Chapter 13

Libby was grateful to go home. The tension was strong around the dragons. She could sense their anger and unease with her and Jaz. She understood it to a point, but it didn’t help matters. If they were to work together, they needed to let go of their reservations.

It was strange but the cabin, although it still needed some work, had become a comfort for her. When she and Jaz had gone back inside the dragon’s home, Bev had left, explaining they couldn’t complete their plan until she had rested. Apparently diving into Jaz’s memories had left her too exhausted to do anything else. Jaz didn’t seem too upset about waiting until the following day, either.

When they went inside, Jaz walked down the short hall to the bedroom. His shoulders were hunched, and his body was tense. Libby fidgeted from foot to foot, wondering if he wanted to be left alone. When he shut the door without a word, she sighed and went to the couch and sat down. She yawned, exhausted from the day. She let herself relax, sinking into the soft cushion. She was worried about more than Jaz. It seemed everything was slowly falling apart when this should be the best time of her life. Finding a mate was exciting and should be filled with happiness and love, but so far, she hadn’t really gotten to enjoy the fact that she’d connected with the other piece of her soul.

The time alone gave a chance time to think about her cousin. He barely said a word the whole time they were with the dragons, allowing her take the lead. She didn’t like how much despair she felt coming from him.

It wasn’t like him, at least it hadn’t been before. She missed the real Dillon, and briefly wondered if she should talk to him about taking a vacation to grieve. He hadn’t had much time because he was thrown into being the Alpha as soon as his father split. She could easily lead the pack, and maybe while he was away, she could help get them straightened out. She’d been itching to gain control of the wolves, but she couldn’t because that would mean she was stepping on her cousin’s toes. It would only make him look weak, but if she took over so he could have a break…that should be fine.

She reclined on the couch and closed her eyes. She allowed herself to picture what life could be like after they dealt with the demon. She would lead the pack with Jaz as her partner. The wolves would calm down and they’d feel the new balance. She’d raise her children in the pack. Her cousin wouldn’t be unhappy and there would be no tension between the dragons and the pack.

Libby smiled at her vision of the future. Too bad it would never happen. Who knew what was going to happen after they trapped the demon. It didn’t seem likely she’d be able to lead. There had been a time when she thought Dillon would ask her to be his second. But he was old school, just like his father had been, and a female wolf, in their opinion, wasn’t strong enough to help lead a pack. She sighed. Libby believed a female was just as capable, if not more so, of leading. Women were always in the background, but they always played an important role in the pack dealings. The males just ended up taking the credit.

It wasn’t until she felt herself lifted from the couch that she realized she had fallen asleep. She blinked rapidly and ran a finger along Jaz’s jaw. His stubble tickled her finger and she smiled. He was so handsome—despite the hardness of his features, which she noticed were softening, at least toward her. It was nice to see the sadness fade from his eyes, and the lines of his face smooth. He was far too serious, and way too hard on himself. She hoped that one day he’d feel as safe with her as she did with him. She looked forward to the day when he didn’t feel he had to carry every burden all on his own.

“You didn’t have to sleep out here,” he whispered.

She chose her words carefully. “I wasn’t sure if you wanted to be alone or not.”

He sighed and carried her to the room and laid her on the bed. When he climbed on the bed next to her, he pulled her close and let out a breath. “I don’t want to be alone.”

She loved being near him. “Are you okay after what happened today?”

“As good as can be expected.”

She turned in his arms to face him. Instead of talking, she brushed her lips across his. It started as a light press, but it quickly became more passionate. Jaz gripped her tighter and groaned when she licked his bottom lip and sighed. The kiss gradually grew more intense. She squirmed against him, humming in her throat when his hand slid up the back of her shirt. The warmth of his fingers sunk into her skin and warmed her to her toes. He trailed their tips over her flesh and she shivered. It took only the lightest of touches to wake the beast inside of her.

He broke the kiss and smiled at her. “You’re so beautiful.”

She blushed. She didn’t think she’d ever get used to hearing that—nor actually believing it. She knew she was pretty. But most men looked at her as nothing more than a piece of meat. Jaz was different, though. Even knowing how much he wanted her, he still managed to make her feel special.

“Thank you,” she mumbled and cuddled closer to him.

As much as she would have liked a repeat from that morning, she wanted to comfort him more. He needed to know that he was important. She felt that much. Sex was great, but being with him was better.

She felt his breath even out, didn’t move as she realized he had fallen fast asleep holding her. It wasn’t long until she relaxed in his arms. His warmth made it hard to keep her eyes open and she drifted off, feeling safety in a man’s arms for the first time.

