Sobbing, she wrapped her arms around Kyrian's body and held him close, willing him to wake up and speak. Please, God, take anything from me, but please let him live.
"Amanda?" Desiderius's voice was sharp as he commanded her back to his side.
She held tighter to Kyrian, laying her head on his chest, beside the bolt, and willing her life force into him.
Amanda froze as she heard something. It was a faint sound, but it made her soar.
She heard Kyrian's heart beating.
Pulling back, she watched as his eyes fluttered open.
Kyrian gazed into Amanda's dark blue eyes that sparkled from her tears. No longer blank, her eyes stared into his with a purpose. And with love.
Her face softening, she passed her hand over his chest and the bolt shot free.
In that moment, he knew she hadn't betrayed him. She had set him free.
"You have your soul back, Kyrian of Thrace," she whispered as the ropes around his wrists unknotted. "Now let's make this bastard pay."
Desiderius screamed in fury as he realized what was happening. Kyrian didn't have his Dark-Hunter powers, but it didn't matter.
For the first time in over two thousand years he had his soul, and the feel of it and the knowledge that Amanda hadn't betrayed him invigorated him.
The Daimon was a dead man.
Desiderius ran for the door.
It slammed shut. "I wouldn't want you to leave the party so soon," Amanda said. "Not after everything you've done to make us so welcome."
"Amanda?" Kyrian said uncertainly.
She looked at him, her eyes shimmering ever so slightly in a way that reminded him of Acheron's. "Desiderius unlocked my powers for me," she said quietly. "He thought to use the telekinesis and telepathy for himself." She looked at Desiderius and smiled. "Surprise. When you unleashed them, you lost all control over me."
Desiderius struggled to open the door.
Kyrian stalked him like a hungry panther after its prey. "What's the matter, Desiderius, afraid of a mere human?"
He turned with a snarl. "I can beat you. I'm a god."
"Then do it."
Cursing, Desiderius charged him. He grabbed Kyrian around the waist and drove him against the wall. Desiderius opened his mouth to bite him.
"Oh, like hell," Kyrian snarled. "I didn't just get my soul back to lose it to you." He kneed the Daimon in the groin.
Desiderius stumbled away from him.
"Kyrian."
He turned to see Amanda with his sword. She tossed it to him.
Extending the blade, he went for Desiderius. The Daimon dodged his swing and lifted his hand to astral-blast him. Kyrian cursed as the blast hit him in the chest right where the crossbow bolt had been. He staggered back.
Oh, it hurt.
Dazed, he couldn't defend himself as Desiderius rushed him. He braced himself in expectation of Desiderius's blow.
It never came.