“One!” they scream in response, as my men step closer to my back, ready for what we’ll face. We have an uncertain future, but up here, looking out at those expectant, ready faces, I know.
I made the right choice.
This is my destiny.
Afterwards, I’m led through the crowd. Questions are fired at me, but I ignore them for now, slightly overwhelmed. It’s as if I can feel every member of this country. Every power, every person. Their lights fill my head until it feels like it might explode. There are so many, so fucking many, and now they are all looking to me.
Once we are past the door, Lucy yanks me into the closest room and cups my cheeks, forcing me to look at him with blind eyes. It hurts, it hurts so badly, there are so many...the more I think about it, the more I feel it.
“Breathe, let them pass, don’t focus on them. Push them backwards, that’s it. They are still there but block them, build a wall, you only need to reach for them in dire emergencies, good girl, that’s it. Breathe.”
I still can’t see, but I let his touch anchor me. “What is that?” I whisper.
“Your people, every single one. You will feel their lights extinguish when they die, you can call them, you can master the connection and use it to monitor and control your people,” he murmurs.
“God, so many…” I gasp.
“Yes, now imagine seeing the whole world like that.”
Blinking, I meet those red eyes, my head not hurting any longer. “You see all the supernaturals around the world?”
He nods. “All day, every day. It’s exhausting. It’s one of the main reasons only one of the sleeping council ever rules at any given time, and not for too long, to stop us from going crazy. Feeling better?”
I nod silently. Fuck, I can’t imagine the chaos, the pain in his head at all the lights, all the people. Never truly being alone even in your brain. No wonder they pulled away from the world. I would as well.
Looking around, I realise we are in a cupboard. “Where are we?” I snort.
“Closest room, I think it’s a cleaning cupboard.” Lucy laughs. “Your mates are blocking the door, making sure we have the time you need to rebuild. They could feel the pressure in your head...I could.”
“Thank you.” I sigh, and then we both seem to realise he’s still touching me at the same time. I expect him to jerk away or make some nasty or dirty statement, but he stays quiet, his hands still cradling my cheeks. Those red eyes watch me closely. “Lucy—”
“Don’t call me that,” he murmurs, but it’s an offhand comment, like an automatic response as his eyes dip down to my lips and seem to trace them. Shivering under his gaze, I dart my tongue out and wet them, making him groan.
“You love it, Lucy,” I tease, pushing him, wanting to see what he’ll do. The world is waiting right outside this door, but in here, I feel suddenly very far away...very alone with this powerful demon.
“I’m warning you…”
“Yeah, you keep doing that. I’m wondering what the warning turns into...Lucy,” I press.
He’s still for a moment, then he snaps. He shoves me backwards, and my back hits the shelves with a bang, making me grunt. It’s dark in here, and small, and there isn’t much room for me, never mind a demon. He presses his body against mine, his hand tugging my chin up before he covers my lips with his.
He’s warm, really warm, like touching a candle or an open flame. His lips taste like burnt embers and blood...it’s addicting. Groaning, he grips me tighter, pressing harder against me until there is no space between us. He bites down on my lower lip and I open my mouth, the taste of my blood apparent as our tongues tangle in a deep, harsh kiss.
His hands are mean, painful, his lips soft, yet harsh. I want more.
My hand darts out and grips his shirt, twisting it in my fist as I pull him closer, then, using my strength, push him away. I start to walk us backwards, still kissing. He grunts into my mouth as he crashes into the shelves behind him.
If he thought I was just going to be a good girl and sit there and take it, he doesn’t know me very well.
His hands reach down and cup my ass, lifting me higher until our eyes are level. His gaze is so bright, it’s almost blinding as I toss my head back. Fires burn and twist in those depths. “You want to play games?” he snaps, as I laugh.
Then we’re gone. My stomach flips, and there is a feeling of movement, and then we appear outside. Blinking, I look around. I don’t even know where we are, it doesn’t look familiar. There is a castle behind Lucy, a big, towering structure. The moon is high, and mist creeps along the grass to where we stand at the edge of the property.
Spinning me, he slams me into a tree, but I snarl and shove him away. “Where are we?”
“Somewhere we can’t be found.” He smirks.
“Lucy!” I yell.
“Just a little place where they still worship me. Want to see?” he offers, and before I can respond, he moves us again. I’m not prepared and bile rises in my throat, but I swallow it back and look around.
We are in a clearing in the woods—the same woods, I can feel it. There is an altar made of stone with bowls of blood and bones surrounding it. The stone is etched with carvings depicting what looks like a great demon...Lucy.
Half burnt candles with wax dripping down them circle the large altar, and with a snap of Lucy’s fingers, they come to life, illuminating everything. “The people of this world still beg for me, worship me. I am their god...they fall to their knees before me. They ask for boons and assistance, but they dare not look in my eyes...yet you, brave little walker, do,” he murmurs behind me, his breath blowing over my hair. “Are you afraid?”
“No,” I reply, and it’s true. I’m not. He can try to kill me if he wants. He might even succeed, but I’m betting he won’t. I intrigue him, and like it or not we are linked somehow. Oh, he wants to kill me, that’s for sure, at least half of him...but he won’t because the other half wants me.
Like I want him.
Spinning, I smirk at him. “They worship you here?”
He nods, his eyes alight, and in the smoke behind him I see his demon emerging—big, twisting horns, fire eyes, and bulging body. A terrifying sight…also a hot one. “Then how about we change that? You think you are untouchable. Above it all. You laugh at their sacrifices, you bathe in their blood, and appear on altars of lost souls and bones...how about you worship me on it, demon? Let us see if you are worth all that...loyalty.” I smirk and then turn, leaping onto the altar. I sit and swing my legs back and forth as I watch him from the circle of flames.
He’s smoking, this is probably sacrilege and he doesn’t like to be tested. His body changes until he towers above me, those horns ablaze with an internal fire, his mouth twisted in a snarl, and eyes black like the pits of hell. Grinning, I spread my legs wider, letting the dress part to show a glimpse of my white skin under the moon.
He circles the altar behind the ring of fire, watching me as he stalks around it. Power fills the clearing. It’s dark and twisted and so fucking delicious. He calls it, and the night silences in fear. Eyes of the people and animals across the forest turn away, downcast. People hide, feeling it.