Willa stood on the porch and glanced up at the enormous pentagram that loomed above their heads. The ancient pagan symbol represented protection, yet the inversion reeked of dark intentions. The irony wasn’t lost on Willa. Ilsbeth had sacrificed herself, saving her from death, but she’d also summoned demon magick to alter the very nature of the universe, nearly destroying the wolf she supposedly loved. A blended aura of both wickedness and a dash of misplaced justice best described the High Priestess.
An ominous energy sizzled in the air, reminding Willa of Ilsbeth’s true nature. The only way to survive the High Priestess was to avoid the lethal slice of her potent dark magick.
As they descended the stairs and reached the edge of the patio, Willa drank in a deep breath of the cool dewy air. She ran her fingers down the spine of the skinbook, tendrils of a sinister yet familiar energy seeping from its pores. Willa was convinced that whatever lay between its covers should burn for eternity, where no one could ever release the spells. Spawned by murder, it belonged in Hell.
Willa lifted her gaze to find Ilsbeth staring at her. She shivered as a chill blanketed her shoulders, but she never broke eye contact. Willa’s beast growled in response, itching to shift and demonstrate to the witch who was truly Alpha.
“Form the circle,” Ilsbeth called out to her witches, who reached their palms into the air. A white neon light flickered around the pentagram. From large pits of wood, flames flared high into the sky. “I call on the elements. Air. Fire. Water. Earth. I command you, demon. You shall surface before the High Priestess.”
Lightning flashed in the distance. The low rumble of thunder violently shook the wooden planks beneath their feet, and Willa reached for Hunter’s hand.
It’s ok, sweetheart. You’re not going anywhere .
Promise?
Promise. Easy now. It’s going to get a little rough.
A bolt shot down from the sky, scorching the earth in the center of the pentagram. The scent of sulfur danced in the air.
“I love a good show.” Viktor smiled and waggled his eyebrows at Willa. Hunter shot him a stern look in response. “What? We’ve got good seats. Better than Vegas.”
“I call on you, demon, within the confines of our circle. I demand you show your face,” Ilsbeth continued.
“Here comes the good part,” Viktor whispered, fisting the hilt of the knife in his hand.
“Venite ad me daemonium. Et vocavi te nomine. Zaebos. Expellere non ego te meis circulus ad infernos. Et dimitte nobis debita nostra factam acceptare. Adjuro te per Zaebos. Ipsum revelare. Nunc ,” Ilsbeth screamed.
“Oh Goddess.” Willa held tight to Hunter’s hand as the wind whipped across her face.
The ground trembled as it cleaved open, revealing smoke and fire. The skyclad witches protectively knelt and tucked themselves into balls, avoiding the lick of the flames. Sweat beaded over their bare skin, a low chant echoing from their lips.
Willa’s heart raced as the horned creature ascended from the earth, its red glowing eyes glaring at Ilsbeth. Hovering five feet above the circle, it swiped a clawed hand toward the ground, screeching with pain as the white light zapped its fingers. A stream of blood spewed from its mouth toward Ilsbeth, but she held out her palms, sending it flying into the open pit.
What the fuck? Willa’s eyes darted over to her Alpha.
Deep breaths. It’ll be over soon.
Ilsbeth addressed the demon. “Zaobos.”
“I will break through this magick, witch. Come with me and I will spare the others.” As it opened its mouth, a two-foot-long pointed tongue slithered into the air. Whipping it from side to side, it attempted to lash the witches. It thrashed its head toward Willa and pointed a clawed finger at her. “You belong in Hell too. There will be no escape, Princess. Your blood is mine. Your body is mine. You will give birth to the legacy of Hell.”
“Like hell she will, fuck face. We’re here to make a deal,” the Alpha called out to it.
The demon roared at Hunter, its diabolical laugh shaking the earth beneath. “I’ll skin you alive while I rape her a thousand times. Tear your dick from your body and shove it down your throat.”
Willa felt the Alpha’s anger rip through her as if it was her own. He held tight to her hand and stepped toward the creature.
“Fuck you and the hellhound you rode in on. You want this skinbook?” Hunter asked.
Willa waved it in the air, her heart pounding against her ribs. Show no fear.
You’ve got this, Princess. She heard Viktor’s voice in her head.
Her eyes flashed to his, concerned that only her mate should be able to speak with her telepathically. How are you doing that?
Hand it the book. It can’t hurt you during the trade.
What?
It can’t hurt you during the trade. Just do it. I’ll handle the rest, pet.
Willa took a deep breath and addressed the hideous creature. “Hey. Look. I have the book. The book of my ancestors. If you release us, you can have it.”
“A trade,” Hunter yelled at the beast.
“A price must be paid for the magick,” it countered, eyeing the skin book.
“Ilsbeth has paid her price in Hell. Whatever remains is paid with the spells. She has not touched them,” Hunter promised. “The evil perpetrated by the wolves is within this skin book. The spells.”
