Sleeper_Google, page 35
part #3 of Hunter Series
I was still shaking from it, but my mind was racing. It wasn’t mere power and strength I’d gotten. It was so much more, but there was too much. Too many different sources to pull from. It was a storm in my brain.
It didn’t take long to realize that I would die here if I didn’t think of something. I let it flow over me, trying to figure out what to do, what power to choose. Donovan’s strength meant nothing if I couldn’t get my hands on Jude. It whispered through my brain that Donovan could fly and that meant I could for now, but that seemed super risky. I needed power and strength that I could control with little learning curve. If I fell again, I was probably done for.
A storm. It was like a storm in my brain.
The Ala. She was here. Gladys hummed her assent, approving of my choice.
“Your plane will run red with blood. Purification will be only the first step.” Jude was having a grand old time talking about the coming apocalypse. He was totally playing to his audience. He glanced over at the demons. “And then we shall come for the lowest plane.”
The demons didn’t like that idea, but I couldn’t think about it now. I was pulling together the Ala’s power. It was fresh and I could see how to use it. Gladys pulsed in my hand as I envisioned a mighty storm. Localized, of course. I didn’t want to rain baseball-sized hail down on anyone except my target.
“The demons shall be destroyed.” Jude’s wings flapped slowly. “You will not be needed in the new order and not tolerated for a moment more.”
There was a mighty crack and the arena shook as the sky above Jude opened up and rained down on him. Huge chunks of ice fell from the black cloud that had formed. I concentrated on every single one hitting his ass.
Or any part of his body I could get at.
A big, nasty piece hit his wing and I heard it crack, saw the blood begin to flow, and he was falling. He managed to steer himself down, falling to his knees and protecting his head with the cover of those wings. They wound around him, sheltering him.
I couldn’t let that happen. I needed more.
Lightning flashed through the arena, striking near the angel. My aim could be better, but I did manage to get him to come out of protective mode. He drew his wings back, cradling his injured wing. His eyes stared through me and I knew what hate looked like. He hated me, hated this plane, hated everything he didn’t understand fully. Only one way would ever make sense to this version of Jude and I understood what Felicity had told me. Angels fell when their time was right. Jude wasn’t ready for an angelic existence. It was time to allow him to transform.
All my anger fled and an odd sympathy crept through me as Jude lifted his sword and ran my way. I had just figured out my place and there was comfort in that. He’d said I had no higher purpose, but I had the greatest one of all. To protect the ones I loved. To force myself to care about even those I couldn’t stand. It was my mission.
What had Donovan called it? Woman’s work. Yes. He would play the king and rule with authority, but when it came to compromising, to bending and protecting the weakest among us, it would be me and the queen who were called upon.
And I had a job to do now.
Jude charged, his face a mask of rage, and I called down a lightning strike, this time my aim proving true. That bolt of pure energy struck the top of his head, and I watched as his body shook and shook. I could hear the angels weeping and the demons cheering, but I didn’t feel triumphant. There was happiness that Felix would awaken and I could reunite a family, that Neil wouldn’t have to worry about being a crazy sleeper agent again, that we would all be safe. But I felt for him. Maybe it was Gladys or maybe I was becoming a more well-rounded assassin, but all I could think of in that moment was how much promise he’d wasted.
Raphael was suddenly at my side. “It’s time, child. It’s all right. Do your duty and have no guilt in the action.”
The lightning let him go and Jude fell to his knees. It was easy to see how spent he was. Perhaps I was bloodier, but he’d taken a shit ton of voltage and it had been imbued with Gladys’s unique energy. His wings drooped and I knew I should make it quick.
“Choose better next time.”
Gladys guided my hand as I brought her up and down and separated Jude the Faithful’s head from his body. Before his head could hit the ground, it turned to ash and was gone. His body stayed visible for a mere moment before it too turned and floated away.
I stared at the spot and hoped that like my father, he found a happier existence next time around.
Then the world started to go fuzzy again. I could hear the crowd screaming, cheering me, but it seemed to come from somewhere far away. Gladys fell from my hand and the minute I lost her, weakness sent me to my knees.
