It was eerily silent. The stillness was punctuated by the faint hiss of the wind and the crunch of sand underneath our boots as we walked toward Demonic Watch Tower.
Jesper had a team of about ten supernatural agents, and that student shadowing him still clung to him, much to his clear displeasure. I felt for the guy, but it was part of his job or whatever. At least, it wasn’t my business.
“Demonic Watch Tower was used back in Kalista’s Second War. Back when we had to watch the skies for dragons,” Jesper told us, his voice stiff but clear. He had the dark magic relic in his hand as he walked. “We don’t know what to expect, but we’re sure it’s probably an ambush, so be ready for anything.”
Hunter walked ahead with him. “Where’s the ritual site?”
“I’m not sure,” he admitted. “We only know it’s inside the tower.”
Pandora frowned at that, her brows bumping cutely together. She looked so fucking hot and badass today, but then, she always did. She wore tight leggings and a long-sleeved black top with her hair pulled up into a neat bun.
Fuck me. That outfit would look better shredded at her feet. I wanted her desperately.
“There it is,” Jesper warned us.
I took my eyes off Pandora for a moment, and my heart stuttered in my chest as we approached a dark gray stone tower that looked to be seeping with blood from the stone.
Why did that place look so fucking familiar?
My soul reached for Pandora’s, tightening the grip it had on it.
Pandora turned to me and laced her fingers through mine, squeezing. “You okay?”
I nodded, my jaw ticking. “I think I’ve been here before.”
We entered through the creaky wooden door, but as soon as we did, the wide open chamber smelled of sulfur and blood.
Everyone spread out, searching the tower, but there was nothing but a letter on the altar in the center. There was a spiraling staircase to the left that Jesper sent a few of his agents up to check out, but I couldn’t focus on anything but that damned altar.
My blood ran cold as a memory of one of my decapitations on that very altar slammed painfully against my psyche.
Poppy and Rod had laid me out on that altar and cut my head off for what I thought I remembered as the third time.
Nausea rolled over me as a cold sweat broke out on my skin. I stumbled to my knees, pain exploding from the kneecaps as they hit the ground.“Fuck.”
“This isn’t a ritual site,” Jesper called out. “It’s a base. They’ve been planning things here.”
Hunter was absorbed in some maps on the wall while Reed read through some journals.
Skel and Bram stood nearby as Pandora wrapped her arms around me, trying to soothe my obvious fucking freakout.
Past memories hit me like a wave of trauma.Beheadings, injections, broken bones,all of it rushed back.
“Dexter Shadowheart,” Jesper murmured, picking up a letter from the altar with a frown as he walked over and offered it to me. “This is addressed to you.”
I snatched the paper from Jesper and unfolded it. My eyes seared the page as I read the twisted words of the letter.
Dexter Shadowheart,
Do you really deserve my last name? I don’t think so. You made the wrong decision.
I’ve seen you fuck her, watched her shower, watched her fuck the others, and saw the entire thing with her and the chaos demon last night. She has a beautiful body, but Penny really fucked up her voice. Her moans just don’t do it for me like they do for you.
You all should really listen to the chaos manifestations more. There were several times I could’ve been caught, but then, you’re not the smartest, are you, Dexter?
The cult had no use for you, and neither do I.
You’re ruining the woman my mate birthed. She’s the closest thing I have to Penny. You’re all tainting her.
