Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 90630 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 453(@200wpm)___ 363(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90630 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 453(@200wpm)___ 363(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
“I don’t know,” I say honestly.
“Bind it to me,” Xavier says as the idea comes to him. He steps closer, talking softly. “The last time I stabbed it, it went solid for a few seconds. That’s all we need.”
“I don’t want to do this,” I say. “Please don’t make me do this.”
“We have to,” Xavier presses and takes my forearm in his large hand, showing Devon the hand print. “It’s marked her. It won’t stop until it’s dead, Wren. You know this!”
He’s right and there’s no amount of distance you can put between yourself and a demon who can jump dimensions. Still, I shake my head, staring up into Xavier’s blue eyes.
“Uhh, guys,” Devon says and I tear my attention away from Xavier’s beautiful face. The dirt around the weakened spot moves as something crawls up out of the earth. The demon starts to form again, and I know this is my chance.
It could all be over and we can go home and never have to deal with this demon again. Or it could end in bloodshed…even more bloodshed.
“Now!” Xavier jumps with a growl, sinking the dagger into the demon’s neck. The blade sizzles, burning the demon’s flesh as it cuts through.
“Vincti estis!” I call out, voice echoing through the silent forest, and close my eyes, too scared to look. My heartbeat thumps in my chest.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
And all is silent. Forcing myself to look, I see Xavier dropping down to his knees. His eyes stay focused on me, and they’re still blue. The dagger is on the ground in front of him, blade pointed away.
“It wants to hurt you Wren,” he says, each word strained. “I can feel it. Do it. Do it now.” He grabs the dagger with jerky movements. The demon is trying to either take over completely or break away. We only have a few seconds to execute this.
My fingers close around the hilt of the dagger. “I—I can’t!”
“You have to!” Xavier sinks down onto the ground and holds his arms out, literally offering his heart to me.
“Wren,” Devon says, voice shaky. “You have to do something.”
Breathing fast, I get to my knees as tears roll down my face. I lift my arm up, hands starting to tremble, and line the dagger up with Xavier’s head.
“Do it,” he urges and his eyes flash from blue to completely black. He’s losing control over the demon and the binding spell is going to wear off at any second.
“I can’t,” I cry again. “I’m sorry.”
“You can do this,” he tells me gently. “You are so strong, Wren.”
“Not strong enough to maybe kill you.”
“I’ll be fine,” he says again and I close my eyes and turn away, mentally counting down. Three…two…one…I try to force the dagger forward. The tip cuts into his skin but I can’t bring myself to shove it deeper, force it through muscle and bone.
Rapidly shaking my head, I look up at Devon. “We have to get the demon out.”
“There’s no time,” Xavier grunts and puts his hand on mine. With one sharp twist, he plunges the dagger into his own heart. I shriek when he falls back, body spasming.
Devon grabs me under the arms and brings me to my feet, turning me away so I don’t have to watch. Demonic voices float around us, chanting in a language I don’t understand. The ground temples and the Ley line pulses beneath our feet.
“Xavier!” I scream and pull away from Devon, going back to him. I drop to my knees and wrap my fingers around the hilt of the dagger, pulling it from his chest. A stream of darkness escapes his body, rising through the wound in his chest. It sizzles as it hits the air, falling down on us like hot ash. “Xavier,” I repeat, fingers trembling as I pull at his shirt, ripping it so I can see the wound. “He’s not healing!” I look at Devon, who is just as terrified and clueless as I am. “What do I do? What do I do?” I mutter to myself, eyes wide with terror as I look at Xavier, lifeless in front of me.
Blood.
My blood.
I grab the dagger and haphazardly wipe both sides on my pants. I bring the blade up and wrap my hand around it, wincing as I slice it through, cutting open my palm. Holding my hand over his chest, I squeeze my fist so my blood drips into the open wound, one drop at a time.
“Xavier,” I say again, shaking him.
“If he was dead, he’d be gone, right?” Devon kneels on Xavier’s other side, but his eyes are on my hand. His fangs are drawn, and I know how tempting the scent of my blood is to him. He leans back, pressing his hands into the ground to try and stay in control.
“I think so.” My voice trembles and I squeeze my fist harder. Blood starts flowing, steadily pattering down into the stab wound in his chest. Sucking in my breath, I watch and wait.