The sand was warm under me. Warm and soft and I realized why. I’d started bleeding again. The pain hit me now that I’d used the power. I was bleeding from multiple sources, each and every one aching like a motherfucker. I could feel where he’d split open a good portion of my face.
“Your friends are coming,” Raphael said, kneeling beside me. “They’ll take care of you now. I thank you for setting my brother free and for balancing out the king’s more aggressive instincts. Perhaps he will listen to you and your queen more often now that he knows where her crown truly comes from. Hold on. They’re almost here. Let Donovan know I’ll come for my brother’s sword in due time.”
He blinked away and I couldn’t even hold my head up.
“Donovan!”
Gray was shouting. He sank into the sand beside me, reaching for me. Trent knelt down and looked me over.
“Don’t worry, baby.” Trent managed something of a smile. “The king is on his way, along with the academics. There is going to be so much blood to heal you. You won’t even remember how bad it feels right now. Gray, we’re going to need to hold her skin together or I’m worried how it will heal.”
I will give it to my wolf. He’s calm in a crisis. Must have been his military training. His voice stayed even, but I knew what he was talking about. He was worried that if they didn’t hold my skin together I would heal with parts of me on the outside. That’s how broken I was.
“Give me some room.” The king strode across the sand. Zoey ran beside him, her clothes bloodied but otherwise perfectly well. That’s what vamp blood will do for you. The blood left over was the only sign Zoey had suffered at all.
“Liv, can you get Kelsey’s face? Hold it together so it heals right,” Trent asked. “Gray and I will make sure her belly heals properly and Jamie can pull the skin back over her clavicle.”
Damn, I was fucked up. I couldn’t wait until that blood started working its magic and I felt whole again. Everything hurt. My body was a massive wound that wouldn’t stop bleeding.
“No,” a dark voice said.
Gray’s head went up. “Brother?”
I forced my eyes open and Nemcox was standing there, his father at his side.
“I said no vampire blood,” the demon insisted. He stared down at me with pitch black eyes. “We agreed to it.”
“But she’s dying.” Gray smoothed my hair back. “She’s not going to last long enough for her body to heal.”
“We’ve got a couple of minutes, maybe,” Trent agreed. “There’s not even time for a healing spell to work. Vampire blood is the only thing that will save her.”
“And it will mark her as the property of Vampire and then she can’t sign a contract.” Nemcox looked me over as though academically assessing my wounds.
I felt Trent move, but I was too weak to say anything. There was a crowd around me, blocking out the light.
“Did you not see what the rest of us saw?” the king asked. “I think we can safely say Kelsey is her own person. Let me save her and we’ll talk. You can’t haul her off to Hell if she dies.”
The demon grinned and held up a piece of paper. “I can if she signs this. It gives me her soul after death. I think you’ll find there is no clause in our contracts that prevents anyone from signing away their soul after they die. All of your language is strictly to protect the living.”
Lord Sloane chuckled. “You need better lawyers, Donovan.”
Nemcox shoved a piece of paper toward me. I could bet what it would say. It would ensure my descent into Hell after my soul left my body. Which wouldn’t be long now. “Here you go, dear. You can sign now or I’ll tell my father the truth.”
“You can’t do this,” Gray said, sounding utterly horrified. “She’s mine. I make the decisions concerning her.”
“Not when you make such horrible ones,” his brother replied. “You’ll thank me later.”
I wanted to say something but I was so tired. So fucking tired. I wasn’t sure if I would be able to sign my name to the document Nemcox was holding up for me.
“Father, talk to him,” Gray begged.
Lord Sloane shook his head. “He won’t be reasonable about this and honestly, I don’t care. I think I would rather know the secret. The girl is valuable in a breeding fashion, but I think she’ll still be trouble. If I have to choose, I pick knowing her secret. And yet your brother won’t tell me.”
So my father was still safe. Nemcox hadn’t broken our deal.
