Darker (Alexa O'Brien, Huntress #6)(91)

“Calm down, Alexa. One breath at a time.” Shya’s voice startled me, and I turned to find him standing at the head of the pentagram.

I reached to touch my battered face and disheveled hair. I was solid, real and alive. No vampire fangs.

“What happened?” My voice cracked. My throat was sore and dry.

Arys’s t-shirt covered me like a small blanket. I cast a glance about, seeking him. He crouched near the sunken circle, watching me with a fear in his blue gaze that I’d never seen before.

“What does it look like?” Shya looked especially pleased with himself. “I gave you an extension on that fragile mortal life you so desperately cling to.”

I gaped at the body beside me. The circle, a sacrifice, I quickly pieced it together. The demon had exchanged another life for mine. What an ugly realization.

“But, why?” I asked no one in particular.

“Because, sweetheart.” Shya extended a hand as if to help me up. “This world isn’t yet ready for you to walk as a vampire.”

I looked uncertainly to Arys. The room was empty save the three of us. I had so many questions. Where was my sister?

Arys bent to gather the clothing I had shed before the shift. That’s when I saw the big black dragon etched into his back, its wings flared and tail disappearing beneath the hip of his jeans. Shock exploded through me, and I leaped at Shya with a venomous rage.

“What did you do to him?” I shrieked, slashing his face with clawed fingertips. “What the f**k did you do?”

Shya caught hold of my arm and threw me down at his feet. Standing over me with ebony wings spread wide, an inky swell of demon power oozed from him.

“I did what I do best. You are useless to me if you die before I find the scroll. Trust me, wolf, you don’t want to be useless.” His eyes flashed brighter red, the snake-like pupils shrunk to the tiniest slits. “Consider this a warning for sneaking around, talking to FPA agents. Be grateful. I let you live.”

“What?” I shook my head, trying to understand. “I was never sneaking around.”

Shya shoved me away and spun on his heel. “I’ll let the two of you talk. Nice job tonight. You did well, all things considered.” With that, he exited the room with a flap of wings. The faint scent of sulfur lingered in his place.

Arys pulled me into his embrace and just held me until I couldn’t take it anymore. Something had happened while I was unconscious. I needed to know what it was.

“Tell me,” I whispered against his bare chest.

“Shya doesn’t trust us, Lex. He wasn’t going to save you. As much as he needs you, he said he could do without. Find another way. I had to make him a promise.”

I drew back to meet his gaze. A sinking sensation swallowed me whole. “Oh, Arys, you didn’t.”

“In exchange for your life, I had to agree to turn Gabriel. When it’s done, he removes the mark.” There was such anguish in Arys. It radiated from him in powerful waves.

“He lied, Arys.” I took my clothes from him, passing back his shirt. I felt ill. “He wouldn’t have let me die. I know it. That’s what they do. Goddamn demons. They are deceivers.”

“I couldn’t take that chance. I was watching you die.” He turned away and rubbed his eyes. The dragon burnt into his flesh mocked me. I didn’t think I could hate anyone more than I hated Shya.

I got dressed, noting the stab wound in my side had healed immensely. It was an ugly pink scar now. Maybe being a vampire would have been better after all.

“It’s more than that though, isn’t it?” I touched Arys’s arm, making him turn back to me. His eyes were red with blood tears he refused to let fall. “You had a chance to change the future. To change what the witch showed you. But, you didn’t. Because you want it.”

He stared at the floor as if seeing something I couldn’t see. His shoulders shook with pent up emotion. I needed him to tell me I was right. His resistance only made it worse.

“You have to admit to yourself and to me that you want it,” I demanded, growing angry. “You crave my death for yourself, and that’s why you’re putting us both through such hell.”

Truth shone like a beacon in his eyes when he looked up. He tried to hide it, but I had already seen. After a strained moment he said, “I do. God I hate myself, but I want to be the one.”

I expected to feel anger or maybe even sorrow. I just felt relieved. Kale had told me once that Arys would long for my death, to drain the life from me himself. He said it was the only way Arys would ever fulfill his need to consume me, to claim me in every way. I still didn’t entirely understand; I wasn’t sure I wanted to.

“You can’t turn Gabriel,” I said. “He’s so young, and he has enough to deal with as it is. What’s Shya thinking?”

“He needs Gabriel to work the spell he’s been seeking. Making the kid a vampire makes him harder to kill.” Arys sighed. “My concern is for you. I had no choice but to tell Shya what he wanted to hear.”

“It’s your bloodline,” I whispered, feeling the urge to look over my shoulder. “Shya could have any vampire do it but to insist on you? The vampires in your bloodline are deadly. He’s going to turn Gabriel into a black magic killing machine.”

“And, use him to work the spell that will use your death to open the door.” Arys’s voice echoed through the room. The heat of his sudden anger scorched my insides. Just as fast as it rose, it dissipated. “Let’s not discuss this right now. Your friends are waiting for you, and this isn’t a safe place.”