Page 100 of The Slayer Seduction

“You really believe she will do that?”

“No. But at least I know he’s alive, that I get to see him every time a cycle ends. Sometimes I’m able to find him.”

“If you could be with him forever no matter where it was, even if it was in the void, would you do it? I know I would for my Iris.”

“I would,” he says solemnly.

I don’t mention that we only found three additional spell books with the same signature on them. Has Celeste destroyed this other slayer’s spell book? Has someone else figured out a way to eradicate the books?

“Then work with me. Help me take down this witch and spend eternity with the one you love. We both want the same thing.”

“She’s fucking strong. You haven’t seen what she can do, she can’t be destroyed,” he says, clearly a broken slayer if I’ve ever seen one.

“That was before you had me, wolves, vampires, and a coven at your back.”

“Vampires? I’d rather die than work with them,” he says, and I know the instinct. This magic drives us to want to kill them. It’s all at Celeste’s command and that’s all it takes for me to want to push back.

“We have the same enemy. That is all that matters.”

“Where do we start?”

“First, we’re going to kill some vampires,” I say, which confuses him, but he definitely doesn’t have any complaints as we both grab stakes and I teleport us to the first address that the slimy vampire gave me.

Every single drop of anger I have over the situation, I take out on these vampires. It’s cathartic in a way, even though each kill doesn’t fill me with the same joy as it used to.

Now I know that with each plunge of a stake in a vampire’s heart, that energy transfers right to Celeste.

Yet, I continue on with what must be done.

Celeste must believe that we’re compliant and willing to do whatever we need to in order to keep our loved one’s safe. When the opportunity is right, we’re going to take our lives back.

Part of me is worried that killing Celeste means that I’ll perish along with her, but I’ve already come to terms with my own death. What I can’t fathom is Iris no longer walking these mortal lands.

Fuck, I miss her so much. What I wouldn’t do to go back and make better choices? I should have never let her hand go. I know sulking won’t change anything, it’s just impossible to not have regrets.

There aren’t a number of cycles that would ever feel sufficient for us to be together. But she has already given me the best moments of all my existence.

I got to meet her, hold her, love her.

That will have to be enough for me, because Iris is needed here. I’m not.

My stake sinks into this vampire’s chest cavity until I fully puncture their heart and they combust into a pile of goo. I’m covered in gore and I know Iris would hate it, and I’m mad that she isn’t here to tell me off.

I need her back.

Balam is panting next to me. He’s equally covered in blood. This nest of vampires was larger than what was on Warin’s list. Maybe he didn’t want some of these vampires dead, but that’s really not my problem.

“So, what now?” he asks.

“Now we see if the witch holds up her end of the deal.”

It’s not surprising when she doesn’t. She said the quota was for forgiveness and that Iris is safe. That’s all I get. I leave Balam behind so that I can figure out my next move.

The only witch’s home I know of is Violet’s, so I teleport right in front of the purple mansion, ready to beg on my knees for help. I’ve already told them everything I know, including that Iris is apparently trapped in the void.

The yard is rife with people, and it pleases me that so many people also want Iris back safe and sound. So much of my life has been a solitary mission, and it’s comforting to have people on my side for once.

I’ll need every bit of help that I can get.