Desire Untamed (Feral Warriors #1)(77)

The fire erupted inside her, a triumphant rush of warmth and power racing through her blood, transforming her body into the glowing splendor of full radiance.

The demon released her with a squawk of anger.

Hold it, she told herself. Now that she had the radiance, she had to hold it. Her life depended on it. But she was so weak.

Sweat broke out on her brow and ran down her temples. Lyon's face swam in her mind's eye. The pain in his eyes when he found her in the dungeon. The heat as he made love to her. And the tenderness when he'd asked her to stay behind. Safe with Hawke.

Finding her dead would destroy him.

She held on to the radiance with everything she had until she was shaking from the effort.

Finally, the creature released her hair. Her chin slammed into the cement, shooting her head full of stars, but she held the radiance, knowing it was her only way back to Lyon.

She heard her assailant jump to the asphalt below, screw the lid on the bucket, and hurry away.

Still, she stayed radiant, feeling the warmth slowly heal her and the glow renew her strength. When she was able, she lifted her head and rolled onto her back, away from the edge. A small, exhausted smile tugged at her mouth.

She'd survived.

Her senses swam outward, seeking Lyon, sharing her triumph. His relief rushed over in a blazing kaleidoscope of emotion she could only believe was love. The gray clouds above turned to silver crystals through her tears. He'd never told her he loved her. He'd never said the words. But the love that flowed out of him, even from this distance, filled her with a warmth that eased all the pain, all the fear, all the loneliness she'd ever known.

She felt him near and managed to push herself up on her elbow as he ran up the ramp. He swept her up and into his arms, burying his face in her hair. For a long time he didn't say a word, just held her, quaking.

Finally, he pulled back, his pained gaze searching her face. "You're okay."

"I'm fine."

His eyes grew tormented. "I felt you slipping away."

"He was feeding off me. Like a draden."

"That's what he was. A draden grown into a clone." His expression shifted, turning amazed. "How did you ever go radiant here?"

Kara lifted her shoulder in a small shrug. "It was either that or die." She looked at him with all the emotion in her heart. "And I couldn't leave you."

The love that shone from his eyes made tears form in her own. He kissed her long and tenderly, then pulled back.

"You'd better put out your light before anybody sees you." He started down the ramp, carrying her as if she weighed nothing.

"He filled a bucket with my blood." Kara let herself release the radiance.

"We believe the witch plans to use the clones to free the Daemons. Probably as soon ass this one returns. We're going there now, as soon as Jag gets here with the car."

"Lyon, don't leave me behind again. They've already got what they need from me. I'm not in danger anymore."

"If those Daemons are freed, we're all in danger." His gaze met hers, his amber eyes at once infinitely soft and hard as stone. "But I'm never letting you out of my sight again."

A sense of urgency charged the air in the Hummer as they finally reached Feral House more than an hour later. For the entire drive, Lyon had cradled Kara against him in the backseat, reassuring himself over and over that she was all right. That she was alive. He'd never felt so helpless in his life as when he'd sensed her life draining away and had been too far away to stop it. He'd died a hundred deaths as he'd run, trying to reach her before it was too late.

But his little warrior had saved herself.

"He's already here," Paenther said. The car hadn't come to a full stop when the men flung the doors open and leaped out.

Lyon pulled Kara out behind him. As much as he wanted to keep her away from the witch, he wouldn't leave her behind again. As the breeze rushed over him, something rancid crawled over his skin.

"Ritual magic," Tighe said. "They've already started."

"Let's go!" As Lyon ran for the house, he pointed right. "Paenther and Jag take the rear." All rituals took time to complete, but there was no way to know how long ago they'd started. They might have nearly a half an hour to stop the Daemons from rising. Or mere seconds.

Lyon, Kara, and Tighe ran for the front steps. While Lyon pushed Kara behind him, Tighe opened the door and slipped inside.

"All clear," he called softly. They had no way to know if the real Foxx, Hawke, and Kougar would try to ambush them. No way to know what the witch had done to their minds.

The three raced for the door to the lower chambers, but as Tighe reached for the doorknob, his hand stopped abruptly.

Tighe swore. "A barrier."

Hell. Lyon slammed his fists over every inch of the door and never touched it. The entry was completely sealed off with magic. Tighe slammed his shoulder at the portal and bounced right off.

"It's sealed tight."

Lyon grabbed Kara's hand and nodded. "Back door." But they hadn't even reached the kitchen when Paenther and Jag came bounding into the hallway.

"It's blocked off magically," Jag said. "We can't touch them."

"Are the others here?" Paenther asked.