Embraced (The Eternal Balance #2)(58)

Tense, Sam looked around the room, her gaze landing on each demon in turn. The two that brought her in, then Ranook, finally settling on me. “Jax,” she said. There was a spark of fear in her eyes. It killed me to see, but at the same time, sent a ripple of excitement surging through my system. With a deep breath, I tasted it. Sweet. Seductive. A spike of gray wafted from her shoulders, lingering in the air for a moment before dissipating. “I want to talk to Jax.”

I wanted to tell her that she was talking to me, to give her a sign that this was all an act, part of my master plan. But I wasn’t sure I believed it. Control kept oscillating. One second it was me, the next it was the demon, the change so eerily seamless that I could no longer tell who was in control at any given moment.

“What’s the hold up?” the smaller of the two demons that had come in with Sam snarled. “Claim the bitch and let’s get this moving.” It flexed the fingers on its right hand and flashed a predatory grin. “I want to stretch my legs.”

My body was across the room in a flash. I had the offender against the wall, suspended in midair by my fists, all in a single beat of the human heart. “You will contain yourself or I will break you in half.”

The other demon’s fear flooded the room, and the sensation it brought—the sickest, most electric feeling—obscured everything. It was the best high coupled with the most sensual encounter of my life. I was instantly hard. Excited. Charged and ready to take on anything from heaven to hell. I didn’t care what Azi did with my body. It didn’t matter who it hurt or what the demon destroyed. As long as this feeling never faded.

Slowly, I set the offending demon down. “Leave us.”

“Lord Azirak.” Ranook started forward. “Considering the history between the two humans—”

“LEAVE US,” I roared. The sound shook the walls and rattled the glass.

The three demons cringed and inched toward the door. “As you wish, my lord. But know that I will have your guard stationed at all exits.” They scurried out of sight.

I settled into the chair across from Sam and sighed, struck by the strangeness of the sound. Me, yet not. Still heady from the fear though, I didn’t care. There was nothing wrong with this. Things were as they were meant to be. Azirak and I shared this body. We shared a common goal.

“We have a problem,” I said.

“Please,” Sam begged. She leaned forward. “Let me talk to Jax. Get me the hell out of here. The cuff—” With a sharp inhalation, she doubled over, arms wrapped tight around herself.

“You’re in pain.”

She nodded without looking up.

“The cuff’s power has almost come to fruition.”

She lifted her head, gaze locking on mine. It stirred something deep in my gut. A spark of…of what? Something about this wasn’t right. We should leave. I knew there was a reason, but as hard as I chased the thought, it stayed just out of reach. Uncatchable.

“It’s going to kill me. If we don’t find Malphi and get Chase to remove it, I’m going to die.”

A wave of sadness came on strong, but dissipated. “I can make it stop. I can remove the cuff.”

Her skin paled. “You—” She jumped from the couch.

“I am Jax, Sammy. I’m also Azirak. Trust us.”

“No!” She tossed her head and let out an anguished cry. A moment later she launched herself off the couch at me. “You’re not the same. Give him back to me! You promised.”

“It’s time you stopped viewing us as separate entities.” I stepped to the side, grabbing her around the waist as she flew past. It was strange to see the contrast, pale skin against my darker complexion. Delicate and breakable. So breakable… “If you allow me to claim you, I will have the power to remove the cuff. The pain will end.”

I let her go and she stumbled away. “Go to hell.”

“You have no choice. Allow me to claim you. I swear on my royal blood that no harm will ever befall you.”

She stumbled away, shaking her head. “Royal blood? You don’t have royal blood.” Legs spread, like she was preparing for a fight, she said, “Get over this, Jax. You’re in there. I know it. You would never let them take me.”

“This is a complicated situation. I understand your confusion, and I sympathize. You must know that is unprecedented. My kind, we care not for the fates of humans. But you… My concern for you…”

“If you care about me, then get me the hell out of here.”

“What you ask is impossible. Even if I conspired to remove you from this place, the others would never allow it. Your fragile body would be mortally damaged in our attempt.”

“Bullshit,” she spat.

“Please. You have little time left. I do not wish to see you expire. I—” My body stiffened. A new presence—not here, but close—set my insides on fire. “Malphi is near.”

“Good,” Sam cried, throwing herself forward again. She grasped my hands and squeezed tight. “I know you’re in there, Jax. Kill Malphi and let’s get the hell out of here!”

There was a spike of rage. I pushed her. She flew back, landing on the couch with jarring force. The spark grew bigger, and some of the haze lifted. Sam. Sam shouldn’t be here. Not like this…