Chapter 24 #2
Orion, Rowan, and Asher all chuckle, Wylder arches a brow, and Sebastian just studies our group and doesn’t seem to know what to think. Okay, so maybe not everyone here is his strongest ally, but they’re here and willing to help.
That’s got to count for something, right? And who knows? It might just be enough to keep us all alive.
Once the plan is set, everyone gathers their things and prepares to leave. I hug Orion and walk him to the door. Rowan excuses herself to go upstairs, stating that she needs to call her parents and explain how she ended up here instead of at Arcana.
As Sebastian slides on his trench, I reach out and lower my voice. “Hey, can you hang back a minute? I need to talk to you about something.”
His dark brows knit together. “Of course.”
Wylder pauses mid-step. “Is everything okay?”
“Yeah, I just need to ask him something. Spirit stuff.”
Asher snorts, gathering the dirty plates to take over to the dishwasher. “Spirit stuff. This life of ours is crazy, baby girl.”
It sure is.
Wylder lingers, his attention bouncing between Sebastian and me, suspicion swirling in his gaze like a building storm.
“It’s fine.” I raise a hand, cutting off the questions I see forming in his mind. “Thanks for all your help at Arcana.”
He hears the dismissal and dips his chin before gathering his bag and heading out. When it’s only Sebastian and me alone in the living room, he turns to face me fully. “What’s going on?”
My stomach churns. I’ve been carrying this secret since Arcana, and it’s been eating me alive. “Can you do a privacy thing? Like, so no one can hear us?”
His expression sharpens, concern flickering across his features. He raises one hand and mutters something under his breath. The air around us shimmers, then settles into an odd, muffled quality that makes my ears pop.
“Done. No one can hear or see us clearly. What happened?”
I swallow hard. “I know what demon we’re facing. His name is Tharuzel the Soul Thresher.”
Sebastian goes completely still. “And how do you know that?”
Man, my throat feels tight. “At Arcana… right after my second session removing the block on my powers… the world shifted. I fainted, and when I woke up, I was in this... hellscape. He pulled me there. Tharuzel the Soul Thresher.”
Sebastian’s jaw tightens. “He summoned you to him?”
“Yeah.” My voice cracks. “He said that because of the mark on our bloodline, he owns us. He said I had to bend the knee, and if I didn’t, he’d go after my sisters.”
Sebastian drags a hand through his black hair. “Shit. How did you leave things?”
“He pinned me against a wall, slashed my arm with his claw, and let my blood drip onto a contract.” I wrap my arms around myself, suddenly cold despite the warmth of the room. “I don’t even know what I agreed to. He didn’t let me read it. Just cut me and said it was a binding blood contract.”
The horror in Sebastian’s gaze squeezes my heart. “Oh, Poppy…”
“I know.” Tears burn behind my eyes. “I know it’s bad, but he threatened Violet and Lily. I didn’t know what to do.”
Sebastian’s anger doesn’t land on me. It radiates outward, crackling in the space between us. “You had no choice. Demons specialize in coercion. They corner you, threaten what you love most, and force your hand.”
“He said he sent a copy of the contract to my lawyer. So, Vale might be able to help me.”
Sebastian looks like he’s desperately trying to think of what to say. “Arcane solicitors keep records of all magical contracts, including demonic ones. If the contract is binding, your lawyer will have documentation.”
“Does that mean it might not be binding?”
Sebastian shrugs. “I can’t say, Poppy. I’m sorry.”
“I hate this.” The admission tumbles out before I can stop it. “I don’t know what he wants from me or what happens if I can’t deliver.”
Sebastian steps closer, his bright blue eyes locked on mine.
“Listen to me. You did the right thing in telling me this. Now I know who we’re up against, and I can research what we’re dealing with.
Tharuzel isn’t just trying to escape. He’s got his claws in you, which means he intends to use you in some way in his plans. ”
“And I made things worse.”
“No.” His voice is firm. “It was an impossible situation, and we came out of it knowing more than we did before. I’ll research his tactics. His weaknesses. We’ll use this to our advantage.”
I wipe my eyes. “You’re not mad?”
“At you? No. At him? Absolutely. Do the others know?”
I shake my head. “No. I couldn’t… When Mom came to me, she said I was the heir to the Hallowind legacy and to make them proud. All I could think about was how I’ve already failed and ruined everything.”
“Nothing is ruined. You told me, and we’ll deal with it. We’re in this together now, you and I.” His expression softens, and he opens his arms.
I step into his hug, and the tears flow freely. I’ve been so scared for so long about this and it’s such a relief to tell someone who understands. “Thanks. I honestly didn’t know who to trust.”
He squeezes tighter. “You can trust me. Always. Good or bad, I’ve got your back.”
The relief I feel hearing those words means more to me than I can express. And when I come in from the porch and close the door, I’m ready to put it behind me and focus on what I can control in the moment.
Until I see the look on Asher’s face. “Okay, baby girl. It’s just you and me now. What the hell is going on?”