Dead After Dark (Companion #6.5)(86)

Sasha cringed when her sister didn’t finish the sentence with That’s why Ekkbar slipped past you in the cemetery.

“I’m working on it.” Sasha had practiced daily before Rowan became sick, making her wonder if the witchcraft had caused her sister’s bizarre behavior. Their coven refused to help, believing Rowan must have brought this on herself by performing magic for the dark side. Her sister would never do that.

Sasha didn’t have years to practice if she hoped to save Rowan. She started to ask for more details when Rowan’s head snapped back. The spoon her sister had been holding slipped from her fingers and clattered against the floor.

Oh no. “Rowan . . . hey, sis . . .” Sasha tensed with fear.

Her sister’s head rolled forward, eyes no longer hazel but a bright orange color. In deference to what happened the last time Rowan’s madness struck, Sasha stood and backed up a step.

Rowan moved so fast Sasha had no chance to escape before her sister had her by the throat. “Don’t . . .” Sasha squeezed out, gripping her sister’s thin wrists now strong as steel.

“Find Ekkbar or you die, witch,” Rowan threatened in a high-pitched voice that sent chills skating up Sasha’s spine.

“Rowan . . . please . . . it’s me . . . Sasha,” she croaked.

Her sister’s eyes shifted between crazed and confused. “Stop . . . killing me . . .” she whispered in a frail voice.

Prying desperately at Rowan’s fingers, Sasha struggled to breathe. Her vision clouded. The world turned gray.

Rowan’s fingers loosened at the same moment her eyes cleared, mortified. “Oh no, I’m so sorry.”

Released, Sasha staggered backward. Rowan fell into a heap at her feet, crying, finally free of whatever had held her mind prisoner. Wheezing for air, Sasha massaged her aching throat. Dear God, how am I going to help her if she kills me?

Anger and hurt jumbled her emotions, even though she didn’t believe for a minute Rowan would intentionally harm her if she weren’t possessed. Sasha squatted and grasped her sister’s arms, helping her stand.

“I’m so sorry I hurt you.” Tears flooded Rowan’s eyes.

“I know, honey,” Sasha assured her, feeling bad for her sister in spite of what had just happened. Normally, Rowan was not a threat when she slept. She seemed worse after sleeping, but lost her appetite and strength when she didn’t rest—a vicious battle either way. “Why don’t you lay down for a bit?”

When they reached the bedroom at the top of the stairs, Sasha helped her sister into bed, then handed her a set of headphones. Rowan believed soothing music helped, but Sasha was beginning to wonder if the music sounded like the soundtrack from The Exorcist in her sister’s mind.

Once Rowan was asleep, Sasha headed back downstairs to continue her Internet research on demonic possession, since their coven had barred anyone from helping them. With their brother, Tarq, off on some trip where he couldn’t be reached, Sasha was flying solo.

Not even Trey can help me. She paused at the bottom landing of the staircase, wishing she could go back nine years.

She wanted one more time to feel him deep inside her and wake up together. Give her that and Sasha would let him return to his precious bachelorhood and secretive work without a word. I’ve got more to worry about than how much I want him back.

Curing Rowan came first.

By then, Trey would be gone for another decade. Sasha sighed. Better that he leave rather than have Trey as a distraction. If she didn’t stay focused on keeping herself cloaked the way Rowan taught her, Sasha would expose herself to Ekkbar before she was ready. The manservant couldn’t be trusted. After she’d helped the little bastard open a portal between his world and hers, he’d slipped through and scurried away from the cemetery in a blur of pungent mist.

He wouldn’t go far, not after negotiating through dreams for a chance to live here and now . . . as a red-blooded human male with full sexual ability again. And she’d felt an energy pass through the nightclub that was evil. Had to be Ekkbar, lying in wait. He probably thought he could trap her with his ancient Hindu magic and make her his servant.

He was a fool to underestimate a tenth-generation witch.

When Sasha did drop her protective cloak, she’d have Ekkbar cornered and ready to pay up for having been brought forward in time from Mount Meru.

He would cure her sister’s madness.



“Ekkkkkkbaaarrrr!” thundered through the stone-and-myst world below Mount Meru.

Batuk’s voice raced from the great hall, fingering out along pathways and tunnels in search of his manservant.

The warlord’s muscles tightened hard with the need to kill, his perpetual frame of mind since being cursed to live beneath this mountain with his soldiers and their families. He should never have trusted Ravana who had offered Batuk and his people everlasting life if he swore fealty to the Hindu demon god.

Gripping the two smooth green serpents carved of malachite stone that served as chair arms on his throne, Batuk roared in frustration. The serpents came to life, hissing. Flames licked off the tips of their forked tongues.

Rock walls in the towering great hall glowed bright red like a dormant ember breathed to life, then settled back into their normal molten purple state that left the air cold as a winter freeze. Serving wenches scurried from the room. Soldiers lounging with concubines merely lifted a respectful glance his way then returned to their activity, having earned a respite from training.