She was right. I’d been thinking about the ritual all this time, too, but I hadn’t brought it up because I knew she would want to try it. Killian was restrained in the strait jacket; we were keeping him locked up. But the few times when I’d taken Jasmine to see him, he’d become wild with violence. He’d hurt himself in the cell.
I could only imagine what it would look like if he managed to get hold of her. He could partially shift, and then those sharp teeth would be so close to Jasmine’s throat…
“Maybe if we put a muzzle on him, too?” Owen asked, his mind apparently going to the same place as mine.
“That might help,” Renz said.
I rubbed my forehead again. There was a pressure building in my brain that had lingered there all day. The strain really was getting the best of me. But maybe this would be thebest way. Now that Jasmine had said it aloud, none of us was going to get it out of our heads.
And we’d all feel pretty stupid if this turned out to be the solution all along. I reluctantly nodded.
“Not tonight. Tomorrow,” I said.
Jasmine pushed her food around on her plate. “Tonight. It’s dark, and people won’t be watching as much. If this doesn’t work, then I don’t want it widely spread.”
She had an unfortunate point there, too. “The more we try and fail, the tenser the situation becomes.”
“But if it works, we’ll still want the night to observe him and make sure that it sticks,” Renz said.
“Alright. Then we’ll go after we’re done eating.”
***
We gave Killian the calming tea before bringing Jasmine in. He stared blankly ahead in the cell. Renz and I had entered, and he gave no indication that he realized it was us. Renz put the muzzle on him, and Killian shook his head a little but settled quickly.
“Let’s have him face the back, so he doesn’t see her,” I suggested.
Renz agreed, and we turned Killian’s back to the door, then called Owen. He opened the cell door and held it for Jasmine as she stepped in. I remained tense as she approached, her footsteps almost silent.
Her dark eyes were fixed on him, her expression pleading. Killian remained utterly relaxed until she started to slide her arms around him. His muscles rippled, and I leaped forward,instantly yanking her back. Killian whirled, howling behind the muzzle. Renz grabbed hold of him, but he shoulder-checked him aside and went for Jasmine again.
I threw myself between them, shoving Killian back as Owen grabbed Jasmine. She let out a cry of protest as he dragged her back.
“I need to give it a proper try!” she cried. “Please!”
Renz grabbed Killian on one side. I seized his other side, and together we slammed him into the back wall. He thrashed and snarled, his black eyes locked on Jamine. Owen growled, keeping close to Jasmine as she came in again.
Killian nearly shoved me off, but Jasmine managed to hug him. She squeezed tightly, her eyes shut—then Killian smashed his head into hers. Owen pulled her back. With a snarl, Killian headbutted me, the muzzle breaking free as he did so. His jaws clamped onto the joint between my shoulder and neck. I let out a high howl of pain.
Hands grabbed me, and Renz shoved Killian back. We all stumbled from the cell and slammed the door, locking it quickly. Jasmine huddled in Owen’s arms, tears already streaming down her face.
I stepped forward, wanting to comfort her. But then the bite on my neck throbbed, and when she gasped, staring in shock at the blood as it trailed down my body, anger tore through me, stronger than my concern.
My lip pulled back into a snarl, and I leaned forward. Why was she looking at me like that? She was acting as though she were the victim here when it was all her fault! The darkness was coming, and it was coming from her. What else could her vision be? If it even was a vision, and she didn’t just make it all up—
“You’re hurt,” Jasmine said, reaching for me.
I wanted to break her arm.
The violence of my thoughts shocked me. Jasmine’s fingers brushed my face, and I lurched away from her. My heart hammered, and my mouth went dry. Both Renz and Owen were looking at me strangely, but I didn’t wait for their questions; instead stumbling into the nearest cell. I slammed the door behind me.
“Lock me in,” I snarled.
All three of them looked shocked, frozen in place.
“Lock me in before I hurt her!” I roared.
Renz and Owen leaped into action. Owen pushed Jasmine behind himself, blocking my view while Renz locked the cell. I closed my eyes, fighting against the swell of fury that spread through me.
