Page 85 of The Last Sacrifice

“How do you know my name?” every word spoken low and controlled.

“I know more about you than even you know,” turning her head to look at him, she gave him a wink, “And for a few extra favours I might even tell you,”

“I havn’t agreed to the first favour yet,”

Pressing her fingers against the bandages wrapped around his back. Her fingertips covered in his blood, she held them up to his gaze.

“This Arcandian has seduced you. You bleed for her, you risk death for her. What is one little favour to me worth? Her life?”

“You dont know what you’re talking about” his voice was gruff, dismissive. Yet his heart lurched in his chest just at the thought of what she was suggesting.

“I know she is in danger. That great events are about to take place and your little Arcandian is smack bang in the centre of it. And you?” Giving a long sigh, she shrugged. “You’re laying face down on your bed, where your master put you,” Standing, she looked down at him.

“If you tell me to leave, I will leave you in your pathetic misery,” Cocking her head to her side, her hands on her hips, she leaned down to meet his gaze. “But her death will haunt you for centuries,”

Straightening, she turned, taking a step towards the door before he spoke.

His voice was raspy and coarse.

“That small favour can’t endanger anyone under my protection,”

Turning with a smile, she nodded encouragingly at him “Now that wasn’t hard, was it?”

“Swear it,”

Placing her right hand over her heart, she raised her left hand, her fingers forming the Boy Scout salute.

“I swear,” her amused mocking tone grating over his nerves. This had to be a bad idea.

“We have a deal?” Moving over to him, her eyes intent on his as her lips curled into a satisfied smile.

“Yes” definitely a bad idea.

Yet as her hands landed on his shoulders, he didn’t move away.

“This... this is going to hurt” her tone was softer, more serious as her grip tightened. “A lot. “

Before he had a chance to reply, her eyes flashed with power. A searing heat spreading out from under her palms, over his shoulders and down his back. Crying out in agony as the burning heat spilled into every wound and torn muscle. The demonic energy pouring deep into every cell of his being. Awakening the true rage that he had tried to bury so long ago. His eyes glowing as his demonic beast roared to life within him. Hungry for more of the power that moved through him.

A swirling red energy rising out from her, growing with power as it weaved around them both. His bandages falling in ashes around him as his body shook and contorted. Muscles and flesh regenerating, re-knitting as lacerations pushed out the stitches, flowing together and bonding closed. A hot white liquid oozing thick and slow down his back as he shuddered. Taking his first easy breath in days. He moved his neck from side to side before looking up at her. The red energy drawing back into her.

However, she had healed him, had clearly cost her. The demoness was pale, her beauty still undeniable, yet her cheeks sunken. Dark circles were forming under her eyes, and the hands she lifted off him were shaking ever so slightly as she stepped away.

“Ta-dah” giving a smile, she pushed her black hair off her face. “I will be in touch”

Flames flared around her as she turned and vanished into the smoke, leaving a trail of fading embers.

Standing, Hyde rolled his shoulders. He had never felt better. His back, completely rebuilt, moved easily as he stretched. A soft growl rumbling through him. The urge to hunt and eat was overpowering. He needed to sink his claws and teeth into something. To tear it apart. To feast.

Moving past where the Doc sat, slumped asleep in the chair. Soft snores rising with the movement of his chest. Hyde didn’t even pause to check on him. Pushing open the door of his cabin, he moved. Shifting into a black wolf before his feet hit the ground, he ran for the trees that lined the property.

The almost full moon hanging like a beacon in the sky.

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WAKING WITH A START, Talia’s heartbeat thundered in her ears. The surrounding room was heavy with darkness, her breath short. Her stomach churning.

She reached over to the lamp, her fingers fumbling in the dark. The fading nightmare fragmenting as she blinked at the softly glowing light that filled the room at her touch.