“Sign, dear, and we can be done.” Nemcox started to lean over. “Or simply say the words. Say ‘I give my immortal soul to you, Lord Nemcox, and wish to dwell with you forever.’ Then you can die in peace.”
“I don’t want her to die.” Gray looked up to the king. “Do something. She’s your Nex Apparatus. Or you, Queen Zoey. Please. I need time. I can make him see reason, but not if Kelsey’s dead.”
Where was Trent?
I wanted to see him one last time. I wasn’t sure how long I had. Donovan was arguing with Lord Sloane about something and Gray was pleading with the queen. Jamie had gotten to his feet and was yelling for Marcus to come and help me and Liv was trying her hardest to say some spell that would start my healing process.
“Gray?” I tried to squeeze his hand.
He was looking up at the queen. “Talk to him. Please, you can’t let this happen.”
“I’m not going to,” Zoey was saying.
It was chaos all around me. They were all talking and arguing and nearly coming to blows.
“Say the words, Hunter.” Nemcox’s voice was a snake in my ear, slithering and tempting. “Tell me you’re mine and you can die knowing your father is safe. If you don’t, you’ll go into eternity knowing you’ll never see him again. I won’t merely kill him. I’ll annihilate his soul.”
I looked past him and saw a flash of silver and then Nemcox stiffened, his midnight eyes going wide. There was the sickening sound of flesh versus blade, and Nemcox was staring down at the hole in his chest.
He stood there for a moment and then his body turned to dust, forming a pile on the ground.
All those years of life, of evil, nothing but a pile of ash.
The world seemed still for a moment, and I wasn’t exactly certain what had happened. I heard someone shouting. It was Gray, and he wasn’t holding my hand anymore. It was Zoey Donovan-Quinn at my side.
“Drink up, Kelsey. Do it now. I’m not taking no for an answer,” she said, nodding at her husband.
What had happened? I’d seen a glimpse of metal and I could have sworn Trent had been the one holding a sword. I’d seen a flash of his serious face right before Nemcox had started to bleed.
Only a heavenly sword could kill an immortal demon, and then only when he was in his full form.
What had Donovan done?
He was shoving his wrist at my mouth and I found myself held down. I looked up and the king was staring at me. “I know I promised, but I can’t allow you to die. I can’t. And I won’t allow you to descend.”
His blood was already flowing into my mouth and there was nothing I could do to stop it. Hell, I didn’t want to stop it. The minute I tasted that rich, dark velvet blood, all I wanted was more. Strength immediately flowed through my veins and I wasn’t lying there weakly. I was sucking it down.
“That’s right,” Donovan encouraged. “That sword Jude used on you was heavenly. The wounds are much worse than anything you’ve taken before. Take what you need.” He leaned over. “I wasn’t going to let you descend to protect my son. He needs you here. We need you here.”
He’d planned this. It hadn’t been Gladys Trent had wielded. It was worse. Nemcox might have had a shot with Gladys, since she wasn’t being used by a favored tribe member. But Trent had used the Sword of Justice. No one could survive that.
It was why Donovan had insisted on all demons coming in full form, no possessions allowed. It was why Donovan had made the trial public, to lure Nemcox to the one place where he would feel safe but be vulnerable. It was why Raphael hadn’t taken the sword immediately.
Trent had killed Nemcox.
Trent had killed Gray’s brother.
Shit.
I shoved up, able to move now. Trent had murdered a full-blooded demon in front of a mass audience of demons. They wouldn’t give a fuck that he’d done it for love. They would tear him apart, and Gray might lead the charge.
“What have you done?” I nearly shouted the question at Donovan.
“What I had to do,” he replied.
“They’ll kill him.” I scrambled, looking for Gladys. I couldn’t let them tear Trent apart.
Donovan was back on his feet and I realized with great relief that Trent wasn’t being eviscerated. A thick vine snaked around him, forming a protective circle. He stood in the middle, the Sword of Justice in his hand. Quinn stood, his back to the Council crowd as he moved the thickly thorned vine this way and that, wielding it as a weapon against the throng of demons surrounding my wolf.
