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Orpheus breathes like a caged tiger ready to pounce, his chest heaving from his rage. “Who the hell are you to question me, Daemon? I’m your leader, and I do what I want.” Reaching down, he pulls the knife from his thigh. Orpheus glares over his shoulder at Mackenzie before turning his fury on Daemon.
“You’re willing to fuck everything up to mess with these kids?”
Orpheus glowers at him, displeased that Daemon is challenging his authority. He stalks forward, getting in Daemon’s face. The visible tension between the two men is suffocating as they stand in the attic, chests heaving, glaring at one another.
“Don’t worry about what I’m doing,” Orpheus seethes.
Daemon holds the leather book under his arm, seemingly unfazed. “Apparently someone needs to. You’re deviating from the ritual.” His eyes meet mine before returning to the devil. “You’re up here, torturing these kids instead of doing what you should be doing—the next steps to begin your accession.”
Although I hate being called a kid, I’m grateful for the intrusion.
Orpheus glares at him. “Fuck you.”
Daemon shrugs. “Good luck ascending.” He shakes his head. “I thought you wanted this? You’ve been preparing for months. You’ve already fucked up once by killing your last sacrifice, so you had to go in search of another and wound up with two. And now you’re fucking up another ritual?”
His words seem to bring Orpheus to his senses. Reaching down, he buttons his jeans. “Fine. Let’s go. I need to get ready.” He limps to the stairs without a backward look at us.
Daemon shakes his head, his sigh echoing around the attic. He pulls a knife from his sheath, holding it up. My body tremors as I stare at him with wide eyes.
Mackenzie’s slight footsteps fill my ears. I sense her beside me, but I don’t take my eyes off Daemon.
“Please, don’t hurt him.” Mackenzie’s mournful voice cuts through my heart. “T-Take me, instead.”
Daemon raises a brow. “I’m not going to hurt or take either of you.” Striding toward me, he glances at Mackenzie. “I’m just going to cut him down. This isn’t part of the ritual.” Setting the book on the floor, he cleanly swipes the knife across the ropes. My body drops, but he catches me before I fall. Lowering me to my feet, there’s a warning in his eyes. “Don’t try anything stupid.”
He backs away, the knife still in his hand. “I have no interest in hurting you. I have business I need to attend to that’s been delayed.” Grabbing the book, he spins, watching us over his shoulder as he strides to the stairs. Once at the top of the stairs, he lowers the knife to his side before leaving.
Mackenzie falls against me, her eyes on the spot where Daemon once stood.
I kiss her forehead, wrapping my arms around her, holding her trembling form against me. Relief rolls through me because I managed to stop the assault. This time.
When the door closes and locks, I whisper, “He didn’t tie you up.”
31
CHASE
Mackenzie’s slight form trembles as she clings to me. I lean my head against hers, pressing reassuring kisses against the top of her head.
“Chase.”
“It’s okay, Kenz. I stopped it.”
Tearful eyes shimmer back and forth between mine. “Are you hurt?”
I slowly shake my head. “I’m fine,” I grit out, sore from being hung and fighting Orpheus but not wanting to burden her with that knowledge. It’s my cross to bear as I try to figure out how to manipulate him to protect her.
“T-Thank you.” A hiccup comes from her. Her pink lips curl into an embarrassed smile before she says, “Sorry. I’m just emotional.”
“You don’t have to thank me.” I squeeze her fingers in mine. “I wish I could take all his wrath to spare you from it.” My thumb rubs over her knuckles. “Don’t apologize for anything you feel, angel.Ever.”
Her skin and eyes are luminous as she looks up at me. I can see the hunger and yearning in her eyes, just as she sees it in mine.
“This is hell, Kenz. But I’m not giving up hope that I’ll get us out of here. You’re too damn important to me.”
Our faces gravitate closer. My gaze drops to her lips, drinking in their fullness, before flicking up to her eyes, seeking permission. When she subtly nods her head, I move in, feeling her warm breaths feathering over my face before I press my lips against hers.
It’s an explosion of sights and sounds. I’m standing in a meadow, birds singing overhead, the sun warming my skin as the gentle breeze dances over us. My skin hums and buzzes as the electricity courses between us. She moans, and I deepen the kiss, devouring her lips. I’ve never felt anything so right and magical in my eighteen years on this earth.
