Page 108 of The Slayer Seduction

“Too many to remember. Perhaps thirty?”

My breath hitches and then I think about how long the Slayer waited for me. When they care for someone, time doesn’t make a difference.

“Help us and we’ll figure out how to get you together, wherever that may be,” I tell him and he looks down at his shoes.

“You think I’m a fool?”

“No, I think you’re a man in love, doing whatever it takes to find your other half. There’s nothing foolish about that,” I tell him as I squeeze Adam’s hand.

“This is quite the army you’ve gathered. I think possibly one strong enough to take her down. Where do I fit into your plans?”

“How do you feel about being bait?” Adam asks him.

The new slayer doesn’t hesitate. “Whatever it takes to kill her, I’m willing to do.”

I see it in his gaze that he means it. The amount of hurt and devastation that Celeste has caused is just unbelievable, and she needs to be stopped.

“Then let’s get you caught up on the plan,” Adam says, pulling him to the side.

I glance down Perdido Street, seeing all of these supernaturals coming together. It’s something I couldn’t have imagined before but it feels right. We all have to hide ourselves from the mortals, and we’ve spent too much time going at it alone. Maybe it took a common enemy to truly unite us, but we’re all here.

Magic feels like it’s wanting to burst out of me in waves. The rage I feel toward this witch isn’t anything I’ve ever experienced before. My mom would be here with our coven today if it weren’t for her. The Slayer and Adam wouldn’t have suffered. I wouldn’t have been looking over my shoulder for the last year waiting for the big bad that was coming after me. Maybe I would have accepted the Slayer sooner if my visions weren’t so terrifying.

We’re here for justice, for everything she’s ever done, and I’m ready to make her pay.

I’m so lost in my own plots for revenge that Adam surprises me when he comes to stand behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist and resting his chin on the top of my head.

“The plan is going to work. This ends tonight,” he promises and even though there’s no way he can guarantee that to me, I hold on to that promise. “The buildings are all cleared out. It’s time for the Slayer to take over and for you all to do your part.”

I turn around in his arms, running my palms down his chest. “You’re a part of this too.”

He grabs my wrists, bringing them to his mouth and placing gentle kisses on each one. “I know. I’ll be there the whole time. The Slayer still isn’t as strong as he wants to be. If anything feels off, we’ll teleport right out of there. We won’t let go of you the entire time.”

With a heavy breath I give him a nod of assurance.

“Let’s go and get this over with,” I say.

The vampires and wolves are on standby in case Celeste brings anyone else to the fight, meanwhile all the witches of the Celestial Coven and the New Orleans Coven circle the building, creating an unescapable barrier, ready to fight if it comes to it.

Adam leans down, pressing a sweet kiss against my lips as the Slayer takes over. He steals his own kiss as he pulls away. His face is serious, and he doesn’t say a word as he grabs my hand. He holds my palm like I might slip through his fingers, and with a quick, disorienting moment, we teleport right into the mayor’s office along with Balam.

The books sit on her shelf as if they’re just an ordinary book, not ones that contain the ability to take and ruin lives. We leave them be, for now, as we wait.

It takes a long five minutes before Celeste portals in front of us. She looks annoyed as she crosses her arms and glances between the two slayers and where my Slayer holds my hand.

“Very impressive, all of it,” she says in a condescending tone, and I notice that she’s inching toward the shelf.

I hold my wand up high. “Don’t you move another inch.”

Celeste laughs sardonically. “What exactly are you going to do, Iris? It’s really cute that he slipped you out of the void and you got everyone working together outside, but it doesn’t matter.”

My hand trembles and the Slayer’s grip in mine tightens.

She doesn’t seem to notice Balam slowly moving around the desk. She’s focused on us and that’s exactly what we need.

“You think I can’t make a few more slayers? Start over somewhere new?”

This is why beings shouldn’t live this long, she’s delusional and unattached from reality.