Page 97 of Jake

“Where’s her sister?” Jake pressed.

“I’m going to kill you,” Kai screamed, boiling with rage.

“I gotta tell you, Kasdeya. I know you’re all demoned out right now, but this isn’t going to end well for you. You see Quint back there. He’s going to take out every last one of these vampires.” Jake smiled at her. “Then I’m going to shift and take you out. You’re not the first demon I’ve helped send back to hell.”

“The only one here who could have touched me is Kai…but the great pixiu has lost her wings. It is I who will make you a deal. Give me the Kris.”

Kai sucked a breath at the mention of it. She glanced at Jake but he remained focused on Kasdeya.

“The Kris belongs to me,” Kai said, her voice shaken but firm.

“Give me the Kris and I will tell you where your sister is,” Kasdeya told her.

“Take this.” Jake removed his backpack and slid it to Kai, preparing to shift.

“Poor Cassie. I’d hate to see her suffer any more.” Kasdeya snapped her fingers and two women approached. They dropped to their knees, bared their fangs, and sank them deep into Cassandra’s thighs. A loud scream echoed throughout the cathedral.

“Stop it!” Kai yelled as she fumbled to open the bag. She glanced to Jake, who shifted before her eyes. Her breath caught at the sight of his spectacular black wolf.

“So in love with the Alpha. It would be a shame to kill you both,” Kasdeya sang. “But I do what I must.” Kasdeya released a hideous cackle as she ordered her minions to attack. “Kill them!”

Kai clutched the backpack as vampires rushed at her from all directions. Quintus shoved her into a corner, and systematically began killing them, ripping into their flesh with his fangs. Blood sprayed over Kai as, one by one, he shredded their bodies. The black wolf leapt onto the stage, growling, attacking the two vampires who drank from Cassandra. Separating them from their victim, he tore open their necks, their blood draining onto the stage.

Reaching inside Jake’s bag, Kai untied the leather knife roll. She wrapped her hand around its hilt, and lifted the Kris into the air. She slung the pack over her arm, determined to keep the book safe.

Blood splattered in slow motion as Quintus continued his assault, but Kai focused on the blade. The symbols danced, and she recalled the Elder’s words, Sacrifice must come from you.

Kai looked to Kasdeya, whose face appeared to shift from vampire to demon, horns protruding from her head. The spell they’d undertaken, killing Dominique’s children, had created the demon. A triad, she was three beings in one. It made her strong. Invincible. If Kai could somehow reverse it, if she could separate them, she reasoned they’d be vulnerable.

Kai’s thoughts drifted to her book, and the picture of the Kris. Look within for sacrifice. Cleave open your fear. Kasdeya wanted the Kris. She wanted it to protect her. Maybe Dominique knew the truth? She knew that one day the Kris could be used to destroy Kasdeya. Maybe she’d gone looking for a pixiu to destroy her?

It belongs to me. The sacrifice must be mine.Killing Kasdeya with the Kris was no sacrifice, she knew. It had to mean something else. Sacrifice. Self-sacrifice. Blood must be spilled and it shall be mine. Kai’s heart pounded in her chest at the realization of what she needed to do, but there was no other choice.

As her eyes went to the stage, Kasdeya flew at Jake, stabbing her talon fingernails deep into his fur. Her Alpha went wild, snapping, but failed to shake the demon.

Kai swallowed her fear, resigned herself to her fate, and turned the blade toward her abdomen, tears streaming down her face. She silently prayed that when it was all said and done, she’d survive. But if she didn’t, the loss of her life would be worth it to save her Alpha and sister. The world would be a safer place, the demon sent to hell.

Forgive me, my Alpha.Kai held her breath, her eyes catching Jake’s as she plunged the Kris into her stomach. Her eyes widened, the caustic athame slicing into her, releasing magick into the night. She cried out as blood poured from her lips, her eyes rolled backward as she crumpled to the ground. Her face slammed on the concrete, and she blinked, her vision blurring.

With the Kris lodged deep within her abdomen, Kai heard the ear-piercing screech. Kasdeya writhed on the stage, immobilized by a magenta haze. Kai thought she was hallucinating, as a large brown wolf split out of the demon mistress and sprinted across the room. Jake went to chase, but hesitated, instead leaping off the stage toward Kai, weaving through the piles of dead vampires. Kasdeya’s skin peeled away, and a short bald man splintered away from her, his body disintegrating instantly as it struck the wooden planks. Kasdeya’s mouth opened wide, giving a deafening howl, and materialized into the night.

Kai choked, her lungs filling with blood. As death beckoned, despair blanketed her mind. Shilan remained missing, and Kasdeya had escaped, as had the wolf. As darkness closed in around her, she heard her Alpha call her. Kai. Don’t leave me. Life drained from her body, and she mouthed the words that played inside her heart, never hearing a sound as death claimed her soul. I love you.