Forget About Midnight (Alexa O'Brien, Huntress #9)(27)

Shya’s expression remained stony and cold. “Don’t be too quick to cast out vengeance upon others, Alexa. There is some coming your way as well.”

Crossing my arms in an attempt to appear in control, I scoffed. “Is this the part where you swear that you’ll get revenge on me for the whole Lilah’s empire thing? Ok, let’s hear it.”

A sudden and sharp pain in my middle doubled me over. My heart squeezed painfully, and I clutched my chest. Shya’s thick, murky demon power slithered over me, coiling like a snake around my heart. I was on my knees before I realized what hit me.

Shya stood there unmoving, eyes flashing with malice. “You will be sorry you crossed me. I am very patient. I can wait for the right time. It’s not my intent to destroy you. I want to make you suffer. All I have is time. And now, so do you.”

He released me from his hold, and I collapsed on the floor next to one of the dead frat guys. For a moment I thought I might vomit. Shya’s power was easier to bear than when I’d been mortal, but it was no less nauseating or intimidating.

I looked into the vacant, dead stare of the corpse at my side, and I saw who I was now. With that moment of raw awareness came an epiphany. Shya didn’t know me, nor had he ever. I was just beginning to really know myself. I was dark to the core, but I was light too. Willow had given himself to ensure the dark could not wholly consume me. I couldn’t let his sacrifice be in vain. Again it became very clear that to give in to my dark side would be the ultimate failure.

“Revenge, Shya? That’s really a priority for you right now?” I shoved to my feet and wiped my hands on my clothing. “Well then I might as well make it worthwhile. Things have changed. I’m not going to get you the dreamwalker I owe you.”

Taunting the demon was not in my best interest. I didn’t care. Shya would never be satisfied. He would always want something from someone. Somehow I would find a way to stop being one of them.

There was a noise at the top of the stairs. Kale stood there with a body at his feet. Other than a few disheveled hairs out of place and a smear of blood down the side of his face, he appeared just as well put together as he had when we’d arrived.

“Good of you to join us, Kale,” Shya greeted him with a nod. He watched with curiosity as Kale descended the steps. “We were just discussing the dreamwalker Alexa owes me. You know, the debt she accepted on your behalf.”

The debt that would never go away. I’d only worn Shya’s mark for a few months, but it felt like much longer. Still, he would’ve killed Kale, and if he resorted to that tactic now, I knew I would do anything he wanted.

“Are you still on about that damn dreamwalker?” Kale moved with undead grace that drew my appreciative gaze. He joined me as I stood facing off against the demon. “You should just cut your losses and move on.”

The sound of feathers ruffling was both soothing and threatening in the quiet. Shya stretched his wings before resettling them against his back. I eyed him warily. The Japanese man he appeared to be was a total lie. I’d seen him become a massive, terrifying dragon.

“The dreamwalker is not the point. It is the fact that Alexa owes me a debt. A debt that will be paid.”

“So why not just strike a new deal?” Kale suggested. “How much can the dreamwalker really mean to you now anyway? I doubt it’s your biggest concern at the moment.”

I wasn’t sure I liked the sound of that. I liked it even less when Shya appeared to consider it. Giving him a person had never been something I was ok with doing. Part of me had hoped I’d find a way out. But anything Shya would take instead couldn’t possibly be any better.

Shya pondered me for far too long. I couldn’t help feeling like Kale had just sealed my fate. Finally, the demon shrugged and said, “What do you think, Alexa? Are you willing to change the terms of our deal?”

I laughed, a bitter sound that left a sour taste in my mouth. “That depends on what kind of change you have in mind.”

“Oh, there are many things I’d love to have you give me. However, what I’d like most is for you to ally with me. As the vampire queen of the city, you have many powerful creatures at your disposal. I still need the vampires and the wolves. Which if I can recall correctly, you already promised to me.” Shya stood there, openly gloating and loving my growing rage.

“Are you f*cking kidding me?” I snarled. My fingers crackled with power demanding to be used. “I said I would make connections with them. And I have been. But not for you. Never for you. I will never be your ally, and I will never rally the vampires and werewolves for you.”

Shya nodded and beamed happily. He’d expected this reaction. “Then a dreamwalker it is. Your month has become less than three weeks I’m afraid. Better get on that.”

“Or what?” My entire body hummed with the force surging inside me, seeking to be released. We’d had a similar conversation recently. “You threaten my sister? Please tell me you have a new threat at least.”

A shadow enveloped Shya. His face went blank as he stared at me. He moved unseen, one moment several feet away and the next, slamming me into a blood-spattered wall.

His hand on my throat didn’t affect me as it once would have. I didn’t need to breathe. It still hurt like hell when he smacked my head off the wall with enough force to crack the stud behind the drywall.