The Devil's Kiss - By Stacey Kennedy Page 0,43

squeezed my hands tighter. “They are stealers of souls. Imagine that. Imagine how bad you think it will be, and then multiple it tenfold. It will be something like that.”

I gulped deeply. Wonderful!

Valor suddenly approached me, took my hands from Zia’s and raised them to his heart. “You don’t need to do this.”

I smiled, stepped into him. “Let’s just move past all this, okay. I’m going. I know what it feels to lose ones you love. I don’t want you to feel that, Valor. I can help you and I’m going to. That’s the end of it.”

“No. You do not owe me this debt.”

“Everything will be fine. I’ll be fine.” Deep within me, I believed it. I had become strong—I didn’t doubt in my abilities. The demons were a little worrisome, but I would just do what Zia said. Kill Pye and get out. Simple right?

Valor backed away very slowly. He didn’t want to let me go. He looked about as wound up as Kyden. I definitely had to make it through this or Valor was going to carry a heavy burden. The guilt in his eyes said one thing…he believed he was sending me off to my death. Well, my answer to that—I hadn’t been given this gift to sit on it. I had to do whatever I could.

“I would go with you,” Zia said. “But I cannot get through the portal. Magnus will set it up for you alone.”

“I know you would, Zia.” I lifted my chin and squared my shoulders. “Would you all stop looking as if I am about to die? Have some confidence! Geesh.”

No one’s expressions changed.

Surprisingly, Finn was the one who took me in his arms and hugged me tightly. Haven sobbed loudly behind him.

“Do it quickly. We will wait here for you,” he said.

I smiled softly when he released me. “Get in and get out.”

He nodded, encouragingly. “That’s right.”

Haven abruptly lunged forward and yanked me into a fierce hug. “No, don’t go. I don’t want you to go. Don’t do this.”

“Me neither,” Willow’s voice was sad at my feet.

I hushed Haven, patted her back, then glanced down at Willow. “I will be fine. I have my shield to protect me. If Magnus thought this was going to kill me he wouldn’t have me do this.”

Why I believed that beyond a doubt was a bizarre thing, but for some reason, I knew he wouldn’t endanger my life. “He thinks I can defeat Pye, so you all should too. I will be back before you know it.”

Haven clenched me tighter. I sighed and reached up to pull her arms away. Putting them in this position, sucked—the next hour was going to be taxing for them. I reached down and gave Willow a little pat before I moved on.

Kyden stood off to the side. His glare burned the back of my head. He was holding on by a very thin thread. I glanced toward him. His fierce expression remained intact. I slowly walked toward him.

When I reached his side, he was stiff as a board. Every muscle clenched, every vein in his body bulged, and his knuckles were stone white. I raised my hands to his chest and just rested them there. He trembled beneath me.

There was only one thing to do. Words could not properly explain why I needed to do this for Valor. I opened my connection with Spirit and let through every single memory I had of what it felt like when I lost my family. Every emotion I suffered¯the loss, depression, the deep heartbreak.

When the visions stopped, I opened my eyes. Kyden’s head was bowed. He quickly pulled me into him, hugged me with every ounce of strength and love he had.

“That’s why,” I whispered.

He leaned back and looked down to me. No words needed to be said. He finally understood why I couldn’t let that happen to Valor, why I needed to do this. He also saw that I wanted him to trust me and support me. He simply had to be there for me.

It softened him a smidgen. His eyes bore into mine as he shared my soul. Saw my world as it once was, saw my pain exposed and raw. He saw exactly what I desperately needed from him.

“Come back to me, Álainn,” he whispered, then his lips met mine.

Then, I left, walked toward the darkest place I’d ever gone.

Alone.

* * * *

When I connected with hard ground, I gasped in pain then raised my head to see one

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