“The spells are mine,” it contended. “Mine!”
“You want it? Then declare the deal valid under the reign of the Goddess or may she strike you down. Declare the deal by the rules of Hell. Willa and Ilsbeth are released forever. Viktor and Julian too.”
“The witch will come again.” Zaobos dragged its tongue across its bloodied lips. “I will have her.”
“Not today. She’s under the realm of the Goddess. Release her or no book.” Hunter stood firm, staring down the demon.
It hissed at Ilsbeth, once again spitting at her. “One day witch. One day you’ll be mine. No one will be able to save you.”
“We had a deal, nothing more. I promised the book and here it is. You owe me now, not the other way around.”
Willa exchanged a brief but confused look with Hunter. She made this deal a long time ago. The book is owed.
Dimitri. Hunter’s face tightened in anger.
“It’s mine,” Zaobos repeated.
“Ilsbeth and Willa go free. Release them. Viktor and Julian too. Say it or no book.”
Zaobos roared, clawing at the white light that contained the demonic creature.
“This book contains spells, yeah? I bet ya Ilsbeth here could whip up something to destroy your ass if she tried hard enough,” Hunter baited. “I felt the evil in that skin. I bet we could bring out a higher-level demon to take you out in exchange for this book. What do you think, Priestess?”
“Absolutely.” Ilsbeth wore an icy smile.
“You did torture her. She’s a vindictive witch. I imagine it wouldn’t take too long,” Viktor added.
“Make the trade. Say it now, demon,” Hunter ordered. “Or go back to Hell and we’ll bring back one of your bosses to take care of you.”
“I release the Priestess,” it growled.
“And Willa. Say their names, demon. No tricks.”
“Ilsbeth, High Priestess. Princess Aline Ermenjarta Lobo. Prince Joao Pedro Lobo. Viktor Christianson. Et nunc absolvo vos in commutatione ad librum. Sed Ilsbeth transire mihi in sempiternum: et tu dormies cum in inferno .” Zaobos released a deafening roar.
“I bind you to your word, demon. The trade has been made.” Ilsbeth closed her eyes and held her palms up toward the demon. “His verbis promissum tuum es bound to. Adiuro vos huic. In nomine sancte et arsisse ferunt multorum deam vobis noceat, si quis hic. Sic fiat semper. His verbis promissum tuum es bound to. Adiuro vos huic. In nomine sancte et arsisse ferunt multorum deam vobis noceat, si quis hic. Sic fiat semper. His verbis promissum tuum es bound to. Adiuro vos huic. In nomine sancte et arsisse ferunt multorum deam vobis noceat, si quis hic. Sic fiat semper .”
“It’s time.” Hunter glared at the creature and turned to Willa. “Together.”
Viktor nodded at her, the blade of the knife reflecting the flames.
Her stomach rolled as she put one foot in front of the other, slowly approaching the demon. Zaobos flung its tongue from side to side, blood dripping from its mouth.
Closer. Closer. Willa’s pulse raced as they closed the distance. The putrid stench of the demon filled her nostrils, and she coughed. She willed the nausea churning in her stomach to calm.
“Don’t even think to touch her,” Hunter warned.
The echoes of Ilsbeth’s chanting grew louder in Willa’s mind. With her eyes transfixed on the demon, she extended the book to it. Her hands shook as the creature leaned toward her and stabbed a scaly talon into its cover, sending sparks flying into the air. As she released the book, Hunter yanked her into his arms, protectively shielding her from the fire.
Willa sucked a breath as Viktor appeared, brandishing the knife. Please, Goddess. Smoke billowed out of the crack and the earth quaked beneath their feet. Hunter tugged her outside of the circle and they rolled onto the patio.
Willa screamed in horror as Ilsbeth lunged at the demon. “No!”
The Priestess clutched onto the edges of the book, and as Viktor stabbed the beast in the neck with the knife, Zaobos released a horrific shriek. Instantly, the crevice widened, sucking the demon inside it, but the witch refused to let go.
“No! Stop him!” Willa watched in horror as the earth swallowed both Viktor and Ilsbeth. Her stomach clenched, bile rising into her throat. “Viktor! No! No!”
Although Willa attempted to wrench free of Hunter’s arms, he held tight. The earth crumbled on itself, sealing the portal to Hell. With a single bolt of lightning, the heavens opened from above, releasing a torrential downpour.
The cold rain stung her skin as she yelled for the vampire. “Viktor! Where is he? Hunter…no…please.”
“We’ll find him,” Hunter promised.
Shock seized Willa, tears streaming down her face. As the witches dispersed, Willa wrenched away from Hunter and ran to the center of the pentagram. She fell to her knees and pounded on the earth with her fists. “Viktor! Viktor. No! No!”
As she clawed at the wet dirt, reality registered. Nothing would ever be the same. The vampire was forever lost to Hell.