Page 95 of The Slayer Seduction

My pulse beats like a drum in my ears. No, I can’t let Iris suffer. She’s brightness and all that’s good in the world. I can’t help but to feel like I’ve failed her yet again.

“Now, if you’re a good little slayer, and I mean superb, I’m talking employee of the century level, then I’ll let you see Iris. For every five vampires you kill, you will be rewarded. You don’t provide, then poor little Iris goes without a meal…or worse.”

“You can’t take her from me. You promised me.”

“I promised you a mate, you greedy, ungrateful monster. You’ve been brought back time and time again, living forever, and this is how you act? I didn’t promise anything other than you would have a mate bond, and well, you have that.”

“We need to get out of here, reconvene with the witches and come up with a plan to save Iris,” Adam warns.

“You were always too stubborn for your own good. Even when you were actually alive, I thought it would make you a good slayer. You might have more marks than anyone else, but you are truly disappointing me right now.”

I could do it. I could throw my stake at her heart right now and then pray that I can find Iris.

“Hmm. Or I could give Iris to another more deserving slayer. I think that’s just what I’ll do.”

What would they do to her? I’ve seen their brutality, how there isn’t much humanity left in some of them. She’s mine, and it’s my duty to protect her from everything. I need to be smart about all of this.

“Now. I’ll need Essam and Janus’ books immediately. Return those to me and meet your quota and Iris gets to live another day. Disobey me and Iris will suffer for every indiscretion you make.”

I know that Iris doesn’t want me to give her the books, but what other choice do I have?

“Give her what she wants. We need backup,” Adam says, and I know he’s right. For now I need to be patient. I can’t fly off the handle like I usually do. Iris’ safety is on the line.

“A vow,” I blurt, remembering when Iris made me vow to not leave the house until she said. It kept me in check. The magic was powerful and tethering. Whatever I can do to give Iris a better chance, it’s what I need to do. “A vow that you will keep up your end of the bargain and that if I die, you’ll free Iris.”

“What are you fucking doing?” Adam rages in my mind and I promptly ignore him.

The witch looks me over, pleased with my compromise. She rounds her desk, holding out her hand, her eyes meeting mine. Nothing about her is familiar and then I see it, the unmistakable blink of a vessel flashing in and out. This isn’t the witch’s body, not really, just as Adam’s is not mine.

Whatever magic she’s used to keep herself alive all these years requires finding a vessel and a part of me realizes she must be able to take herself in and out of the void.

“I vow it,” she agrees, the magic slithering up my arm, sealing our deal.

This could have been the greatest mistake I’ve ever made, but it’s all I can think of doing to ensure that Iris is free and able to live her life. If I have to opt out to make sure she lives a happy life, I will, but that is the last option. There’s still some hope that I can figure something out that grants us both our freedom.

The witch flicks her wand, mumbling under her breath, and it feels like a summoning of some sort.

A giant man wearing business casual clothing appears before both of us, his eyes a deep void, mirroring my own. He looks similar to the witch in front of us, both of them have the same warm olive skin, dark black hair, and cupid bow lips. The vessel he’s using was definitely the mayor's real son, but it’s clear neither of them are here anymore, both of them destroyed by the beings who took them on as vessels.

“Balam. Make sure your brother does as he’s told.”

“Yes, mistress,” the slayer says, not caring that she says his name.

He takes two long strides toward me, roughly grabbing my biceps as we portal out of the woman’s office. He teleported us right in front of Iris’ shop and apartment.

How long have they been watching us? We were never really safe, were we?

“Go get the books,” Balam says, shoving me at my back.

“You seriously work for her? Knowing that she’s the reason for all these painful cycles?”

He doesn’t even flinch at my words, but he grabs my shirt and tugs me in close so that he can growl into my ear. “You can not fight her. I have tried. She will kill your mate if you don’t do as she says.”

I pull back and appraise him. None of this makes any sense to me.

“But you were coming after her, all of you were. It was my fault because you wanted what I had.”

Balam sighs, shaking his head. “When you stopped producing vampire souls for her, she wanted you back under her control. She taunted us with everything we wanted if we provided what she needed. The others desperately wanted a mate. I have other reasons for obeying her.”