“He’s going to kill him.”
Voices filter in slowly, and my vision slowly clears to the point that all I see is blood. Hands pull me away and help support my body as I come to and focus in on Talon’s motionless body at my feet.
Shit!
I take a step forward to check on Talon, but another Shifter I don’t recognize is already checking his pulse. “He’s still alive,” he announces and stands. Grabbing my bloody hand, he thrusts it up in the air yelling, “Jessup’s the winner!”
The crowd erupts in chants of victory. Everyone gathers around me and hoists me up onto their shoulders as a couple of Shifters drag Talon’s body off to the medical center. The crowd surges and the atmosphere is charged from the bloodshed. Shifters prey on violence and chaos, so I can’t help but ride the high of the win and laugh as they celebrate with me. I know there will be a part of me that will miss these fights, but Daniel has already agreed to spar with me to help me with the need for violence. It won’t be as potent, but I’m willing to try this new chapter with my family for the next couple of decades. I happen to look over and see Lilith standing off in the tree line. Her long hair is pulled up into a loose bun and she wears a long, dark halter dress.That doesn’t look like the dress she had laid out from last night.
“Let me down,” I bellow, and I’m dropped to the ground. Not wasting a second, I push through the crowd until a path opens. Rushing to Lilith, I pick her up and spin her around in one swoop. Slowing to a stop, I slam my mouth down on hers only to feel her jerk away in response.
Pulling back, I look down to see her ire focused on me.
“What the FUCK, Jessup?” she hisses, pushing out of my arms. She pulls part of her dress away from her body and scowls up at me. “Look at this! It’s ruined,” she cries out. She angrily wipes the blood from where I had kissed her, shakes her head, and moves deeper into the woods with me following her.
“Lilith. What’s the matter? You should be celebrating with me! I defeated Talon,andI didn’t kill him,” I say, stepping in front of her. “Come on. What’s wrong?”
My energy is through the roof, and I find myself bouncing on the balls of my feet as I wait for her answer. I’m like a little toddler hyped up on too much candy.
“What’s wrong?” Lilith asks, looking at me in disbelief. “Look at you! Your rage is getting out of hand. Youalmostkilled a man. I can’t be with someone who can’t control themselves,” she sneers at me in disgust. Her blue eyes flash with anger as she inhales sharply. She takes a step back from me, and it’s like a douse of ice water that gets thrown on me. “I thought you were better than that. What kind ofpowerfulShifter are you if all you do is leave destruction in your wake?”
That fury that is a constant ember in my soul flares up into a raging inferno. I know my blue eyes are glowing from the rolling violence I’m scarcely restraining. The burning in my gums is the first sign of my bear trying to break free and reach for who he considers his mate. Although, he’s not reaching because he wants to get closer to the mate bond, something’s wrong. He’s not feeling it right now and he’s pissed.What is happening?The sensation shocks me enough to hold back the change of my bear.
“My parents are just as powerful, and they’ve never killed anyone. What makes you think I would?” I growl.
“Your parents are now hermits, living in a hut somewhere in the mountains. Of course, they won’t hurt anyone. They are all alone, Jessup,” she shrieks, throwing her arms in the air. “I can’t live in isolation, and I refuse to,” she says, pointing to herself.
Those words cut deeper than any claw or pair of teeth that I’ve taken in the fights. I would rather take any physical pain than what my mate is telling me. Doesn’t she realize what she’s doing to me? Denying me, her mate, is physically causing me pain. Grabbing my chest, I fall to my knees with tears brimming in my eyes.
“We don’t have to live that way. I would never harm you or the other guys. Please, Lilith,” I plead, the act is unbecoming of me. I don’t even know what I’m begging for, but I don’t like where this is leading. She looks at me with cold, dead eyes and my heart plummets. The love that once filled her to the brim has run its course.
“The only way you’ll be able to survive is to be isolated. So, I suggest you go and find someone to give you pups and move on. Your bloodline is the only good thing about you,” she says, turning and weaving through the woods.
The agonizing pain is too much to hold back, and I feel my Timberwolf break through and take over. I give myself over to the pain. The last memory I have is hearing the lonely howl of a broken wolf.
CHAPTER8
Lilith had a little L.A.M.B
Lilith
Grinding metal stirs me back to consciousness, arousing my wings. My appendages bristle and pain shoots up my spine, making me gasp.
“Lilith?” A deep, dark, and sinister voice calls out. That voice is known to cause delicious shivers to race down a lover's spine in the heat of passion. Though, it could easily be a cause for panic because that also means he’s coming for his pound of flesh. In my case, all I feel is relief, because Bez has found me.
“In here,” I croak out a whisper. I have no idea how long I’ve been stuck in this black void, but it’s long enough that my body hurts and I’m extremely dehydrated. The possessing Demons within me have done nothing but cackle with glee as they have practiced trying to take control of my body. I’ve come to find out they quickly drain me when I fight against them, but that could be caused by the fucking dagger stuck in my back blocking my powers.
Light penetrates the darkness and I only get a few moments to look around the bare cell before a massive body blocks off the light to the room. Unable to make out who just walked in, a slight tingle of fear penetrates me for a brief moment. Maybe this isn’t Beelzebub after all. Suddenly, the figure conjures up fire in his palm and I almost weep with relief as to who it is.
My savior comes in the form of one nasty, mocha-skinned Vengeance Demon, the first to be exact.
“Bez!” I whimper.
He throws his fire into the air, and it hovers, lighting the room. Standing at seven-feet tall, broad shoulders, and a machete hanging off his back, Bez is a sight for sore eyes. His massive black wings flare out behind him and it causes shadows to dance across the floor. I’ve always been envious of his wings. I love his black feathers whereas my wings are more like spider webs. Beelzebub kneels as flames dance in his chocolate orbs when he takes in my appearance.
“Thank Satan, you’re okay. How bad are you hurt?” He grunts out. His eyes flare and he clenches his fist when he sees the knife in my back.
“I’m po—” I choke as my throat closes up and my lungs burn for a moment. Laughter rings out in my head and a voice speaks up.
