Binding Ties The Sentinel Wars - Shannon K. Butcher Page 0,103
howled in pain and retreated from the bright glow of Joseph hovering in her mind like some kind of avenging angel waiting to strike. It cowered in fear.
That’s when Lyka charged.
She shoved her way into the demon’s thoughts, digging deeper for what she needed to know. Eric and the young had been taken for a reason. They hadn’t been killed like so many others. They’d been kept alive, and this creature had to know why. Its reaction to Eric’s face had been far too strong for it not to have seen her brother.
Lyka’s head began throbbing. Sweat trickled down her body. She felt Joseph’s bright fury protecting her, but he was quickly losing patience. She had to work fast.
Not knowing what else to do, she found the trickle of power flowing into her and pulled on it. Maybe if she had more juice, she could find what she needed to know.
Then again, maybe she’d just burn this demon’s brain to mush and lose her chance altogether.
As soon as she called on Joseph’s power, it leapt to do her bidding. She felt it fill her, strengthen her, warm her. She was surrounded by it, filled with it. He had so much strength, and it was all hers for the taking.
She grabbed the demon’s face in her hands and showed him the image of Eric again.
This time, Joseph’s power amplified the vision, giving the demon no choice but to let her see its reaction.
It knew Eric. He was to be protected. Kept safe.
Why?
She shoved the question into the demon’s head. It flinched, but there was an image of a beautiful woman blazing in its memory. She had long, black hair, pale skin, and the kind of body that would make men kill just to be near her. Surrounding this woman was a feeling of reverence, obedience.
She was the demon’s queen. She was the one who wanted Eric.
Where is she?
There was no response, only the picture of cave walls and the shared warmth of its fellow demons piled together in sleep.
Joseph’s words came out through clenched teeth. “You need to stop now, Lyka. I can’t hold back its poison much longer.”
Poison?
“It’s trying to infect your mind. Can’t you feel it?”
She had, but now Joseph was holding that at bay, and from the strain in his tone, it wasn’t easy.
Still, she couldn’t stop yet. She still didn’t have the information she needed.
Lyka pushed harder, digging deeper into the thing’s thoughts. Its desire to please its queen washed over her, nearly knocking her out of its head with sheer force. She held on to her position, clinging tightly to the ground she’d gained.
What do you want? she demanded.
The image of that beautiful woman filled Lyka’s head again, along with a low, almost worshipful hum.
This demon didn’t just want to please its queen; it wanted her. Wanted to possess her, fuck her, consume her flesh and blood.
Lyka shivered in revulsion and tried not to let her disgust wash over her. Some of it clung, but she managed to shed enough of it to concentrate.
I can give her to you, she whispered to the demon’s mind. Take me to her and she will be yours.
The creature didn’t believe her, so she drew more of Joseph’s power into herself and pushed harder. The mental compulsion wormed its way into the demon’s mind and found fertile ground. She urged it to grow, to consume his every waking thought.
Take me to her and she will be yours. I swear.
“No!” shouted Joseph.
She didn’t understand what had upset him until she felt the weight of her vow to this creature crash down on her. She’d been so swept up in winning the war waging in its mind that she’d forgotten to guard her words. The vow she’d made was binding. Unbreakable. She would now be compelled to uphold her end of the bargain.
What had started as a lie to gain this demon’s cooperation had now become an imperative. She had no idea how she would manage it, but she had to find some way to deliver a powerful Synestryn queen into the hands of a demon who wanted to eat her.
Chapter 37
Joseph tried to rip Lyka out of the demon’s thoughts, but he was too late. She’d made her promise and was now bound by it.
How could he have been so reckless? He should have sensed her intention before she acted. He should have stopped her. Protected her.