Page 89 of Soul Redeemed

Flashbacks of the pasty creatures closing in on her sprung a pattering of her heart. How frightened she’d been that they’d get the baby from her and consume it like fresh meat in front of her. Ava had imagined a dark, safe place, felt the tickle of her skin, and the warmth of her hiding spot closed in around her until only the numb pecking of the creatures could be felt. She had no recollection of how she’d managed to evade them, only remembered Calix calling to her from the other side of the sack that’d enveloped the two of them.

“Is Avalon … safe?”

“She is. Because of you.”

Ava inhaled a breath of relief and closed her eyes.

Safe.

39

The dark and simple room reminded Calix of a pre-Calla version of Logan’s, with sparse furniture and very little light streaming through the heavy drapes. The scent of tobacco and leather hung on the air, overpowering the burn of Ferno’s skin.

With Ava peacefully sleeping, Calix had felt compelled to check on his brother and know that all the important pieces of his world had remained intact. The slow rise and fall of Ferno’s chest brought Calix some modicum of relief, though hours later, his brother still hadn’t awakened.

Long slices across Ferno’s throat captured Calix’s attention, and he stared through the dim light at the path of the most unforgiveable marking that’d nearly claimed Ferno’s life.

If it had, Ava would’ve been dead.

Only a handful of demons were born with the gift of hellsfire, and it was by a miraculous string of events that his brother would possess it, and that a complete stranger who’d fallen into their lives would happen to know how to wield it.

Calix’s gaze dipped to another scar across Ferno’s collarbone, and covered by tattoos was another oddly-shaped scar, like some kind of branding. Tattoos covered most of Ferno’s shoulders, but Calix could just make out the tiny white slivers that marked a life of pain and suffering, and it occurred to him how very little he knew of his brother’s life before he’d come to live at the mansion.

Cefirina had warned Gavin that Ferno was perhaps the most damaged of all, that of any of the brothers, he’d be the most likely to betray them, but only as a means of the brainwashing he’d suffered. She hadn’t gone into details of his former life, and Ferno rarely spoke to anyone, so it remained a mystery to most. Except, perhaps, Maddox, with whom he seemed to have the closest relationship of anyone.

Her concerns turned out to be unfounded, because even when Ferno had ultimately killed Shey, he’d done it to protect his family, whom he’d believed to be at risk.

“Your female …” Ferno’s neck bobbed with a swallow, and Calix focused on the male’s atomic orange eyes that stared back at him beneath a frown.

The corner of Calix’s lips lifted with a smile. “She’s alive. Thanks to you.”

Calix caught the slightest parting of Ferno’s lips as relief blanketed his scowl. “She’ll be okay, then?”

“Yes.” Rubbing his hands together, Calix gave a nod. “Will you?”

“Yeah.” Ferno sniffed, casting his gaze away, and cleared his throat, letting Calix know he’d dipped into awkward territory with his brother. “We done here?”

Calix set his palms against his thighs to stand. “Yeah. I know you’re not one for fuss, so I’ll make it quick. Thanks for what you did back there.”

“Let Anna know, if she comes in my room one more time to check on me, I’m going to set this whole fucking place aflame,” Ferno said, ignoring what he’d said.

A beat of laughter ruptured in Calix’s chest as he stood from the chair and made his way back toward the door. “Thought you were asleep this whole time.”

“Hard to sleep, when she’s wiping me down and ruffling the goddamn sheets.”

“I’ll make sure she knows.”

“And Calix.” His words brought Calix to halt with his hand resting on the doorknob. “Glad your female’s okay.”

With a sharp nod, Calix opened the door to the hallway, not wanting to exacerbate his brother’s discomfort. One thing was clear—Ferno did not like playing the hero.

Anna hobbled up to him as he exited, carrying a tray of food and a top-sheet, neatly folded over her arm. “Was just going in to check on him. How is he?”

“I wouldn’t go in there, if I were you.”

The smile on her face fizzled to a puzzling expression.

“He’s fine, Anna.”