Page 12 of Demonic Affliction

Nyx and Rhune exchange a glance. “After what?”

“After I blacked out. What happened?”

That look again. “Are you sure you do not want to get some more rest before we talk about that?” Rhune asks. “I am worried about you.”

Oh God. It must have been bad.

The blood drains from my face. “I need to know. Please. Just… just tell me.”

Nyx takes a deep breath and begins telling the story. How I blacked out, and the entity in my body took over and tried to kill everyone. When he gets to the part where I tried to kill Rhune, something cold and sick settles in the pit of my stomach, and I have to take several deep breaths through my nose to keep from vomiting.

“When Rhune held up your mom’s necklace, it seemed to draw you out of whatever prison the entity had you locked in. And as soon as you were free, you fought. You fought for your life, and for all of ours. I do not know how, but you managed to push that thing back. You won.” He shakes his head, amazement shining in his turquoise eyes. “Without you, we all would have died, Willow.”

“Without me, you wouldn’t have been in danger in the first place,” I say, brokenly. I can’t believe I almost killed them all. I can’t believe that thing tried to use my body to end their lives.

I reach up, clutching the pendant hanging between my breasts like a lifeline. “I’m so sorry… I never wanted to hurt either of you… any of you…”

“You didn’t, beautiful.” Nyx leans in, pressing his lips to my forehead. “You saved us. That thing was not you. It couldn’t be more different from my wonderful mate. It is vile and twisted and evil, and you are good and pure and lovely. So very, very lovely.”

I gaze up at him, emotion building in my chest—so much of it, all at once, that it bursts from my pores and colors the air around us with warmth. Without thinking, I reach up, grab his horns, and pull him down for a kiss that says everything I can't put into words.

“Fuck.” Nyx pulls back slightly. “That was…”

“Everything.” I press my forehead against his. “You’re everything to me. You and Rhune.”

Hearing his name, Rhune whines, tilting my head toward him for a kiss of his own. I let him have it, falling into the intoxicating sensation of heat and safety that finds me every time Rhune and I embrace.

I let my anxiety fall away, and I enjoy the moment. For a while, it’s perfect. I’m complete. I’m happy.

The knock on the door breaks the spell I was under.

I pull away from Rhune just as Dagny throws open the door, wearing her glowing suit of armor and a smile that seems a little too chipper based on everything that happened recently.

“Well, hello, sunshine! Someone’s looking better—so much less like a corpse!”

“Um… thank you?” I glance at Nyx for confirmation, but he just shakes his head with a chuckle.

“You are always perfect to me, my mate. But you do have more color to your cheeks now, which is always a good sign.” He winks, and I feel a familiar rush of warmth travel up my neck to my face. “You see? A very good sign, indeed.”

Dagny walks over to the bed. She sits on the edge, taking me in with those strange silver-ringed eyes. After a while, she leans in but doesn't touch me, just looks deep in my eyes.

“How are you feeling?”

“I’m a little sore, but other than that…” I shrug. “Everything important seems to be intact, considering.”

“Yes… Things got pretty intense there for a minute.” Dagny leans back, her expression hardening as she’s lost to a memory. Her fingers curl into fists, knuckles paling, and for a second, I think she might say something else. Then she blinks, and whatever it was disappears behind that easy smile again.

I clear my throat. “So I heard…” I look down at my clasped hands, biting my lip hard enough to taste blood. “I’m sorry about… you know…” Trying to kill you and your mates.

Dagny waves me off with a reassuring smile. “It’s nothing. We’re all alive, and that’s what matters. Right?”

“Right.”

“Good.” She slaps her knees as she stands, then turns to face me with a wide grin. “Now, eat some breakfast and have your lovely mates take you down to the healing baths. Once you’re feeling a bit better, I’d love to give you a tour of my home and talk a little bit.” She gives me a conspiratorial look. “You know, just us girls.”

The weight behind her words doesn't quite match her cheery smile, but I can't tell if I'm imagining it. “That sounds great,” I say. “I’ll see you in a bit.”

“See you in a bit, Willow.”