the ground beside her before getting up.
“Technically Ian can move.” Bryant cocked his head to the side. “Let’s not be so dramatic.”
“We’re doing this around Ian.” Lochlan sat down beside me. Noah sat on the other side.
Isadora pointed to the spot next to Noah. “Sit, Bryant.”
“Where are you sitting?” Bryant asked. “Where you were?”
“I don’t sit. I’m the one doing the binding.”
“Right.” Bryant sat down in the spot she vacated.
“Ok. Everyone needs to close their eyes.”
“No way.” Bryant said exactly what I was thinking. “You expect us to close our eyes while you do whatever the hell it is you need to do? How do we know that you aren’t trying to screw us over?”
“Will you know what I’m doing even if your eyes are open?” Isadora held her hand out palm up.
“Not necessary, but I’d feel better with them open.” Bryant leaned back on my hand.
“You also need to hold hands.” Isadora gestured to his hands.
“Oh hell no.” Bryant shook his head. “This gets better and better.”
“Do you want the binding to work?” Isadora glared. “What happened to everyone cooperating with me so we can get this done quickly?”
I wasn’t keen on closing my eyes, but I wanted to get to Mara. “We will cooperate.” I closed my eyes hoping that wouldn’t end up being a huge mistake.
“Good. Now hold hands.”
I took Noah and Lochlan’s hands. We were wasting far too much time already.
“Good. You guys do understand how to follow instructions.” Isadora spoke from somewhere behind me. I tried not to worry about what everyone else was doing. This was to save Mara.
“You had better not be taking a video of this,” Bryant called out.
“Nope, just a few photos.” Isadora laughed. “Close your eyes.”
Bryant grunted.
I felt a sudden spot of heat in each of my hands. It wasn’t much, but a subtle change in temperature. It got gradually hotter and hotter.
“Don’t let go of each other no matter what,” Isadora instructed.
The heat got more intense, and it spread from my hands to my arms, and then through my entire body. Then just as suddenly as it started, it stopped.
“Ok. You can open your eyes.” Isadora’s voice was monotone.
“Wait, that’s it?” Bryant asked.
“Didn’t you feel that burning?” Noah narrowed his eyes.
“Of course I did.” Bryant rubbed his palms together, “but I expected more.”
“We are really bound?” Noah looked down at his body. “I don’t feel different.”
“You’ll feel it if you take a step toward breaking it.” Isadora’s expression darkened. “I would highly suggest you don’t do that. From what I’ve heard even an early step can be incredibly painful.”
“I don’t plan to experience that. Let’s get Mara.” We’d spent enough time on the binding already. Who knew what Mara was going through?
I looked down into her seemingly peaceful face. We would get her back. There was no question about that.
25
Mara
I felt him before I heard him. I felt the darkness creeping in all around me, followed by heat and cold. I needed to run, to get back to the others before he closed in.
“Back so soon?” The demon’s voice echoed through my head.
“Not for long.” I wanted to get away from him as quickly as I could. I’d had no plans to run into the demon on my own
again.
“You’ll stay this time,” the voice demanded. “I insist.”
“No thanks.” Miraculously I was able to respond. Maybe I really had gotten bravery from Ian too.
“Do you dare to deny me again?” He sent a wave of heat toward me.
My body felt like it was on fire. I fought against the pain and squeaked out a response. “Yes. I dare to.”
I needed to find a way out. Damn Lochlan and his stupid ideas. What was he thinking? I warned him this might happen, but he pushed me to do it anyway. Now I was stuck.
“You’ve changed.” His voice felt like it was physically touching me.
“I’m leaving now,” I bluffed.
“You don’t now how to leave.” He laughed dryly.
“Yes I do.” The hot and cold sensations had lessened, and it was easier to respond.
“You don’t.”
“Why do you want me to stay?” I turned the question on him hoping to buy myself some time. There had to be an exit. I needed to find it.
“Because I see your power for what it is.” His voice dropped down to a near whisper. The effect was even more frightening because it was like he was right beside my ear.
“And what is it?” I wasn’t even sure what my powers were, so I doubted he did.
“Strong. Dark.” His words were crisp.
“I am not dark.” I’d take the part about being strong.
“Yes you are. Otherwise you wouldn’t have found me.”
‘That’s not true.” I thought over everything Lochlan had said. Nothing hinted at me needing to have been dark or bad to have connected with the demon. It had been an accident. Bad luck.
“Your friend did not understand. I understand.” He blew something in my face that felt like steam. I clenched my eyes shut to protect myself. He was reading my thoughts. Fear bubbled through me.
“Yes, I can read your thoughts when your emotions get strong enough. Just as you can read mine when I let you.”
“I don’t want to read your thoughts. I want nothing to do with you.” I would have liked nothing more than to never hear from him again, but that wasn’t an option. Yet.
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