“Dev can handle them for now,” Donovan promised.
Zoey shook her head. “I begged him to let someone else do it, but Trent didn’t trust anyone else.”
My heart was in my throat. I didn’t realize how terrified I could be until that moment. It was totally different to be the person in the middle of a blood-thirsty crowd than it was to be the one watching a person you love in the same position. I would have done anything to have switched places with him.
I pushed my way through the crowd and was horrified to find Gray at the front. His horns had come out, his fangs curving and claws ready to tear into his opponent’s flesh. Unfortunately, that flesh belonged to our third, and I wasn’t about to let that happen.
“What are you doing?” I pulled at Gray’s arm.
He didn’t look back. “Get out of here, Kelsey.”
Trent had caught sight of me. Some kind of slime demon put a hand on my arm and Trent started toward us.
I put up a hand. “Don’t you fucking dare leave that circle, you massive sneaky asshole.” I shoved an elbow back, catching the stinky thing in its…parts… You can almost never tell with slime demons. It could have been his balls for all I knew, but it did the trick.
“Baby, I did it for us,” Trent yelled. “Gray, forgive me. You know he wasn’t going to back down.”
“I could have talked to him,” Gray insisted. “Come out here, you coward.”
“I’m not afraid of you,” Trent replied. “But she’s a different story. I really am afraid of her.”
He better be. “Stay that way. Don’t you dare step outside that circle until I find a way to fix this.”
Gray turned to me and his pain was so plain I wanted to reach out and put my arms around him. “There is no fixing this. He killed my brother.”
“Who was planning on torturing our woman,” Trent shot back. “I know you’re hurting, brother, but you have to see why I did this.”
“Never call me that,” Gray roared and surged toward Trent, but the Green Man’s vine smacked him back.
A strong hand wound around my arm, pulling me outside the fray. Lord Sloane wasn’t playing around. He dragged me until we were behind the line of fire.
“I hope you’re a truly spectacular lay because this is a fucking mess,” he snarled down at me. “You do understand that I’m in a position to require the werewolf’s head. We recently agreed to negotiate with the Council and now I have to execute the queen’s trusted bodyguard. That’s what got us into this fucking position in the fucking first place. I hope you enjoy this. I have no choice.”
“You do.” My mind was whirling, but I wasn’t good at politics. “You can forgive him in an attempt to keep the balance on the plane. You know what happens when Heaven decides we’re not handling our shit.”
“Yes, and we were almost free.” Lord Sloane smoothed down his jacket. “Now, because my son can’t keep it in his pants around you, and my other son couldn’t stop plotting, we’re right back where we were. All that pain you just went through was for nothing. I can’t back down without reason. I have to look strong.”
I couldn’t allow this to happen. I couldn’t save the damn day only to lose Trent. He’d been willing to go to Hell with me. He wasn’t going to be executed. I had to find a way.
Lord Sloane put up a hand and the demons quieted immediately. Well, except for Gray. He had two men in suits—his father’s contingent—holding him back and he was still trying to get at Trent.
“You know he’s in a rage, right?” The queen stood beside me. “When demons get particularly emotional, it’s hard for them to reason. Don’t judge Gray too harshly. If he had hurt Trent, he would almost certainly have regretted it.”
Gray didn’t look like he would regret anything. “Why would you sacrifice Trent? After everything he’s done for you.”
I would plead with the queen, lay on the guilt, do anything I had to do to stop Trent from being executed.
“I have no intentions of sacrificing him,” the queen replied. “Though I don’t doubt there will be some punishment. Wait. Trust me. Please.”
“King Daniel, I request your presence.” Lord Sloane looked calm and cool, almost as though requesting justice for his son was a real drag on his day. Despite the fact that Nemcox had been a prick who’d threatened my father and me and who’d been more than willing to let me die to further his own agenda, I couldn’t help but feel for Gray. With this ass for a father, I was sure Nemcox had seemed like a loving brother. “Your animal has offended me. He killed my beloved son and has turned my other son into a raging beast. Seriously, Grayson, have some decorum.”
