My mind blanks out. Whatisthe plan?
I thought calling this meeting would somehow generate one, but coordinating seven people with different skills and personalities feels like herding cats through a lightning storm.
When life was just me and Asher, we figured it out together and got things done. We added Wylder and Orion into the mix, and it still flowed naturally.
But this? This is something else entirely.
Asher must see me drowning because he stands, swaps places with me, and when I’m sitting in his chair, he pulls their focus. "Okay, so here’s what we know."
He lifts his hand and ticks points off on his fingers. "More civilians are wearing Tharuzel's targeting sigils every day. Tracking and noting people individually is a no-go and will only waste time we don’t have. So, that’s out."
Clara's eyes widen. "Then what do you suggest?"
“Let’s look at what happens. Tharuzel or one of his minions targets a person who is either hostile or suffering a great loss. The big guy feeds off negative emotions, and that either opens the targeted hosts up to be anchored to ghosts or acts as a beacon to draw ghosts.”
“Anchored to, how?” Izzy asks.
"They seem to be tethered." Asher's usual playfulness is gone. My bestie is locked and loaded. "The hosts are tethered to Tharuzel and the ghosts are tethered to the hosts. We think it’s a twofer power boost. Daddy Demon gets juice from both the living and the dead."
Silence descends, heavy and uncomfortable.
"But Poppy can break the attachments, right?" Izzy's quiet voice cuts through. "Like she did at the Harvest Festival and with the man in the diner?"
All eyes swing back to me.
My throat goes dry. "Maybe… but there's a problem."
"Multiple problems," Wylder corrects gently. "Each time Poppy uses her connection to interact with anything Tharuzel has corrupted, it draws her deeper into his hold and strengthens his connection."
Reid frowns. "Connection?"
"It’s a long, complicated story.” Asher is obviously giving me an out, but if these guys are going into battle with me, they deserve to know the truth.
I swallow, the taste of ash settling on my tongue. “The gist of it is, Tharuzel marked my bloodline when my mom tried to take him down. When he confronted me and threatened my sisters, I got tangled up in a blood contract with him. I have no idea what that will mean, but he’s got his hooks in me and we’re working to break that connection.”
The horrified looks around the room might mean that I overshared a little on that. "When I’ve used power against his influence, I ended up getting pulled into his consciousness, and then last night, he invaded my sleep and called me into the forest.”
Mica's expression sharpens. "So freeing people might give him a stronger hold on you?"
"Potentially, yeah."
Clara wraps her arms around herself. "That's horrible."
“Would you expect anything less from a demon?” Orion grumbles.
Mica scoffs. "So, he built a system where you breaking his tie to others, strengthens his tie to you?”
“Yeah, pretty much.” The knot in my stomach tightens.
"So, we need another way." Orion’s silver-blue gaze scans the room. "How do we remove the demon sigils without triggering supernatural repercussions for Poppy?"
“Is that even possible?” Reid looks skeptical.
Wylder pushes off the mantel, straightening. “Maybe we find a way that leaves Poppy out of it altogether.”
The concern in his gaze is obvious, and while I appreciate it, I can’t let them take on Tharuzel and leave me out of it just to save me from what ‘might’ happen.
“No. I’m in this. Whatever our plan is, I don’t want to be treated any differently or left out. The mark and the contract are both my problems, not yours. I won’t put you guys in danger and not be there to help.”
