Darkblood Prison - G.K. DeRosa Page 0,26
to the surface and darkness seeped into my vision. Only a few yards away, the duodo slowed his gallop into a measured trot. Its eyelids began to droop, a hazy expression replacing the murderous one.
Just a little closer.
I took a step, meeting the creature, our gazes still locked. A swirl of energy crept up my throat, and the ravenous hunger took hold. My jaw unlocked as I grabbed hold of the right head and pulled it to my face. A whisper of blue vapor seeped through my lips and pried the beast’s maw open. I inhaled deeply, and a scarlet mist tore out of the demon’s mouth.
I greedily sucked it in, the intoxicating power rushing to my head. After a few more gulps, the duodo’s head lolled back, its eyes rolling inside its massive skull.
I barely made out the drone of the buzzer in the background, but it didn’t matter. I wanted more, more power, more of this beast’s soul. Grabbing the second head, I tilted it back and captured its cloudy eyes in my death stare.
My lips parted and its soul practically jumped out, crimson energy spewing from its slack jaw.
Enough, Azara! A familiar voice echoed through my hazy mind. I shoved it back, intent on the heady rush surging through my veins. A few more deep pulls, and it would be over.
“Enough!” Talon’s voice boomed across the room.
My eyes snapped open and my head spun around, searching for the source of that commanding voice. The door whipped open, smacking against the wall and I dropped the demon’s limp body. It crumpled to the floor in a heap with both sets of eyes closed.
Talon darted across the room with Ella attached to his arm, trying to hold him back. “You shouldn’t interfere, T,” she shouted as he dragged her toward me.
I blinked rapidly, and the darkness edging into my vision finally dissipated. My knees wobbled, and I sank to the floor. As I dropped, my foot brushed up against one of the demon’s heads, and a bout of nausea crept up my throat. What did I do?
“Get it out of here,” Talon called out to no one in particular as he pointed at the motionless demon. He loomed over me, his dark brows twisted. “Azara?”
I tipped my head up and settled my gaze on his forehead. I didn’t want to meet his eyes because I knew what I’d find. Disappointment. Anger. Regret. And I didn’t need that right now. I had enough with my own guilt.
“Azara, are you all right?” he repeated.
“Yes,” I muttered and lowered my gaze to my folded hands. Had I passed the test or not? That was all that mattered, right?
Two guards appeared, their heavy footfalls echoing through the eerily quiet space. They bent down and dragged the demon out without sparing me a glance. Once they were gone, Talon’s voice shattered the uneasy silence once more. “Ella, can you give me a second with her?”
I’d almost forgotten about my cousin. I still didn’t look up, but I had a feeling she had objected to his request based on the lingering silence. A few beats later, her dainty footsteps click-clacked across the floor before completely falling away.
Talon backed up, his heavier footfalls calling my attention. I glanced up to find him flicking a switch on the far wall. He spun back a moment later and caught me in his dark gaze. Dammit. There it was—the disappointment I didn’t want to see.
He trudged back and folded down on the floor next to me. To my surprise, he didn’t say anything at first, just sat there in silence. I took the pause to regain control of myself, tucking my she-demon back into the far recesses of my core. Inhaling deeply, I wished I could get in a yoga session with my old trainer Mezlor. I really needed that Zen right about now.
Talon huffed out a breath and tipped his head back against the wall. “It was my fault. It was a stupid idea to send that demon in.”
My eyes bulged out, and I whirled at him. “That was your idea?”
“I thought if you felt like you were in real danger, your magic would come out.”
I gritted my teeth and suppressed the slew of curses I wanted to spew at him. I’d lost control because of him, in front of the freakin’ SIA. “Well, it did,” I finally hissed. “It was just the wrong kind of magic.”
“I’m sorry. It was stupid. I wanted them to see what you