I stare into her emerald eyes, disbelieving what I’m seeing.
She’s back.
An hour ago, she left me and I had no idea how or by whom. I held her, keeping my essence inside her. But no matter how hard I tried, I felt nothing from her—even when her skin turned red with the fever I couldn’t break. All I could do was watch.
It was as if the nightmare of yesterday never ended. But today was worse. Yesterday I couldn’t find her. Today I was with her—I was right there—but I still couldn’t protect her. Even my team was no help. Despite all my immortal abilities, I wasn’t enough to keep her safe.
As I carried her limp body home, I prayed to Father, asking him to guide her back to me—begging him to let her be okay. I wasn’t sure if it would work, having never prayed before. Because I’m a Protector, praying isn’t necessary. But I had to try—I had to do something. Even though Father has no idea who Maddy is, he would have to take note of one of his angels praying.
Her body shivers.
I move my hands to her hair, brushing it from her face as my essence picks up inside her—searching for her needs. Her heart is racing, and her body is twisted with fear. I calm them, giving her space to breathe.
“Oh, Maddy . . . I’m so glad you’re awake. What happened?”
She blinks, and her brows narrow in confusion. “I–I’m back? Is this real?”
I nod, taken aback by her questions. What did the demon do to her?
She looks up and lets out a relieved breath. Then suddenly she slams into me, wrapping her arms around me.
I hold her closer as my own fear—that I’d never see her again—settles.
“Where were you?” I whisper into her hair.
She clings to me even harder. “I don’t know. I’m cold.”
She’s not. Her skin shimmers with sweat, which is only a sign of the fire I can now feel inside her. Still, I cannot deny her what she wants.
“Tamitha,” I call, but she’s already next to me with a blanket. She throws it over Maddy, knowing I need to keep my hands on Maddy so my essence can continue flowing.
Slowly, I lower her and rest beside her on the bed. She stares into my eyes, and I get the feeling she still doesn’t believe she’s here with me. I reach up and stroke her cheek.
“Please, Maddy, tell me anything you remember.”
After a moment, she says, “I don’t know where I went. It was dark and hard to see, but I found the demon that took hold of me. I touched him. That sent me home and sent him back to the City of the Damned.”
My head whips up as I look at Tamitha and Alexander. The alarm in their eyes must mirror my own.
Mortals don’t know the name of that place. I’ve never said it around Maddy. We rarely say it even amongst ourselves. That place is an abomination—a constant reminder of our darkest day. Perhaps the Influencer said it yesterday, and Maddy’s just repeating it now. I’d rather it be from him than this new demon.
Only those in league with the Fallen refer to Hell by that name.
My essence picks up inside Maddy, making sure she came back alone. She did.
“Tell me about the demon,” I say. “Tell me what you remember about him so I can find him.”
She shakes her head. “I don’t remember him.”
I frown and tilt my head. She touched the demon. She has to remember something.
There’s no reason for her to protect him from me, yet she is. My essence picks up inside her, trying to figure this out. When my essence returns to me, my worry grows. I found nothing. I know the demon didn’t compel Maddy—she’s resistant to that ability. And she isn’t afraid, so that means the demon didn’t force her to lie under threats.
“The demon from yesterday must have told this other demon about her,” Tamitha says.
“Yes,” Alexander agrees. “What are the odds she would be attacked by two demons two days in a row? They’re connected.”
Maddy shudders. “Justin—he’s still coming for me.”
“Maddy,” I begin. Sorrow fills me. As much as I want to know why she’s covering for a demon, there are more pressing matters—her needs. “He won’t hurt you again. I promise. I don’t give a damn what that contract says.”
“I didn’t sign it.”
I can only blink.
“The contract wasn’t signed. He doesn’t own me.”
My body sags, freed of the weight the contract held over Maddy, over me, over us. I would have fought for her, but I know the odds of winning wouldn’t have been in our favor. I was terrified of losing her. Even now, I’m not foolish enough to believe we’re safe, but without the contract, at least we have a chance at a life together.
Then my joy suddenly fades. “Did the demon tell you this? How do you know?” I ask. I want to believe her, but I don’t trust the source.
Her eyes dim as she searches for what should be an easy answer. “I . . . I don’t know. I just do.”
It’s all the proof I need.
“It doesn’t matter how I know,” she continues. “You just can’t tell anyone else about me. It’s only a matter of time before more beings come for me. We need to be ready.”
Whether I trust this new demon’s word, I know this much is true—more will come for her. They outnumber us twenty to one. Even if I keep her identity contained to our small team, at most she’ll stay a secret for a month. All my immortal gifts are meaningless if they cannot keep her safe.
“I will do whatever it takes to keep you a secret,” I say. “Þú ert minn hvatvetna. Minn ást. Minn líf. Minn Maddy.”
I meant every word. She is my everything. My love. My life. My Maddy.
I look down at her with emotions I can’t even describe. “Ek ann þér,” I say softly.
Curious green eyes meet mine. If she knew what those words meant, she would pull even farther away from me. She’s afraid of love. She doesn’t accept it from anyone and never gives it back. She isn’t ready to know how I feel about her just yet. But still I have to say it. I have to say the three words that terrify her.
I love you.
I hold her closer to me and kiss her forehead, breathing in her fruit-and-nature scent. “You’re safe now, minn hvatvetna,” I say, tucking her hair behind her ear. “You’re home.”
At the word “home,” she unravels. Raindrops pelt the house.
I wrap my arms around her again, holding her close. Tamitha and Alexander leave the room, though they’re still on guard. Sissy has been with Amber since she left the park. Not knowing what we’re up against has us all on high alert.
I lay with Maddy, soothing her as best I can.
This is the second demon that attacked her in less than a week. The first one tried to own her soul with a contract he shouldn’t have had access to in the first place. What is this one after? Who is he? Why can’t she remember him? How was he able to possess her? And the fire, the cracked concrete, the destruction, the power—was that him?
Or Maddy?