Darker (Alexa O'Brien Huntress Book 6) - By Trina M. Lee Page 0,11
the demon’s need to rule over others or his hunger to be any more than what he was now.
Arys’s sapphire gaze held a knowing look. He regarded Shya with a pensive stare. “Get to the point. Why are you really here?”
“Fine,” Shya snapped, both his patient demeanor and his forced charm vanished. “Lilah is intent on reclaiming her throne. To do that she has to break the curse. And, that starts with you. She is determined to once again be queen at any cost, which I’m sure you’ve already noticed. You need protection.”
“I’m not accepting protection from you,” I retorted. “What kind of an idiot do you think I am?”
“It’s your blood she wants. She’s started with your wolves. What about when it spills over into your precious human world? You think the monster police at the FPA can contain something like her? I can’t even do that. Not anymore.”
I pursed my lips and stifled any reaction I might have had. Shya’s words scared me, but I couldn’t let him get inside my head. I pulled out my phone and brought up the picture of Zak’s body.
“What does this symbol mean?”
“It’s a summoning mark. Blood sacrifice in exchange for having her binding broken. If it had worked, we’d know. Whoever she summoned must have refused her request.”
This tidbit of information brought Shya’s smile back. I couldn’t muster one myself, but I was relieved to hear her binding was still intact.
“How many other demons can break the binding you created?” Arys asked.
“Several. Of course, most won’t be willing to help a cursed demon lest they too fall under her curse. It won’t be easy for her. That isn’t going to stop them from siding with her. They will still serve their queen.”
I groaned. All I wanted to do was go home and mourn the loss of Zak and Kale. One night to myself to cry it out before I had to face what Shya was telling me. Just one night. Was that too much to ask?
I watched as Shawn and Justin cleaned up the rest of the mess. The scent of bleach quickly filled the place with a brain-smashing odor. If this were just the beginning of what Lilah had planned, how much worse would it get? She had to be stopped.
“So we kill the bitch. Problem solved.” Arys stole the words right out of my mouth. “And, we don’t waste time doing it.”
“It could never be so simple.” Shya shook his head. “She’ll be expecting that. She won’t be foolish enough to let down her guard. I imagine she has both vampires and demons with her at all times. Getting close enough to harm her will be difficult.”
I ran a hand through my hair in frustration. The motion made me think of Shaz. I would have given almost anything for him to be here right now.
“Then what do we do?” I asked, exasperated. “Your last brilliant idea didn’t work out so well.”
“We ready ourselves for what may come,” Shya paused to look at each of us in turn. “And, we keep her from getting her hands on you.”
“We?” I scoffed. “I don’t think so, Shya. Your sudden interest in apologies and teamwork comes solely from your desire to save your own ass. You fucked up and you know it. Binding Lilah didn’t give you any more control over her than you had before. All it did was piss her off, and now, she’s gunning for us. If she gets my blood somehow and breaks the curse, it’s all over for you. You must be scared shitless.”
I allowed myself a grin, feeling for the first time that I had leverage where the demon was concerned. I figured it was temporary so I’d enjoy it while I could.
Shya’s eyes narrowed, but he appeared otherwise unruffled. “I’m aware of how this appears. We have no choice but to trust one another for now. I promise you, I will do nothing to harm you. You have my word.”
Was he for real? I’d never trust Shya again. A glance at Arys’s reaction made me do a double take. I knew that set to his jaw and that curious glint in his eyes. Was he falling for Shya’s smooth-talking charm?
“I’m not making any agreements with you.” I let Shya see the wolf in my eyes, demanding he take me seriously. “You screwed me. Now, you’re on your own.”
“You’re one of my best assassins. You’re good because you really believe you’re taking scum off the streets. Keeping