Chapter 10
GREY
Fuck me.
Despite all my power and seething fury, I was still a rat trapped in a cage—collared, contained, and dependent on a witch to set me free. A rat would chew off its own leg if it meant gaining its freedom, and if I thought I could survive decapitation, I would’ve tried it a long time ago.
The bar groaned and splintered between my fingers.
“Watch it,” Hayes, the bartender’s voice, echoed from my left as he pinned me with a stare.
He walked over, sliding a blonde girl next to me an incredibly bright pink drink. A hangover in a cup. She smiled, her front two teeth slightly crooked, and slipped Hayes a twenty-dollar bill with a wink.
But Hayes wasn’t staring at her. His dark eyes were on me. Hayes was probably the closest thing I had to a “friend.” I didn’t play well with other demons, but I tolerated him.
“Wanna talk about it?” he pressed, pouring two beers for a couple waiting at the bar.
“No.” A snarl tore from my lips. My glare told him to drop it, but of course, he couldn’t take a fucking hint.
“That girl sure was pretty,” he drawled.
“Drop it.”
He slid a shot of whiskey down the bar as a peace offering. The brown liquid sloshed around the rim of the glass as I threw it back, draining the contents.
I slammed my fist down, rattling everyone’s drinks. Ignoring the judgmental glares, I shoved away from the bar, searching the room for any sign of the witch. But she was nowhere to be found.
I chased after her scent, bursting out the door. The wind swirled, and I tugged on my hood as I stepped out of the Dutchman. Still no sign of her.
I stepped off the curb and down a small side street. A raven perched on the fence let out a harsh squawk. I raised my hand, shooing the damn thing away, hoping the death omen wasn’t planning on tagging along. Fortunately, it took flight and disappeared, leaving me in peace.
I continued walking down the quiet street of this miserable town. Every step brought back memories I’d spent centuries trying to forget. The town had changed, but that same unnerving feeling made my blood run cold.
Twisted Spires was a hot spot for supernatural creatures because of the ley lines that pulsed beneath the town.
They were like a supernatural beacon, calling to anything not entirely human, waiting to be tapped into.
The power had come from the witches burned at the stake a century ago, their magic seeping into the soil as their bodies turned to ash.
I hated this town. Hated everything about it.
And I hated the witch. I didn’t need to know her to hate her. All witches believed their powers made them untouchable, superior. But when I saw her tonight, something else stirred inside me. She was beautiful, and I despised myself for noticing.
A muffled cry pricked my ears. The noise led me straight into the cemetery. Newly turned earth couldn’t hide the stench of death permeating from the recently dug graves.
“Are you following me?” Color drained from the witch’s face when her eyes locked on mine. Her gaze darted toward the gate.
“Don’t even fucking think about it,” I warned, a second too late as her fight or flight instincts kicked in and she took off running.
“Help!” she screamed. “Someone, please, help me.”
The witch was surprisingly fast, but I was faster.
I wasn’t chasing to kill her. If I had been, she’d already be dead.
“Enough,” I growled, my voice reverberated through the graveyard. A hush fell over the place, even the wind quieted for me.
“What do you want from me?” She asked, lip quivering when she realized she couldn’t escape.
“I came to make a deal.”
“Only an idiot would make a deal with a demon,” she snapped, a sudden spark of defiance flared in her eyes before fear washed it away.
“Well…” I glanced around the cemetery. “Only an idiot wanders a cemetery alone at night. So…” I stepped closer. The witch’s lack of self-preservation was astounding. I inclined my head toward her. “Hear the terms before you decide.” I spoke with a quiet calm.
My offer would be more than fair. Far more than the witch deserved. Yet my gaze betrayed me. It dropped to her lips, and I desperately wanted to know what that mouth of hers was capable of.
“I don’t know how I can help you.”
“I need help with this.” I motioned to the collar around my neck, feeling the full weight of her stare as she examined it.
“Why is it there?” Her voice was barely a whisper.
“It’s a fucking cage. It traps my power and uses it against me.” The words came out strained, and I hated how weak they made me sound. I would never beg a witch for anything ever again.
“And you want me to do what exactly?” Her manicured nail trailed over the collar. I gritted my teeth, and a low growl rumbled from my throat. A warning, but she didn’t back away.
“I need it to be removed.”
Her eyes remained glued to it.
“And what do I get out of this deal?” She said the word like she didn’t believe it to be one.
“It would be a shame if anything happened to those friends of yours back there, wouldn’t it?” I asked, stroking a clawed finger down her cheek. “Do you want to know the types of screams people make when flesh is peeled from bones?” I added, just to see her squirm.
The look in her eyes told me she’d do anything to protect them. A small piece of me wondered what it would be like to have someone care enough to fight for you.
“The deal is I won’t kill you or your friends, and in return you use your magic to remove the collar.”
Her heartbeat fluttered in her chest the longer she considered my proposition.
“You can’t kill anyone.” She met my stare. “Not a single person.”
“This isn’t a negotiation.” My lips formed a thin line as I thought about her counteroffer. Killing Devin topped my to-do list, but I’d let the asshole live if it meant gaining my freedom.
“You need me.” She stood her ground. “Promise you won’t kill anyone.”
I didn’t want to sound too desperate. So, I pretended to maul it over before finally agreeing. “Fine.” I brushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “Do we have a deal?”
She shivered slightly, but nodded her head in agreement.
“I need you to use your words, little witch.”
“Yes.” The word sounded more like a plea than an answer.
I crashed my lips against hers, expecting her to pull away. But instead, she fought for control. My tongue ran over her bottom lip. Soft and tender. I continued to tease her with my tongue until she opened her mouth, allowing me full access.
Fuck, yes.
My hand fisted into the base of her braids, giving them a gentle tug. I swallowed the strangled sound because that belonged to me. She now belonged to me. My dick hardened as I coaxed her bottom lip into my mouth, biting down hard enough to draw blood.
A rivulet of blood dripped down her chin, and I licked it away.
“A deal dealt with blood is not easily broken.”
Lyra pulled back, her eyes dark with a mixture of fear and desire.
This was going to be fun.