AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I know that, too. And I know exactly what the other male is implying with his simple statement.
Jerking away from his friendly touch, I rear a few steps back. He lets me go, believing that I can’t stand the heat of his palm against my skin. And while that’s so, the rage pulses through me and, as I look at the artist, I don’t see the kindness in his yellow eyes.
I only see the male who thinks to come between me and my mate.
It never even occurs to me to use magic. Primal and torn, I react with force.
Ducking my head, I slam into Malphas with my two-horns. Four points rip into the bulk of his solid shoulder as Malphas clamps his jaw shut so his mate can’t hear him cry out in pain.
He didn’t turn shadow. As though he never expected me to charge him, he stayed solid as I hit him. And because Iamshadow, my strike cut him even deeper.
Blood perfumes the air. As if I wasn’t already on the cusp of losing my control—or maybe I’ve already lost it—the scent of demon blood would have pushed me over. Throwing back my head, I bare my fangs at Malphas and snarl.
I was once a mage. I wanted to be one again for Kennedy, to be the male worthy of her love and her heart. But a century in the shadows has turned me into the beast she accustomed me of once being, and as the rage floods my vein, it’s like I never left the shadows.
Kill.
Tear.
Hunt.
Survive.
I stamp my foot in the ash, the rough pieces cutting past my shadow and slicing my heel. No matter. Tucking my chin to my chest, showing off my two-horns, I prepare to rush him again when, suddenly, Kennedy’s pretty face flashes in front of my face. Like a vision, like a haze, like a phantom, she hovers between Malphas and me.
For her, I am a good male. For her, I am a demon, but not demonic. For my precious Kennedy, I would pluck the gold moon from the sky with my claws and give it to her, if she’d only ask. I’d turn meat into a pet, I’d leave my sanctuary in the shadows to rejoin the village, and I’d do anything and everything for my female.
She is my heart beating outside of my chest, and the only thing that can battle the shadows threatening to take me over. I’d never task her with that—it isn’t fair to put my sanity in her dainty little hands—but while my tempestuous mate will forgive me for assuming she knew she was carrying out spawn, I know her inside and out.
She will never forgive me if I go fully demonic again. Because as I would lose her, she would lose me. There are depths to the shadows my human mate cannot follow me, and while our mate bond saved me once, once was all I get.
If I had to go through the pain of losing her, I would if it pleased Kennedy. But I will never put her through the same, no matter what it costs me.
Even if it costs me her anyway…
A howl erupts from my throat. Digging in my heels, I straighten, twisting so that my horns aren’t angled at anyone. Not Malphas. Not Apollyon or his mate. Not—
Glaine.
It’s the green eyes that give him away. I met him centuries ago in Marvo, when I was first brought to the School of Mages. Duke Haures’ lead guard and soldier, everyone in Sombra knows of him. If he’s here, it’s on the duke’s orders.
And next to him, stepping out of a portal, the golden runes running down his inky black, shadowy arms, is a male I haven’t seen in a hundred years.
Sammael. My friend. My mentor.
Purple eyes—mage eyes—gleam out of his red face. “Loki. It is time.”
The sharp tone is familiar. It’s not Kennedy, so I don’t want to listen, but at the same time, it demands me to obey.
If only I had the last time I faced him.
In between his hands, he’s conjured a length of enchanted chain. Powerful enough to contain and unbonded demon and his essence, Sammael has thrown all his might behind enchanting the chains.
Good. Because I feel the rage returning, and the only thing that shall save my Kennedy for anymore pain is that length of chain.
Straight-backed and proud, I shake my head, showing off my set of double horns. And then, for my heart, for myfamily, I hold out my hands and allow Glaine to slap the manacles on the wrists of my shadow form.
CHAPTER18
