Demons (Darkness #4)(49)

“Those merges are set. Ready?” I pushed.

We made our way through the house and out the front door to a waiting team of idling cars. Jonas and Charles joined me immediately, fierce-eyed and grim-faced. Toa drifted up out of nowhere, Dominicous right behind.

“Sasha, this is a powerful demon. The one who summoned it—”

“Let’s do this in the car,” I cut Toa off. “We need to get there.”

Jonas crawled into the driver’s seat of his Hummer, and Stefan followed into the front passenger seat, simmering. He was keeping it together, but emotion ripping at him. Pushing, pulling. Half of him felt like a little kid, scared and uncertain. The other a warring man, ready to tear into this thing that threatened his way of life. The link put it all out there, showing me his every emotion. His face showed none of it.

I swallowed past the lump in my throat. This was real. Really, really real.

“Okay, Toa, what were you saying?” I asked as Charles whisked Dominicous into another ride.

“The one who summoned the demon is on site, and he will be giving commands. The demon will be trying to break free, however. Always trying to break free. It will speak to you. I haven’t told you this—”

“I can speak to them, yes, I know,” I cut Toa off again. “Jonas told me.”

Toa’s lips made a thin line across his face. “Jonas the expert, yes. And did he, perhaps, tell you how you can assume control?”

“No, and I doubt I’ll be able to learn now, while also trying to link, while also trying to cut it out of this world.”

“Don’t try to assume control, no. That is a lesson for another day—one I am still reading up on. But you need to try and discourage it from connecting with you. You don’t want it to get in your head. They have been known to steal the power of their supposed masters. As one that can speak to it, you will be a potential master in its eyes.”

“It won’t be any different than normal, though, right?” I qualified, my butt tingle getting decidedly more pronounced the closer we got to the site.

I wanted to roll down the window and jump out of the moving vehicle. Then, after I rolled to a bloody stop, I wanted to hobble away as fast as possible. My inner sense said heading into this danger was the worst possible decision I could possibly make. It made concentration difficult.

“This one has more power,” Toa answered, cool as a spring day. “Its words will be harder to tune out.”

“Great. Should be a hoot.”

We rolled to a stop amid a sea of vehicles. Charles and Dominicous were getting out beside us, both ignoring the gaggle of witches filing out of the car as well. The people in my car didn’t move.

I watched the witches through the window crowd around Charles, demanding answers.

“We’re here,” I said into the quiet car.

“Yes,” Toa responded.

“Cover the link, Sasha,” Stefan said in a low tone.

“But Stefan—”

“Cover the link.” He looked back, power and command shocking into me.

I took another big breath as fear and uncertainty muffled, and then disappeared from my body. Well, Stefan’s fear anyway—I still had plenty of my own.

I searched down deep for the other link, the faint one left over from when I was a child in shock. When I found it, I nearly gasped. Impatience, anxiety, and yes, fear warring through his center, spiking and rolling.

Amazed, I jerked my vision toward him, on the other side of Charles’ car. There Dominicous stood, face firm and resolute, his strength and power expressing his utter confidence.

It was good to know my fear wasn’t abnormal—I was just worse at hiding it. Or ignoring it.

“Ready, Sasha?” Stefan asked in bold tones. He was getting ready to lead.

“She nodded,” Toa helped, climbing gracefully from the car.

I clambered out as well, feeling the adrenaline start to pique through my limbs. I opened up and let the elements flow, washing over me. Immediately the wrongness of the magic in the area accosted me, magical sludge covering me in filth.

“This place doesn’t feel right,” Delilah said softly as she stepped closer. The others came over as well. “Something not good awaits us.”

Large warriors stepped around us, making their way to the battle zone. All the guys with us except Jonas and Charles did the same, getting in position, coming up with a plan.

“Call the corners right now,” I addressed the group of women. “Stay connected.”

I turned to stare directly at Birdie. “If the demon breaks through, you need to run. Get out of here, okay? Take the girls with you.”

Her chin rose a fraction. “Absolutely not. You’ve been at this for a few months. I’ve been at this for a few decades. I will not turn tail if you need me.”

The others nodded, less certain, but not cowards. And that was the thing with women. We could show our fear, and admit to being terrified, but when someone was in need, we pushed that aside and showed up to the party.

I exhaled a breath I didn’t know I was holding. “Stupid move, but okay.”

“Mage.” A steadfast man, short for his race at only six-foot-one or so, stared down at me with a severe face. He looked vaguely familiar, but so did everyone. I was having a hard time remembering what duty everyone had.