There.
Evie, I’m sorry. I wish we’d had more time.
I would die full of regret. But that was okay. Samael would live. And that meant this coven wouldn’t be able to begin their reign of terror. Evie would be safe.
I made it to my knees. Mary ignored me, her eyes glowing as she stared at Samael, a grin on her face as the coven wrapped up their spell. The other witches all dropped their hands at the same time, then lifted them in sync. Creepy.
I was on one foot. It would have to do. Mary raised her hands toward Samael, her gaze as fierce as a raptor as she poised, ready to rip his power from him.
I leapt, slamming into Samael. My bad foot hit the ground and agony swept through me as I gathered my own magic to me. Then I let it loose.
My ward was beautiful. A sparkling purple-gold that surrounded both of us. But Mary’s magic was eating away at the ward and she laughed hysterically as one section began to drain of color. If she cracked it, Samael and I were both dead. I just had to hold on.
Samael clutched me to his chest protectively. Then he kissed me. “You’re okay,” he said. “My turn.”
Dots were appearing in front of my eyes, and I didn’t have it in me to protest as he gently placed me on the ground, his body shielding mine.
His chains were gone. How were his chains gone? Samael laughed, and I shivered at the sound. Mary bared her teeth and the witches chanted louder, their stolen demon power pressing against my ward.
“Drop the ward, Danica.”
I ignored that insanity. Samael turned and raised one eyebrow at me, his face relaxed, almost nonchalant. “Drop it.”
The dots in front of my eyes were spreading, joining together until I was almost blind. I didn’t have a choice. I dropped the wards a second before Mary broke through. Samael lifted his arms, and his lips curved into a wicked smile.
The spell hit him, and he lifted one eyebrow as if asking “is that all you’ve got?” Was he… harnessingtheirpower? I saw the moment Mary realized she was about to die. Her eyes widened, and then Samael struck.
The witchesdisintegrated. One moment they were there, fighting to steal Samael’s power, and the next, they were gone. It was like they’d never existed— small piles of ash all that remained of their bodies.
The ash began to blow away in the breeze, and I went very still as Samael turned. My body knew exactly what he was. A predator of the most dangerous type. And I was out of power.
“Danica…” his voice was a low purr, and he seemed to inhale my fear as he took a step toward me. He paused, tilting his head. “Are you frightened of me?”
I stared at him. He’d just turned thirty witches into ash, after breaking four Naud Chains. If I wasn’t frightened of him, I would be an idiot of the worst kind.
Samael seemed to come to some kind of decision, taking several steps toward me. I shivered, fear slamming into me and he gathered me in his arms, lifting me up.
The movement jolted my ankle and I let out a yelp. “Shhh,” Samael said, a kind, gentle monster. “It will all be fixed soon.”
I blinked at Vas as he stepped close to us, holding out his arms. “Would you like me to take her?”
“No.”
Samael held me in his arms as if I weighed nothing, turning his attention to the piles of ash around me. Distantly, I could hear the rumble of Bael’s voice. Samael’s other demons were arriving.
“I want everything collected,” Samael said. “Phones, personal items, and especially, that grimoire.”
I opened my mouth to tell Samael he wasn’t getting his hands on that grimoire, but my body chose that moment to give up.
The last thing I felt before I passed out was Samael’s lips on my forehead.
27
Danica
The scent of citrus and cedar surrounded me. I felt cozy, warm, and, most importantly, safe.
It was the last that made me snap my eyes open.
