“Come on in,” he said. “The water is fine.”
7
MAYHEM
Fury unfurled in the core of my being, my roar of anguish emanating from my very soul, loud enough to shake the windows of Ember’s home. I should have ended the foul air witch’s life when I’d had the chance long ago, but I’d allowed myself to be distracted. I had tempered my demonic nature to please my soulmate, and now she was a prisoner.
And for what? That devil-forsaken amulet. The root of all our problems.
The urge to rush inside and destroy the infernal object overwhelmed me, but if I’d learned one thing from Ember and her sister, logic was as sharp a weapon as any sword. I would bring Ember home, no matter the cost. Of that I was certain. The other certainty…
Adrian would die.
I turned on my heel and stormed up the steps. Patrice had vanished, either taking refuge inside or running away. Which, I couldn’t care less. Throwing open the door, I found Miles and Shade rushing toward me, my roar having signaled the alarm.
“What happened?” Miles asked.
I ignored his question and marched into the library, my fists clenched, my rage boiling over. Chaos leaned against the closet door where Ash banged incessantly, and he straightened, alarm widening his eyes as he took in my livid expression.
“Where is Ember?” my brother asked.
“The imbecile from Boston took her.” I brushed past Shade and entered the studio. The amulet still lay in the center of the summoning circle, and I grabbed it, my boot smudging Discord’s sigil drawn in chalk.
I slipped the chain over my head, and the moment the pendant rested against my chest, a surge of power washed through me. The hellfire in the core of my being—normally subdued in this earthly realm—heated to an infernal temperature, and my muscles tightened with newfound strength.
“I must go to the clearing,” I said as I returned to the library. “Adrian demands the amulet in exchange for Ember’s life.”
“Whoa.” Miles held up his hands, his gaze locking on the chain around my neck.
“Brother…” Chaos’s voice dripped with warning.
“Adrian still possesses the power of the stone.” I took the van keys lying on the corner of the desk. “I’m simply making the fight fair. Correct the sigil I smudged. I will return with Ember, and then we will end this.”
“I’ll go with you,” Shade said.
“Me too,” Miles added.
“No.” I whirled toward them, making them flinch. “He instructed me to come alone.”
“That’s not happening.” Shade crossed his arms, jutting his chin stubbornly.
“He will kill her otherwise,” I said. “The power he absorbed was from the broken amulet. It has damaged his mind.”
“Let me out,” Ash screamed and pounded her fists against the door. “I’ll kill Adrian. I’ll kill them all.”
My hands curled into fists. “Make her sleep. Not only is she going to hurt herself, but she’s driving me insane.”
Chaos widened his stance. “In sleep, she will be vulnerable.”
She continued screaming and banging.
I curled my lip. “Awake, she is dangerous.”
“I’m living proof of that,” Shade said.
“Ash poses the biggest threat to your coven,” I said, “so the three of you must take care of her. I will handle the imbecile and ensure Ember’s safe return.”
I stormed out of the house and climbed into the van, slamming the door and peeling out of the driveway before the others could stop me. The drive to the woods was a blur of red-tinged vision and white-knuckled rage. The amulet hummed against my chest, a second heartbeat strengthening me and drumming a rhythm of war into my blood.
