CHAPTER 23
Zarreth
Frankie anxiously looks around the moment we materialize outside Bloodridge’s stronghold.
The city sprawls at the mountain's base.
Fires crawl through alleys, stone walls are scorched and cracked.
Doors hang broken with deep claw marks sliced through them.
Bones and shattered weapons litter the streets.
Aradon was filth, but demons feared him, which kept them in line.
Garrick is going to bleed himself dry trying to clean up this mess.
“Where’s Jess?” she asks, turning in a circle. “Jess!”
“She’ll be here soon. Graven is young, so it takes him longer to trace.” I flap my wings, removing as much ash from them as possible. Unlike Fairhaven, there’s no wall to stop the wind from blowing ash and soot everywhere, only the jagged mountain itself.
Tears fill Frankie’s eyes as the aftermath of what happened fully hits her. Her brother, her only family, just tried killing her best friend. “What if Jess doesn’t make it? Or what if she does, and she’s sired to Dante?”
Wrapping my wings around her to block the wind, I pull her into my arms. “Dante’s in the Hole. He won’t be getting out any time soon.” I would know. I’ve tried many times.
A cloud of smoke forms right next to us as Graven lands on his knees, Jess passed out in his arms. She’s pale, limp.
And although I can hear her heartbeat in a steady rhythm, it’s taking a toll on Graven.
His skin is gray, eyes bloodshot, and he’s not doing a very good job of hiding the pain on his face.
Frankie runs, nearly colliding with them as she hits her knees and places a hand on Jess’ forehead. “Shit! She has a fever. Is she in pain?”
Graven’s nostrils flare as a low growl makes its way through his throat. “Not as much as she deserves to be in. We wouldn’t be in this mess if she’d fucking listen.”
Frankie’s green eyes are sharp with anger as they shoot to his. She opens her mouth, but quickly snaps it shut, probably biting back an insult. “I appreciate what you’re doing, taking her pain and all, but she was only trying to save Lucy.”
“Yeah well, look what good it did. All she accomplished was getting a demon killed because she can’t follow directions, and now I’m stuck draining my powers to keep her alive. So, sorry if I’m not exactly thrilled with her at the moment.”
She purses her lips together, but ignores his statement. I can tell she’s trying to summon her magic, but nothing is happening. “Dammit! We gotta find the healer. You don’t look like you’re going to make it much longer either.”
“She’s got a point, Graven. You need to pull your powers back. If you pass out, you won’t do anyone any good.”
He stands, wincing briefly before plastering a cocky half-smile to his face. “You two worry too much. I’ve got this.” He pulls Jess closer to his body and eyeballs the stronghold behind me. “Lead the way.”
The monstrous structure rises from the mountain, cutting into jagged walls and black stone doors. Above them, Erebus is carved into the rock, horns jutting forward, like the God is watching over all who enter. Two guards stand motionless at their posts beneath it.
Garrick and his mate have taken up Aradon’s old chambers, so I know exactly where to go. I know every level inside—the holding cells, torture chambers, all of it. I used to see this place through bars, but standing here now, free, it feels different.
We’re inside the quarters in a matter of minutes.
Graven lowers Jess onto the bed and steps back to remove his shirt.
The moment he breaks contact, a painful scream rips through the air.
Frankie is by her side in an instant, squeezing her hand as Jess’ back arches off the mattress, another scream working its way through her body.
“Undress her,” Graven orders while he strips, tossing his gear to the side.
Frankie's head snaps to him. “What…Why?”
He huffs, probably not used to someone fighting everything he says. “Skin on skin contact makes it easier for my magic to flow through her. Don’t worry, I like my partners to be willing participants.”
Frankie removes Jess’ clothes and lays her down gently, while Graven stretches out on the bed.
His limbs wrap around her body, and she instantly relaxes into him.
A line of sweat slips down his temple. He doesn’t acknowledge it, but I know he’s in more pain than he lets on as the veins in his neck strain.
Hopefully it won’t take Garrick too long to find the witch. She’s somewhere in town doing what she can to help those suffering in the streets.
Frankie sweeps her thumb over Jess’ knuckles. “Can you control how much of her pain you can take? Maybe you can share it so it lasts longer. Buy us more time until the healer gets here.”
He pauses, forcing his body to ride out another wave of agony before he answers. “Middle ground isn’t really my style. I go all in.”
“Sounds like someone else I know.” My fingers slide up Frankie’s neck, working slow circles into the knots as she leans into my touch. She doesn’t see it yet, but one day she’ll find her balance, and when she does, no one will stand against her.
The door creaks open and in walks a dark-haired woman carrying a large bag. Her brown eyes are fatigued, but hold a warmth to them that immediately makes the room feel at ease. I approach her, holding my hand out. “Thank you for coming, Dahlia!”
“Of course.” She grips my hand firmly, then turns to Frankie and pulls her into a hug. “But I’m the one who needs to give thanks. You freed me when you killed Aradon. I got to see my family for the first time in years because of you.”
Frankie gives her a small smile, and turns back to Jess. Dahlia follows suit, placing her bag beside the bed. “Garrick told me what happened. I’ll do my best to help, but I must be honest, I’ve never done anything like this. I can’t guarantee it’ll work.”
