Thirst (Hellish #4)(19)
Kallus was on the edge of death. Baptiste could feel his mate’s life slipping away. Baptiste fought against the ropes keeping him bound to the chair. Magic weaved through the bindings. He didn’t understand. How had demons learned to do such a thing? The door burst open. Eirik’s large frame filled the doorway. Relief warred with fear at the sight of his powerful Viking. He knew Eirik would keep him safe if he could. This was one time when Baptiste needed to save Eirik. He’d give his life for his mates. These demons would not take everything from him as long as there was breath in his body.
“Baptiste,” Eirik cried, crossing the room and dropping to his knees. He fought to untie Baptiste’s wrists.
“Go,” Baptiste argued. “It’s not me he wants.”
Eirik ignored him. He managed to free one arm before the smoke swirled to life behind him.
“Go,” Baptiste screamed. His throat felt as if it shredded. His life meant nothing without his mates.
Eirik flew to his feet, spinning as the smoke took the shape of a man. His body shielded Baptiste from attack.
“Where is the key?” The benevolence in the disembodied voice filling the room sent chills down Baptiste’s spine. He was after Eirik, but it was obvious Mammon hadn’t gotten that information from Kallus. His poor Kallus. Baptiste fought against his restraints. He needed to help his mates.
Eirik laughed, ridiculing Mammon and keeping the demon’s attention locked on him. “Not here.”
“I’ve already tortured quite a bit of information from my spawn,” Mammon said, sounding pleased as he motioned toward where Kallus sat, chained and unconscious across the room. “Now I have your Druid. I feel confident—between the two—I can find the key without you.”
Eirik smirked. “He knows nothing.” As Eirik made the claim, he brushed his fingertips across Baptiste’s forehead, stealing the secrets and memories they’d shared. He left behind only enough Baptiste still knew they were married. Eirik left their love untouched. Baptiste felt the rest float away. He shook with fear. Mammon was in their home. Kallus looked dead. Baptiste searched for any signs of life. How had they ended up here? He couldn’t remember.
Mammon’s eyes were fixed upon Baptiste, looking crazed with rage. “No! What have you done?”
Eirik laughed, sounding triumphant. “Stolen everything,” he taunted while keeping Baptiste protected with his huge body. “There’s nothing here for you. Kill us all. It matters not. You’ll never find what you came for here.”
“Then you’re no longer needed.” A giant sword, made of the same smoke as Mammon, appeared in the demon’s hands.
A bright light blinded him, stealing his sight, as if Baptiste’s mind shielded him from the grisly images of Eirik’s death. When vision returned to him, Mammon was gone and Eirik was dead. Celeste stood over him. She stroked his face. “I will bring him back to you. I pray your pain doesn’t steal your ability to recognize him when he returns, but I can’t let you keep the memory of what you’ve seen here. You’ll never be safe if I do.” The ropes binding him disappeared. Baptiste couldn’t look away from Eirik’s body. Bile rose in his throat. His life was gone. Everything was gone. As he looked on, Celeste bent over Eirik’s headless body. A bright light sifted from Eirik into her hand. The light transformed into a golden key she placed in her pocket. Nothing would penetrate Baptiste’s pain and shock. He couldn’t think straight or move. Celeste moved back to his side and swiped her hand over Baptiste’s hair. The horrible visions of watching Eirik die drifted away. Nothing could take away the pain. Baptiste’s body unfroze. He dropped to his knees beside Eirik’s body. Demons had been here. He could smell them. Kallus was tied and unconscious in the corner. Baptiste could smell his blood. Celeste stood over him, trying to comfort him. He didn’t understand what had happened. It seemed as if the more people who touched him, the more confused he became. Nothing made sense.
Celeste touched his shoulder, bringing his gaze her way. “If only I’d been here sooner. I’m so sorry, Baptiste.”
“What’s happened?” Bewilderment and shock wouldn’t let Baptiste think straight.
“Demons attacked,” she explained. “Kallus needs help. He’s suffered a lot of damage.”
Baptiste had never felt more helpless. Eirik was gone and he couldn’t touch Kallus to help him. “I don’t know what to do.”
Celeste removed a necklace she wore and plucked a hair from her head. She whispered something in a language he didn’t understand as she wove her hair through the necklace. It shimmered gold. “Don’t forget this spell,” Celeste said as she worked. “One day, you’ll know in your heart when you need to pass this same gift along to others.” She quickly draped the necklace over his shoulders. “As long as you are wearing this necklace, you’ll be free to touch Kallus without consequences. For now, I’ll take him with me. He needs more help than you can give him. When he’s healed, he will return to you.”
Baptiste nodded. He wanted to scream his denial. He’d already lost one mate, and she planned to take the other. His throat wouldn’t work. He held Eirik’s lifeless hand, incapable of doing anything else. In his mind, he rushed to Kallus and tended to the mate he could save. In reality, his body wouldn’t budge. There was too much pain. It hobbled him. He’d never dreamed anyone could feel such loss and still breathe beneath the weight.