***

“Come to me,” a deep voice whispered into the darkness. Jaz opened his eyes and allowed them to adjust to the night. It was pitch black in the room. He tried to ignore the voice and fall back into his dreamless sleep. It was the first time in a long while he didn’t dream. It was the first night he didn’t see the eyes of the lives he had taken. Forever haunting him.

“Jaz,” the voice called.

Closing his eyes tight, he ground his teeth in attempt to escape the pull, but he didn’t have a choice. The voice inspired a deep compulsion in him to follow its command. He slid out of the bed as carefully as possible. He didn’t want to chance waking Libby. She’d try to help him and end up getting hurt. He couldn’t have that. Keeping his mate safe—even under the demon’s compulsion—was still his top priority. He chuckled at the realization that he could still think for himself, at least to an extent. When he covered her back up with the heavy quilt, she sighed and snuggled deeper into the warmth. He held his breath and waited a few seconds to make sure she still slept. When she didn’t move again, he let out a breath and tiptoed out of the room, shutting the door behind him.

He made his way outside and followed the path he had taken after Dallas’s attack. It was like he was drifting in a dream.

“Yes, come. Hurry.”

The voice was insistent and as much as he wanted to ignore it, he couldn’t. His mind was not fully his own. No matter how much control it seemed he had, the demon still held power over him. He kept walking through the woods until he came to an open area behind the many trees that surrounded him.

At first, he didn’t see the demon. All he felt was his call, as a chill slid down his spine.

“I know you’re out there. Show yourself.”

The demon chuckled and appeared in front of him. His human form had paled and Jaz noticed the demon’s eyes were sunken in. His lips weren’t as full, and the skin on his face stretched over the bones. The handsome man the demon had portrayed was gone. In his place were bones protruding from beneath his flesh. His skin was so attenuated that it was nearly translucent. His cheeks were hollow. The shirt was loose and the jeans baggy. Even his hair had thinned to the point that parts of his head showed through. It was like he’d aged overnight—or was severely ill.

“You came when I called,” the demon said. His voice was raspy, and his words came out on a hiss.

Jaz shrugged. “I don’t think you gave me much of a choice.” He glared, angry that the demon still had power over him even though he seemed to be weakening. “What do you want?”

Axe grinned, his smile was crooked, and his teeth were black. “Your body, of course.”

“You can’t have it.”

“I don’t think I was giving you a choice, boy.”

Jaz frowned. He didn’t think he could be possessed without permission. At least that’s what he’d been told, and this time, he was clearly not having it. The fucker would leave him alone. He backed away, never taking his eyes of the enemy, but Axe kept moving forward, still grinning, with a glint in his sunken in black eyes.

Soon, he was standing right in front of Jaz with only a sliver of space between them. He lifted his hand and clasped Jaz’s jaw.

Jaz shuddered at his touch. The evil that radiated off the demon spilled inside of him. He felt it grow and wrap around his heart. He gasped for breath and tried to knock the demon’s hand away, but that only made Axe grip his jaw tighter. Bones dug into his flesh and he growled, trying to ignore the pain. It seared through him from the top of his head and worked its way through his whole body. He imagined red hot flame flickering inside of him. Every part of him took in the darkness of the demon. Tears filled his eyes, but he refused to let them fall. He fought to push out the demon’s essence, but even though he appeared weak in body, he was stronger than before. Jaz didn’t understand it. How was he so powerful?

Jaz coughed and wheezed, trying to catch his breath, but that only served to take in more of the darkness as he choked. Sweat broke out on his skin and he fell to his knees as the demon fully consumed him.

Jaz peeled his eyes open and groaned. He lay on the damp grass with stars blinking down at him. He tried to sit up, but a rush of pain wrenched through him. Every part of him ached, including his bones. Jaz pressed his hands into the soft earth and pushed himself into the sitting position. He gasped at the white lights the movement shot in front of his eyes. When he was sitting, he massaged his arm, hoping to erase the knots in his muscles. His body felt misplaced. That’s when Jaz realized the demon had once again possessed him. He could feel the lingering effects of the darkness, but Axe was silent within him. Biding his time and waiting to attack.

Jaz knew it would be when he least expected it, and it didn’t matter how prepared he was, the demon was conniving. He’d had decades to perfect his skills, and it was a matter of time before Jaz paid for the demon’s sins.

Slowly, Jaz rose to his feet. His legs were stiff and wobbly. With each slow step from the field he tried to figure out a way out of this before someone got hurt. Time stood still as he shuffled back to the cabin. Every move sent out a prick of pain as if a thousand needles dug into his flesh.

Libby’s going to kill me.

That was his last coherent thought before he felt himself falling to the ground, along with his resolve to fight.