“Thank you,” I choked out. It was all I could say.
Ten minutes later, we neared the town Adam had told me about. The moment we passed the border, I tensed and sensed ten Starborns. That was more than I imagined. My powers rose to the surface, and my eyes stayed shifted.
I didn’t have time to wonder if I I was making the right decision. I was confident I could protect Di.
Not wasting any more time, I sped toward the outskirts of the town where I felt the Starborns.
It was time to meet and greet some long-lost demon friends.
Chapter twenty-nine
Diablos
Dagon had a confident smile on his face. Me? Oh, maniacal laughter was bubbling inside, itching closer to the surface with every passing second. What a combo we were.
Dagon explained to me where we were going, laying out the plan and backup plans, but I couldn’t stop fidgeting. He was strong, no doubt about that, but was he strong enough to face possibly ten Starborns?
“Everything will be okay. I’ll keep you safe, Di.”
The reassurance was nice, but I wasn’t worried about myself. My mind conjured grotesque images – Dagon stabbed, his insides spilled, Blue lying lifeless on the ground, Dagon staring at me with empty eyes and an unmoving chest.
It was hard to breathe, but I did my best to even out my breathing.
Six. The ring.
Six twists, and he wouldn't die.
There, it was done, but I had to do it six more times.
I did it, but it wasn’t enough. I reached for my water bottle. My brain told me to drink six sips or Dagon dies. So I drank. Then again. And again. Until it felt right.
Dagon's hand on my leg shifted slightly. Not pulling away. Not asking. Just… present. He'd seen the counting. I knew he had. He'd watched me twist the ring for years, and now he was watching me twist it again like it was the only thing holding us both alive. He didn't ask me to stop. He didn't ask me to explain. He just kept his hand where it was, warm and steady, and let me finish.
“Are you okay?”
“Yes. No. I’m worried.”
My ring. I started twisting it again as I shook my leg. Please let it be okay. Please. What if I should've said no? What if agreeing to this was the thing that killed Dagon?
Dagon's hand tightened on my leg, and I breathed in deep. Now was not the time to have a panic attack in addition to my compulsions, or maybe it was the perfect time.
My anxiety skyrocketed as the trees cleared and we saw a two-story house came into view. Two guys stepped out, glaring at us. I sank lower in my seat. Shit, they were built like a brick wall.
Dagon looked at me silently, telling me to stay put. I nodded without saying anything since I knew they could hear us. When Dagon stepped out, my heart started hammering.
“I’m not searching for trouble.” Dagon said.
“I find that hard to believe,” one of the guys said.
“Does the name Adam mean anything?” Dagon asked.
Before they could answer, another man stormed out. He was taller than Dagon with raven hair and eyes that could kill with a look. I shivered.
“Dagon?”
“Adam?” he exclaimed.
Well, I guess this was good. Adam ran to Dagon and pulled him into a hug. Figuring it was safe to come out, I stepped out of the car. It had nothing to do with a hot man huggingmydemon. Nothing.