“We just appreciate you trying. What do you need from us?” Frankie asks, eager to get started.
Her expression turns to all business as she reaches into her bag. Pulling out seven green candles, she hands them to Frankie. “Place these in a circle around the bed. Zarreth, fetch me some water.”
It only takes me a minute to return with a bowl of water, but it looks like Graven has already gotten himself in trouble.
Dahlia’s glaring at him, her arms crossed over her chest. “Why do you smell like my sister’s magic?”
With as weak as he is, I didn’t think his skin could get any paler, but I was mistaken. “If your sister happens to be a little psycho with daddy issues, then there is a perfectly good explanation why I smell the way I do.”
She scoffs, but doesn't take offense to his description. “I’m sure there is. Do you have a good explanation as to why there is a love spell on you?”
Graven’s eyes get so big they nearly pop out of his head. “What? That little witch! I knew she did something to me, but it sure as hell didn’t make me fall in love.”
Groaning, she tilts her head to the sky. “Out of all the witches in my coven, why does my sister have to be the only one obsessed with demons.” She points at Graven. “You're lucky she didn’t kill you. I told her to stop practicing witchcraft on living beings until she has more experience.”
“Females are crazy.” He looks at me for backup, but I keep my mouth shut and shake my head. He’s young. Maybe one day he’ll learn that insulting the only person who can help you is not the best route. “Can you remove it?”
She balls her fingers into a fist and squeezes for about ten seconds, then opens her palm and blows him a kiss. “Done.”
I quickly glance at him, half expecting him to look different.
He’s holding his arm out, studying it like he’s expecting the same thing.
Dahlia takes the bowl of water from me and places it on Jess’ chest, next to some sort of purple crystal.
The candles flicker to life with one sweep of her arms as she pulls dried herbs from her bag.
“You’ll have to step back, loverboy.” She glances at Graven. “I can’t have you accidentally syphoning my magic when I pour it into her.”
Graven unwraps his legs from Jess’ and pulls his arm from under her head.
I catch him running his thumb over her shoulder a few times.
He seems reluctant to pull away. Interesting, especially for someone who claims to hate humans.
The moment he hops off the bed, color returns to his face, and his bloodshot eyes clear up.
Frankie steels her spine, readying herself as Jess’ back begins to arch, spilling water over her chest. “Hold her down,” Dahlia orders as a blood-curdling scream fills the room.
She wastes no time crunching the herbs into the bowl of water while I pin Jess’ shoulders to the bed. Frankie lays across her legs, using her bodyweight to keep her in place.
Dahlia raises a finger, her metal bracelets clinking together as she makes an invisible circle in the air. Water begins swirling counter-clockwise and the gem begins to glow as she whispers some sort of incantation.
A tremor starts at Jess’ feet and works its way up to her head. She’s no longer thrashing around, but her shaking intensifies as Dahlia repeats the last two words. “Exi, venenum!”
Ripples spiral in the water until a small tornado rises from the bowl. The herbs glow, the air thickens around us. Small beads of sweat form over the witch’s brow as she continues chanting.
Soon we all join her. I can even hear Graven’s voice from the doorway. “Exi, venenum!”
The wind becomes stronger with each chant.
Jess’ hair is floating in the air, twisting the same direction as the tornado.
The corners of the sheets are lifting, along with Frankie’s braid.
The bowl of water crashes to the floor, as a sound no human should be able to make rips through Jess’ lips.
Her entire body rises from the bed, then slams back down.
Her screams fade and her body goes limp once again.
“Jess!” Frankie screams, climbing the bed to lie next to her. “Did it work?”
Dahlia leans against the bed, looking like she might collapse if she doesn’t prop herself up. She doesn’t need to say the words—her expression says it all—but she does anyway.
“No.” She looks down at her hands, shaking her head. Her voice is a little stronger as she adds, “This isn’t just venom. There’s something else there. It almost feels like the same corruption seeping from the portal. Whatever it is, I can’t draw it out.”
“No,” Frankie whispers. She stands and begins pacing the room. “No, this can’t be it. There must be something else.”
“I’m so sorry,” Dahlia says. “I put a light sleeping spell on her so she doesn’t feel the pain, but she only has a few hours, maybe a day, before the venom takes over completely."
“No!” Frankie buries her head in Jess’ neck and sobs. “No, you’re wrong! There has to be someone who can help her. I can’t lose her too.”
Fuck! I swallow hard, unable to speak. Graven walks Dahlia to the door, but I can only focus on Frankie.
Her tiny body shakes, incoherent sounds leaving her lips.
I want to pull her into my arms and make everything better, but I can’t.
Not this time. I continue rubbing her back, giving her room so she can focus on Jess.
“If anyone can help, it’s Quenric.” He’s studied the realms his entire life. If her bite is related to the portal in any way, he’d be the one to know. If I hurry, I can make it back in less than an hour.
She lifts her head, looking at me, and I almost wish she wouldn’t. The pain in her green eyes is more than I can bear. Placing a hand on her cheek, I use my thumb to wipe away a tear then replace it with a kiss. “I’ll be back. I promise.”