Chapter 13 #3
Then I pushed it, as hard as I could, straight at Orion.
The metal legs screeched as they slid across the concrete, and he spun.
His magic rose again, but before he could unleash, Atticus appeared, landing on the top of his head and slashing down with his claws, cutting into skin and eyes.
He screamed and Atticus leapt away, an eyeball still attached to one claw.
Orion’s hand rose, magic buzzing brokenly around his fingertips, but if he was trying to stop me, he was too late.
I rammed the end of the table into him with as much force as I could muster and sent him flying.
As he staggered back and dropped to the ground, I raced around the table, raised the knife, and plunged it deep into his dark heart.
His life force pulsed, and my inner darkness flared to life, thick, hungry, and eager to consume. It washed over me, momentarily stealing my will, leaving me wanting nothing more than to drink from that dark well before death could snatch it away.
Hanna, you can’t.
Oh, but I could, I replied, and reached out, letting my fingers run through the river of his dying energy.
It felt so very wrong and yet oh so wonderful, so dark and powerful...
and it was the latter that dragged me from its thrall.
It would kill me if I took it in. I wanted, so wanted, to swim in those waters, to not waste all that power, but to do so would forever change me.
But there was another way I could use it and, in the process, maybe save a life.
I wrapped my fingers through Orion’s dying life force, turned and gripped Monica’s hand with my other, then drew in his energy, feeding it through my body and out into Monica’s, forcing my inner darkness to become nothing more than a conduit.
I’d never attempted something like this before, but I knew the theory well enough, because Owen and I had argued about the possibility many a time over the years.
What we’d never known, could never have guessed at, was the sheer toll it would take on my body.
To be container and connection all at the same time had my strength running from my limbs as swiftly as death was now claiming Orion.
I remained upright through sheer determination alone, my gaze on Monica, watching as the heat slowly crept back into her skin, watching as her life energy once again began to glimmer and dance, even if it no longer shone with the same brilliance.
Orion’s energy was staining hers, though not to the same degree as it would have mine.
As the last of Orion’s energy faded away and death—and likely his demon—claimed him, I broke the connection between the three of us and dropped hard to my knees.
My head felt as if it were on fire, and each breath was a harsh rasp that shuddered through my entire body, but I was alive, Monica was alive, and Orion was dead.
As is Tane, Atticus said. He appeared in front of me and touched a sheathed claw to my knee. You did good.
I feel like shit. I shifted position, then rested my head back against the table’s leg and resisted the temptation to close my eyes and just allow unconsciousness to sweep me away.
Understandable, given what you managed to do. He paused. You might want to raise those shields of yours. The Society and René enter the building.
I did so. Why is it the cavalry always arrives too late?
In this case, the cavalry did not have a location, not only because you failed to inform anyone of what you intended, but because you left your phone behind and gave Ginny your earwig.
I didn’t exactly have time to think my actions through.
Next time, please do. I do not wish to lose another witch so soon.
A smile tugged at my lips. I am not your witch.
And I am not your familiar, but here we are, stuck with each other.
I laughed, which hurt, and weakly raised my hands to rub at my temples. It was only then I noticed the blood and remembered getting clipped by the demon’s claw.
You might want to use the remaining bottle of holy water on it, Atticus commented. It’s already festering.
I dragged the still undamaged bottle from my pocket, popped the cork, and poured the water over the wound, which was longer and larger than I’d initially thought. It hit my skin and immediately bubbled with great enthusiasm, forcing a pain-filled hiss from my lips.
The bubbling means it’s doing its job, Atticus said.
Well, it could fucking hurt less while it was doing it.
As the saying goes, all good things come in painful packages. Your man runs toward us.
My stupid hormones immediately went into overdrive, even if I didn’t have the energy to do more than push a little further upright so I could see him. The relief that crossed his face when his gaze met mine had my silly heart joining said hormones in overdrive.
“Glad to see you survived,” he said, his casual comment at odds with the emotion so evident in his glorious eyes.
“Glad to be alive,” I replied. “I don’t suppose you brought Gerard along with you, by chance? I’ve a rather nasty cut in need of his tender ministrations.”
“He and the ambulance should be here in five.”
“And Ginny?”
“Handling the cleanup at the house. Luke’s dead, as are the two Libertine members.”
My eyebrows rose. “Those two men were Libertine?”
“Yes.”
“And you killed them?”
His hesitation was brief but nevertheless there. “Yes.”
“Why? We could have asked them about Stephan and—”
“My brief is not your brief, Hanna.” His voice was gentle but firm. “I do what I must.”
“That sounds like Sophie approves of your actions.”
“Sophie understands necessity. Do not judge what you do not understand.” It was a rebuke, even if softly said. He glanced at Atticus. “She okay to move?”
There is nothing wrong with her hearing or her voice, and I am not a medic.
“No, but you have the inside track to her thoughts and her pain levels. We both know she would say yes to such a question even if half her innards were hanging out.”
“The insides aren’t and the arm hurts like shit,” I replied. “So the sooner Gerard gets here, the quicker I can be back on my feet and dating.”
“Oh, so we are going to date now?”
“I never said we wouldn’t.”
“Then let’s get you to Gerard in all haste.” He knelt beside me, slipped one arm under my shoulders and another under my knees, then lifted me as easily as a feather. “Atticus, you’ll be all right here?”
They are both dead, but if they do decide to return to this life, I will utterly enjoy smiting them.
So we’re back to that now? I asked.
A good smiting never goes astray. I think we proved that here this afternoon.
What we proved is that we make a most excellent team.
Of course we do. I would not be here if I thought otherwise.
Does that mean you actually like me?
Oh, I wouldn’t go that far.
His mental tones were dry, and I couldn’t help but laugh.
“Care to share the joke?” René asked.
“Atticus just admitted he can tolerate me.”
“And that’s funny because?”
“Because he’s a cat, and in cat terms, tolerance is as close to admission of caring as you’re likely ever to get.”
He laughed, the sound rumbling through his big body and drawing a smile to my lips.
I leaned my head against his chest and finally closed my eyes.
I didn’t really know this man, but there was something about his strength and his silence that made me feel safer in his presence than I had in years with any other man.
Which might be nothing more than an illusion, given all the secrets he held, but right now, it was an illusion I was going to enjoy.