Page 86 of Soul Redeemed

The heaving of his chest confessed the panic swelling inside of Ferno. His mind must’ve been a warzone, pulling him under with Shey’s final moments. He paced like an animal caught in a cage, rubbing his skull back and forth with the kind of quiet suffering that set Calix’s teeth on edge. Only when he paused did Calix hold his breath, bracing himself for the onslaught.

“You want to see me kill again? Is that it? You want to watch her burn?” He pointed a finger back toward where Ava lay on the bed. “Hear her beg for her life?” His hands balled to fists that he beat at his temples, and the roar of pain that followed brought another round of tears to Calix’s eyes.

Gavin swiped at his own eyes and cleared his throat. “Shey was an accident.”

“Shey is dead! I killed her.” Ferno held up his scarred, tattooed hands. “With my own fucking hands!” He paced again, rubbing his skull. “And do you know what she said to me? Her last fucking words.” Coming to a halt again, he dropped to his knees and tucked his head into his elbows. “She said, tell Zayne I’m sorry.”

Not even Shey could let Ferno take the blame on his own. She’d recognized her own mistake and knew the pain Zayne would suffer as a result.

Ferno’s muscles shook as he cracked like the fragile shell of an egg in front of them.

If not for the urgency beating through Calix, he’d have told him everything was okay and released him from the request as an act of mercy. But Calix would do anything to save Ava.

Even if it meant putting his brother through hell again.

“Ferno, is it?” Thais’s voice snapped everyone’s attention to where she stepped forward from the shadows, and Ferno lifted his head, the fury and pain still clinging to his face. “I don’t know who Shey was, or the circumstances that led up to her death. You’re burdened with it, as you were burdened with the gift of hellsfire. Of all your brothers, you hold the greatest pain and the deepest sorrow, not just for what happened to this female, but because you know what you’re capable of on a daily basis. You hold it inside. You tamp it down.” She shook her head, looking down at him with mercy, and gods, Calix was grateful for it. “But fire is unruly. And hellsfire, it burns hotter at its core. It is a curse and a blessing, for you have the power to cure the only thing in the world powerful enough to wipe out entire species of demons.” She knelt in front of him, her eyes soft and understanding—something that Calix prayed would reach his brother as nothing else had. “More importantly, you have the power to give that young female another chance. She’s lived in pain for so long, and she doesn’t deserve this end.”

“I’ll kill her by doing this,” Ferno said past gritted teeth.

“I won’t let you.” She reached out a hand to him, and the seconds that ticked by had Calix’s heart ready to pound right out of his chest. “When controlled, hellsfire can heal with as much potency as it harms.”

“And it’s safe?” Logan stood with his feet set apart, hands at his hips. “Or do I need to relocate my tazschla and daughter a few cities over?”

“I can assure you, I’m very adept with the flame. It’s something of an art for me. I’ve held his fire before.”

Gavin stroked his jaw in contemplation, as he stared down at Ferno. “Is this true? She’s already wielded your hellsfire?”

Not bothering to lift his gaze, Ferno gave a subtle nod. “Once.” When Ferno rose to his feet and rolled his shoulders back, it was clear in the female’s raised brows that she couldn’t anticipate his next move.

“What do I have to do?” he asked, looking every bit defeated.

Like a fucking answered prayer. Calix exhaled a relieved breath and ran a trembling hand through his hair.

Taking the demon’s hand, Thais led him to the bed beside Ava. “Close your eyes. Relax.”

Ferno took one look around the room, his jaw set to a hard line. He didn’t have to say a word. The conflict burning in his eyes told every brother in the room that if it didn’t work, he didn’t plan to come back. He’d very well set himself aflame.

Turning back toward the woman, he took deep breaths and closed his eyes as Thais had commanded.

In the next inhale, she set her hand against his chest, pulling away a flickering red and blue flame. It danced across her palm, as if reveling in its freedom, and the very sight of it had every muscle in Calix’s body stiff as a plank. That flame, as small as it was, could take out half the damn city, and the female planned to channel it through Ava’s veins.

A thought that spurred sickness in Calix’s stomach.

“The calmer you remain, the calmer the flame, the easier it is to control. I want you to put yourself somewhere peaceful, Ferno.” Thais’s voice held a soft calm that must’ve struck Ferno like a balm, from the way his breaths slowed and he licked his lips. “Somewhere that pain can’t touch you.”

His brow flickered along with the flame, but quickly eased.

Thais held out her palm, closed her eyes, and spoke a chant that filled the room like a song. Soothing as a lullaby, yet it carried all the determination of an overture.

Calix stole a glance toward Gavin, whose eyes remained fixed on the flame. No doubt, he worried that one faulty move could send that fire throughout the room and wipe everyone, except Ferno, out.

The flame moved like the dragon costumes Calix had seen during a Chinese new year celebration, bouncing and slithering toward Ava.

A tight fist gripped his lungs when the flames disappeared beneath her skin, adding a soft orange glow that shot through her in all directions.

Her body arched on a gasped breath, and she convulsed.

Calix clamped his eyes shut, praying to whatever gods would listen to a bastard son that she’d survive it. That Ferno wouldn’t have to live with the agony of having killed a second brother’s female. That Ava would come back to him.