Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 80563 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 322(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80563 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 322(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
I flatten my hand, letting the ball grow brighter. It sizzles with energy, illuminating the office. The flames inside start to take on a purple hue and I quickly close my hand. Hellfire burns red. Underworld fire burns blue. When you combine the two, it creates a beautiful shade of purple and soothes my soul just by looking at it.
I blink, getting hit with the sudden thought that this is exactly what I’m supposed to do: unite two Hells.
“Continue with your elaboration,” Lucas says and I look up, catching just the slightest bit of worry on his handsome face. “Why are we meeting with this demon instead of kill it?”
“She wants to help me stop Paimon.”
Lucas just stares at me, as if he’s waiting for the punchline to the joke. “And you believe her?”
“No, not fully.”
“But a little?” He raised his eyebrows. “Callie, my love, let’s be realistic here.”
“I know, I’m trying. And it’s realistic to think not all demons would want to bow down to Paimon. And we’re not going to become best friends after this, but if I can get any sort of intel on how to take that motherfucker down, we should try, right? His projection is strong. I don’t know how to fight him and win.”
Lucas continues to stare at me, taking a long breath in and letting out an annoying sigh. Dammit. He doesn’t need to breath. I’m really pushing it with him.
“At the very least, I can lock her in the basement and we can torture answers out of her. We know how to bind a demon inside a body now.”
“I heard someone mention torture,” Eamon says, appearing in the doorway of the office. “I can be of service.”
“You’re still here?” I roll my eyes.
He fakes being insulted. “That hurts. I thought you cared.”
“Don’t want to risk that,” I reply in a level tone, but Eamon isn’t paying much attention to me anymore. He’s looking at Juliet, who’s awake, trying to focus her fuzzy eyesight on her father’s face. I smile when I look at them, heart so happy despite the shit show going down around us.
She’s the reason I’m doing this. For our family. I just really hope it’s worth it in the end. If we can defeat Paimon, it will be.
“Didn’t your hot uncle say this demon was powerful?” Eliza asks, appearing next to Eamon. He turns, eyes meeting hers for half a second too long. Oh, shit. They’re going to end up fucking and lord help us if Lucas finds out about it.
“He did, and I was able to sense the power.” I flick my eyes to Lucas. “Remember the first big demon we fought together?”
“You mean the one that bound you to a tree and almost burned you alive? Oh and then I got a sword through the chest, watched you almost die from smoke inhalation, and then buried the demon’s remains in a grave in the woods?” He raises one eyebrow. “How could I forget?”
Eamon crosses his arms. “I’m considering taking back what I said about you being boring. Here I thought you were all domestic with your Better Homes & Gardens house and picture perfect family.”
“Anyway,” I continue. “She seemed to possess a similar level of power. I was able to handle it then, and I can handle it now.” I blink and get the image of myself standing on some sort of alter. I’m wearing a long black dress, my wings are stretched out behind me, and a crown of purple hellfire burns around my head. And, fuck, it feels good.
No. That isn’t what I want. It can’t be.
“Have you talked to Tabatha about this?” Lucas goes on and I narrow my eyes every so slightly. She’s the only other person than Lucas who could talk any sense into me. “I’m going to guess no and it’s for a reason.”
“We don’t have a choice.”
“Yes, we do,” he said, voice getting louder as he strides forward. I stand my ground, looking at my husband with determination. It feels like ages ago I stood in this very office, gazing at this beast of a vampire for the first time. This time, I let my mind wander.
“You own this hipster place?” I chided and Lucas raised an eyebrow. God, it scared me back then…and made me want him more.
“Yes. It’s one of the many establishments I own,” he said, looking at the vampire who had just attacked the woman. “Do what you want with him. Or leave him for me to deal with.”
I knew even then that leaving the vampire for Lucas to deal with would mean a fate worse than death. I remember taking my enchanted dagger from the vampire’s chest, wiping the blood on his shirt and hitting him with a blast of energy. And that was before I knew why I was able to conjure bright light so easily.