Font Size:  

My chest squeezed. I stroked my hand over her hair, wishing I could wipe her pain away with that gesture. I could smell a hint of the grass she must have fallen into on her skin.

“I know,” I said. “Of course you did.”

Naomi and her mother had come with the enforcers who’d brought Rose back to the hotel. Our consort had been wobbly on her feet then—might still be now if she attempted to get up. Her cousin and aunt had told us what had happened in disjointed fragments as they pieced together the story between them, but it hadn’t taken long to get the picture.

The plan with the trap had almost worked, but only almost. Rose had expended so much energy trying to push the demon into the cage that she’d fainted and been out cold for an hour before she’d come to. The witch medic had said she needed quiet and rest—And when she’s up for it, her spark will probably need stoking, she’d added with a meaningful look at the five of us.

“It came close to working,” Kyler said. He rubbed Rose’s calf where he was sitting near the foot of the bed, his expression tensed with worry. “We could try again, build off what we saw this time—”

Rose shook her head. “We weren’t strong enough.Iwasn’t strong enough.” She swallowed audibly. “I could feel it, you know—the way the demon-ness in me could affect the demon. I gave everything, and it wasn’t enough.”

“It’s not all on you,” Seth said firmly. “The Assembly can gather more witches, add to their power that way.”

“Our regular magic hardly touches it,” Rose said. “Itison me. And I can’t do it. Even if we could try the trap again… The way it’s moving, it’ll be here at the city before we could fix the cage and get everything together.” She pressed closer to me. “It’s coming here. How many people are going to die before this is over?”

I couldn’t do anything except hug her. The hopelessness in her voice wrenched at me, but the same emotion filled the space between my ribs with a hollow ache. I didn’t know how to fix this, how to stop that monster, either.

Damon scooted closer to Rose on her other side, kissing the back of her head. His arm tightened around her shoulders in a gesture I suspected only looked that possessive because I was the guy closest to him. He still hadn’t really forgiven me for leaving—and, well, I wasn’t sure I blamed him. I wasn’t sureI’dcompletely forgiven myself for putting Rose through that much pain to carry out my plan.

All we could do now was move forward, though. So we stayed cuddled in a ring around her, offering her everything we could.

There might be more we could offer, as the medic had hinted. Jin clearly hadn’t missed that insinuation. After Rose had relaxed into the mattress again, he trailed his fingers lightly over her thigh, smoothing the fabric of her sweatpants.

“It sounds like you drained yourself, Briar Rose,” he said, his voice low. “If you need the full consort experience, just say the word.” His smile came out a little crooked.

Rose barely stirred. “This is enough for now,” she said. “My spark doesn’t hurt anymore.”

“If we gave you all the powerwecan,” Ky started, but she was already shaking her head again.

“You did. I had everything I could have asked for, everything the bonds between us would allow. Every witch has her limits.”

“No matter how eager her consorts are?” Damon asked suggestively, raising his eyebrow.

“Yes,” she muttered, with enough good humor to elbow him in mock offense. But a second later her face had fallen again. I didn’t know what was going on with the spark of magic inside her, but too much of her usual energy had gone out of her eyes.

Everything the bonds between us would allow. Her words traveled through my mind as I pressed my lips to her forehead. It tugged up memories from past conversations. An idea lit in my own head, so sudden and bright I had to hold myself back from sitting upright with a jerk.

Instead, I eased myself up and glanced around at the other guys. “Why don’t we see what kind of dinner we can put together, then? And anything else that could make Rose even more comfortable while she’s recovering.”

“It’s okay,” Rose started, but I gave her a no-arguments look.

“We’ll feel better if we’re doing something. And you have to eat—that’s not up for discussion.”

The other guys started to move off the bed as I caught their eyes in turn, hoping my expression would clue them in that I had a bigger reason for calling us out of the room. Only Damon didn’t budge.

“You can all figure that stuff out,” he said, glowering at me. “I think I’m better off—”

I cut him off. “Damon, we’re going to need you too. You’re the take-out expert for this neighborhood now, aren’t you?”

I kept my tone light, but the look I was giving him sharpened. Damon made a face. For a second, I thought he still hadn’t gotten a clue and was going to insist on arguing more, but then he kissed Rose’s cheek and pushed himself off the bed.

“I’ll be right back, angel,” he said.

He came out into the living room with the rest of us, scowling. “She needs us right now,” he said, with at least enough self-control to keep his voice down. “We shouldn’t be leaving her alone. I know you have all your great heroic plans, but—”

I held up my hand. “Damon. You’re still pissed off at me. I get it. And I’m still sorry for how that all went down. But thisisabout Rose—about her needing us. Can you at least let me explain?”

His jaw worked, but he sank onto the arm of the sofa. “Make it quick.”

Source: www.allfreenovel.com
Articles you may like