A Clash of Storms (A Shade of Vampire #50)(37)

He nodded at Hansa, who was standing a couple of feet to my left.

My body stiffened, a bizarre coldness rushing through me, and I felt my arms suddenly move without my consent. My torso turned, and I found myself pointing my crossbow at Hansa, my finger trembling on the trigger.

“What are you doing to me?” I managed to ask, my voice hoarse as I broke into a sweat.

My gaze darted around the platform, and I recognized the horror in my friends’ eyes. They were all staring at me, frozen, unable to react. Hansa was still pointing her crossbow at Azazel, but was giving me a fearful look.

“What are you doing, Jovi?” she growled.

“I can’t control it,” I gasped. “He’s doing something to me.”

I felt like a puppet. Azazel laughed.

“Shoot her,” he ordered.

Despite every bone in my body, every sliver of instinct, and every sense I had telling me to launch that arrow back at him, I couldn’t. Instead, I pulled the trigger.

“No!” I heard Serena scream.

The poisoned arrow hit Hansa hard, lodging between two of her ribs, and the shifter toxin spread quickly through her body. She grunted and fell to the floor, soon losing her natural shimmer. Silver blood oozed from her wound.

“Hansa!” I cried out.

She looked at me, her emerald-gold eyes flickering with pain, stunned by the poison. It wouldn’t kill Azazel because he was too strong, but it was definitely deadly enough for any one of us.

Hansa was dying. My senses caved in, my rage unable to manifest itself, as I was under Azazel’s physical control.

I saw the devastation on my friends’ faces. I saw Jax’s face turn white as he watched Hansa writhe in pain, the toxin gradually kicking in. I instinctively looked at the shifter. I’d seen it lick its own wounds to heal itself and figured a way out for Hansa through them.

“You!” I shouted at my faithful companion.

Azazel had control over my limbs, but not my mind. The creature glanced at me, its eyes glowing violet. Its thin lips parted, and it started drooling.

It rushed over to Hansa, but was immediately knocked back by a powerful pulse shot from Azazel’s hand. It fell hard against the floor, and then a second pulse came and swept it off the terrace.

My heart broke as I heard its panicked wails… followed by deathly silence. I glared at Azazel, who wore a satisfied grin drawn from ear to ear.

“Surprised?” Azazel asked, his tone laced with mockery. “You shouldn’t be. I told you, over and over, that I am always one step ahead of you.”

“What did you do?” Draven asked, his eyes set on the Prince of Destroyers.

“I did what I do best.” Azazel scoffed, as if insulted by the question. “Did you really think I wouldn’t have a backup plan if you nasty little bugs tried to come at me? You must be joking! I’ve been collecting blood samples from all over Calliope for years now, especially from foreigners! Did you really think my spies wouldn’t notice your wolf-boy down south at the market?”

I stilled then, my eyes opened wide. I remembered my encounter with the old fae in the Sarang Marketplace, the one who’d given me the wolf’s head pendant. I’d felt the prick on my neck. I’d seen the drop of blood, but I’d figured it had been an insect. I looked at Azazel, the realization crashing into me so hard and so fast that it knocked the air out of my lungs.

“The old fae,” I muttered. “She got the blood from me…”

“Of course she did!” Azazel’s voice boomed. “I have eyes and servants everywhere. What part of that didn’t you understand? This is a powerful blood spell, my boy! You and thousands of others are under my control, but I’m focusing all my energy on you right now. I’m enjoying this too much not to give you a taste of my full power!”

He grinned, watching me intently. My hand reached into the extra quiver I’d gotten from Serena and reloaded the crossbow. My whole body shook as I pulled the arrow into place, the string digging into my fingertips.

“Stop this,” I growled. “Serena, stop it! Shoot me!”

Dread came over me as I pointed the arrow at Jax next. The Lord of Maras turned slowly to face me, raising his hands in a defensive gesture. I needed this to be over. I needed someone to take me out before I did anyone more harm. I couldn’t control myself!

My heart broke, as I was suddenly faced with my own mortality.

My destiny.

One way or another, the future had shown me that my death was probable. Azazel’s control of my body was yet another confirmation. If I was going to die, I sure as hell wasn’t going to take anyone else with me.

“Shoot me, Serena!” I bellowed.

I heard Aida and Phoenix banging on the glass, their voices muffled as they protested and screamed at me.

“Jovi, no! Fight it! Jovi!” my sister cried, her eyes red.

“I… I can’t…”

“Jovi, I can’t shoot you.” Serena’s voice trembled. “Fight it! You have to fight it!”

“Jovi, his control is not absolute,” Patrik urged from the side. “I broke free. You can, too!”

“Jovi, look at me,” Jax said, surprisingly calm.

I listened, and our eyes met. His flickered gold as he used his mind-bending abilities on me. I could feel him poking through my head. I could hear the whispers urging me to put the crossbow down.