Mella raised her hand, revealing long, black claws, and shoved that hand into Bruce’s chest. Bile crawled up my throat as she pulled his heart free and bit into it like it was an apple.
Her gaze met mine and I went still. The Naud Chains were still keeping my magic buried deep down where I couldn’t reach it, and I longed for the knife I’d lost when Mella broke free of her chains.
She threw Bruce’s heart away and slowly got to her feet. I reached for a long shard of glass and held it in my hand, but if Mella wanted me dead, I was dead.
The selkie wore her pelt like a cape as she sauntered toward me, crouching down next to my head.
“Thank you, Danica Amana,” she said. Pink flesh dangled from her sharp teeth. Bruce’s heart. I swallowed.
“You’re welcome.”
“I would like to help you, but the compulsion is too strong. I must get to the water.”
“As long as you don’t kill me, you’re helping.”
The ghost of a smile danced across her face, and the blood dripping down her chin made it even creepier.
“My people owe you a debt. One day, when you need it the most, you may collect.”
I nodded.
She reached over and pushed the bookshelf off my legs with one hand and black dots danced in front of my eyes.
“Dislocated,” she said. “As soon as a healer arrives, you’ll be fine.”
If this building didn’t come down on me first. Mella seemed unconcerned, already walking away. I attempted to move my leg and a scream ripped from my throat.
I just needed to relocate my knee. If I didn’t, I’d burn alive here. The smoke was already flooding my nostrils, so all-encompassing I could taste it as it slid down my throat.
I choked on a sob as I sat up, agony ripping through me. I froze. Someone was walking toward me. I could hear footsteps over the crackling of the fire. I held the glass tighter in my hand and cursed as Ben appeared.
“Well, this is interesting,” he said. His gaze found Bruce’s body and he shook his head. “You’re going to pay for that.”
“Fuck you.”
“No,” he said. “Fuck you.”
He smiled, pulled his leg back, and kicked my knee.
Pain engulfed me and everything went black.
* * *
Samael
Naud chains. Someone had used Naud chains on my little witch.
I hadn’t noticed the bond becoming fainter at first. I’d been busy taking a call with the light fae king.
It wasn’t until I glanced at the time that I realized Danica should’ve been back.
And when I reached for our bond… nothing but silence.
She couldn’t be dead. I wouldknowif she were dead. That only left the chains.
“I want every demon in this city looking for her. Get in touch with Finvarra too and tell him I want his people searching too. He owes me.”
I strode out of the room with some idea of hunting for her myself. I’d tear this city apart if I had to.
