The demon’s laughter is cold and mirthless. “All for you. How touching.” She pauses, standing in front of me now, her gaze burning into mine. “But what they don’t realize is that they’ll be marching straight into a trap.”
I grit my teeth, refusing to show weakness, but inside, my mind is racing. I never wanted this. I never wanted them to risk their lives for me. And now, they’re walking into something they can’t possibly understand.
“You’re lying,” I spit, trying to keep my voice steady. “They wouldn’t be that foolish.”
“Oh, wouldn’t they?” The demon's smile widens, her eyes glowing with dark amusement. “Your people love you. They’ll die for you if it means bringing you back. The druid will happily follow if it means getting her mate back.”
Her words twist like a knife in my gut.
“Let them come,” the demon whispers, leaning down so her lips brush against my ear. “I’ll be ready.”
Pulling back, she dips her fingers into the blood pooling beneath me, her movements slow and deliberate. Her lips part as she begins to whisper, her words a strange, ancient language that slips between syllables too quickly for me to catch. The accent is unsettling, like the rustling of dry leaves in a storm, a sound that doesn’t belong.
My muscles strain, instinct urging me to move, to resist, but my body betrays me—weak, bound, utterly powerless. The chains holding me in place bite into my skin.
She leans closer, her breath hot against my skin as her fingers move in intricate patterns, smearing my blood across my skin. I can’t see it, but I know what she’s doing—drawing runes. Demon runes.
Her crimson eyes flash with a spark of dark magic, the glow intensifying as she draws another rune, her pace quickening. The tip of her finger grazes my forehead, the wetness of my own blood cold against my burning skin as she draws the final symbol there. The sensation is nauseating—a slick, crawling feeling as the magic seeps into my flesh.
My heart pounds hard, as I try to cling to consciousness, my breaths shallow and fast, vision blurring. But it’s no use. Whatever spell she’s casting, it’s taking its toll. I can feel the weight of it crushing down on me, like a vice tightening around my soul.
The room spins, darkness creeping in at the edges of my vision. I’ve been bound and weakened for too long, my strength drained with every drop of blood spilled. All I can do is watch, helpless, as she marks me for whatever fate she has planned.
Then, just as suddenly as it began, she stops. The room goes deathly quiet, the weight of her magic hanging in the air like a thick fog. She leans back, her glowing eyes locking onto mine, a wicked smile curling at the edges of her lips.
“That should be sufficient.”
Chapter thirty-six
Everly
Warm hands grip my shoulders, shaking me gently. “Everly,” a familiar voice calls, thick with worry.
Distantly, I hear the rustle of clothing and the unmistakable sound of Raiden’s wings snapping open.
“Is she okay?” someone inquires, their voice strained.
“I don’t fucking know,” Raiden snaps, irritation lacing his words.
A low whimper reaches my ears, soft but unmistakable. I can sense them—Anika and Nymeria are close by, hovering. My head pounds relentlessly, but that seems to be a normal thing at the moment.
Without warning, I’m scooped into someone’s arms and cradled against a warm solid chest. The scent of leather, pine, and whiskey surrounds me. Raiden.
“How did she get past all of us?” Tristan’s voice cuts through my hazy mind.
Fenris’s rough voice answers, a snort of resignation in his tone. “If the Witte Wieven want her, we can do nothing to stop them.”
Raiden’s chest rumbles beneath my cheek, his anger barely contained. “She’s so cold,” he mutters, his arms tightening around me protectively.
Two wet noses push against me.‘Mother?’
‘I’m okay. I just can’t move yet.’
Their warm heads nuzzle against me. Though I can’t move, I’m not scared. More than anything, I’m relieved the pain is over, and I know what our next step is.
“The Witte Wieven wouldn’t hurt her,” Nix assures as I feel her land on my knee. “The Guardians and the druids are closely related. It doesn’t make sense for them to wish her harm.”
“Everly is in danger, now more than ever,” Fenris growls.
