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“Lies!” She bared her teeth.
“It isn’t marriage alone that gave her the key.” No. I felt that the moment I pinned her to the table. There was something else. Something I couldn’t fight against. “She is my mate.”
Vindictia’s eyes widened. Bloodshot and wild, she gripped the hair at her temple in her hand as she paced. The sharpened stone in her hand cut the flesh of her palm, leaving a macabre trail behind her that her skirt smeared across the stone. Her lips moved, thickening the burnt smell of her magic in the air.
I had to stop her before she finished whatever spell she was trying. Before she pulled Maledictia’s soul from where it was trapped and threw it into Eden. I wasn’t sure if that was something I could undo. Not if Eden was thrown somewhere I couldn’t follow. Or worse—
Shaking my head of such wretched thoughts, I continued to try to reason with her as I took a slow step toward Eden. “She has my key not because of your spell, but because she is mine. Without your intervention. You made a mistake. You’ve bound me to my mate.”
Vindictia’s eyes widened before a humourless laugh left her. “Lies! There is no such thing. Not for the likes of you.”
I shook my head. “Then why was Maledictia’s power not enough to claim it. Surely she was strong enough to make me or any other demon she sunk her claws into believe we loved her. She could have easily tricked us into marriage. No… we both know that wasn’t enough.”
“I can…” Her eyes whipped around like the problem was spread out before her and meant to be solved. “I can adjust. I can fix this. She will…”
I worried just how far along this spell was. Ignoring the taste of bile that rose in my throat, I forced myself to take another step, ignoring the way my blood felt heavy in my veins. I was suddenly thankful for her distraction as a full breath filled me and brought the slightest clarity. I took a step forward, my strength building. Inside my chest chilled. I walked a fine line. I didn’t want to move too quickly and risk Eden falling to her death. Helplessness bound me as effectively as those threads bound Eden.
“It’s fine,” Vindictia decided. “I only need the smallest piece of her to exist. That’s all. A whisper of her insignificant soul.” Her face set in determination as her lips continued their quiet conjuring.
“Let us out, you bitch!” Imani screamed. “I’m going to rip your face off!”
“Woman! Wait!” Arzen shouted.
Catalina ran across the room, Arzen’s sword in hand. She lifted it and panic flooded my chest as I wondered if the webs Eden knelt on would support her weight if she cut her arms free. She ran past Eden and my eyes widened. My hand stretched out as I took a few steps forward.
Ferocity transformed Catalina’s features as her arms thrust forward and the blade sunk into the belly of Vindictia.
A gasp left her as her hands wrapped around the blade. The small woman who held a fury the likes of which I had never seen thrust the sword in deeper. The sight reminded me of the precision of which she peeled her vegetables. She wore no fear on her face, her eyes calm, her grip firm.
“What…” Vindictia gasped, the glow in her eyes flickering as she looked at Catalina.
“The time for talking is done,” Catalina said, voice cold. “And I owe you no explanation.”
“Asmodeus!” Arzen’s words snapped me out of my stupor. “Get her! Get your wife!”
My legs shook and my jaw clenched as I forced myself to move. Bile lifted from my belly as I took one slow step and then another. I shook away Vindictia’s vile intentions, trying to brush it like debris from my skin. My legs jumped alive as I ran across the space. I wrapped careful hands around Eden’s waist as I lifted her, my flames coating her flesh and climbing up the threads. Despite the stilling of Vindictia’s lips and the pausing of her ritual, Eden felt far away. She was lifeless in my hands as I clutched her close to my chest, holding what felt like the entirety of creation in my arms. My hand was gentle as it cupped the side of her face.
My flames danced over her, healing wounds but did nothing to bring her back. They couldn’t reach the parts of her mind that trapped her now.
If she was going to come out of this, she had to do it alone.
“Come on my love,” I whispered as I lifted her, her brow pressed against my chin. “Fight.”
43
EDEN
Heat warmed the inside of my chest. It burnt in a way that felt right. It stole my breath as I straddled Maledictia with my hands wrapped around her throat.
‘Fight.’
My veins lit under my flesh, making me glow. I had been right when I told myself Maledictia wouldn’t be as strong as her sister. Wherever we had both been, it was somewhere where we couldn’t be our full selves. She was stifled here. Whatever powers she normally would have used against me trapped alongside her. Somewhere she couldn’t reach them.
Thank fuck!
We rolled, her weight trapping me.
“I will kill you!” she hissed.
