Chapter 29
Cori
She gazed around at all her friends who’d come for her, settling on Bartol last. His reaction to Griff holding her life in his demented hands was the most painful. Everyone was upset, but the conflicting panic and rage reflecting in Bartol’s eyes went above and beyond the others. He was desperate to save her no matter what it took. Too bad he didn’t understand she wasn’t worth rescuing.
If by some miracle Cori survived this day, she would become a liability to him. The mate bond would forever tether them together, whether they liked it or not. He would always feel an obligation toward her, and the last thing she wanted was to cause more pain in his life. Bartol had already suffered more than any man should. It was up to her to end this now and maybe, just maybe, he’d find a way to move on and live again without being bound to a mortal woman with an unforgivable past.
Not that Cori wanted to die. Not really.
There were so many things left in this world that she hadn’t experienced. Now that she was in her darkest hour, she realized she did want to fall in love again someday and possibly try to have more children. She wanted to leave a legacy that would survive after her death. As it stood now, she’d be forgotten in a matter of years. All of her wonderful friends who’d come to rescue her today would move on, and she’d become a distant memory in their minds. Maybe they’d lay flowers on her grave for the first couple of years, but she wasn’t important—not like them. They were the ones with the power to make this world a better place. A woman like her, who’d tried to kill a man in cold blood, didn’t deserve to be a part of that. Better that she stop this before anyone else got hurt.
Tears rolled down her swollen cheeks as she met each of her friend’s gazes in a solemn goodbye. Melena flinched, Derrick growled, Tormod’s eyes flashed, Lucas shook his head, and Bartol…well, he trembled with impotent rage.
Every part of her hurt from Griff’s repeated beatings the past couple of days. He’d brought her to the brink of unimaginable pain over and over without actually killing her. Cori was fairly certain her cheekbone was cracked, and her left arm broken. She likely had internal injuries as well if the agony in her abdomen was any indication. If Griff hadn’t been holding her upright, she couldn’t have stood on her own two feet. Every breath hurt because he’d intentionally left her latest injuries untended.
“It’s okay,” she said in a choked voice, knowing her time was close. “Just let me go.”
Bartol took a step closer, fists clenched at his sides. “You do not need to die, Cori. You are better than this.”
“I’m no hero like the rest of you.” She swallowed and forced herself to say the next words that would help them to let her go. “I’m a criminal who should have been punished a long time ago.”
“That’s not true!” Melena shouted. “You’ve helped us and saved people!”
Cori gave the sensor a weak smile. “It’s not enough to pay back what I did.”
Griff whispered in her ear, “That’s it, babe. Let them see the scum you really are. For once, you’re finally seeing the truth about yourself.”
Bitterness cloyed at her throat. The part of her that had changed over these past few years screamed that Griff was wrong, and she was worth something. She ignored that voice. This was the time for her to pay, so she could finally be at peace or at least no longer be a blight on this world. The darkness within her had built with every day she concealed the murder she’d committed, and it didn’t matter that she now knew her victim had survived. She couldn’t live with it anymore. Griff had brought all the guilt back to the surface and drilled it home.
“Mel, if I wasn’t your friend, you’d know I need to be punished,” Cori said, meeting the sensor’s gaze. “You’ve always fought for justice and doing the right thing, which is why I’ve always admired you. I don’t want to ever bring you down to my level.”
Melena gave her a pleading look. “We can work this out. You’re not as bad as you think.”
“Yes, I am.” Cori turned her gaze to Bartol. “And we both know you will be better off without me.”
He shook his head. “No, you are the one who has been changing me for the better. I still need you.”
She wished that was true, but at best she’d sped up his healing process. He could handle his problems from here on out without her if he just kept trying. “Promise me you’ll learn to live again,” Cori pleaded. “Let me die knowing that you’ll find happiness and love and all the things you deserve.”
“Why should I if you’re giving up?” Bartol asked, frustrated.
He didn’t understand this wasn’t only about her, but also about ensuring she wouldn’t be a liability to him or anyone else any longer. “Because you’re strong enough to do it, and I believe in you.”
Bartol glanced at the eastern sky where it was beginning to lighten, then turned his attention back to Cori. “Fight him! If ever there has been a human woman in the world who could defeat those stronger than her, it is you. Don’t let this be the end.”
“I can’t,” she said, voice breaking.
Melena’s face turned red. “Dammit, Cori. This isn’t you!”
“The sun’s comin’,” Derrick warned.
Griff pulled Cori around so that they faced the eastern sky. “I let you get your last words, but now it’s all you and me, babe.”
She could no longer see her friends, but she caught the sounds of scuffles and shouts. Someone was trying to cross the minefield to save her. Why did they think she was worth the trouble when she was nothing more than a criminal? Her greatest achievement was her beautiful daughter, but she’d ruined that as well by letting Griff near her. This was what Cori deserved. Going out with the man she’d tried to kill seemed rather fitting, and she would accept it.
The sky lightened further, and Griff’s exposed skin began to sizzle. She’d wondered if it took direct sunlight or if the early rays would be enough. His arms burst into flames first, singing her jacket. Cori stared in horror at the tiny flames that would soon reach her skin. For as much as she was ready to die, letting herself burn to death wasn’t exactly easy.
Griff’s legs lit up next, and he jerked behind her. “Now you’ll forever be mine.”
All that was left was his face, which he’d ducked behind her back in a small show of self-preservation. It was that, or he wanted to hang on as long as possible to ensure she didn’t get away. How could he have become so demented that he was willing to take her down with him?
Something inside Cori broke. She deserved a lot, but she didn’t deserve to spend eternity with Griff, and she had no doubt Hell would choose that as her punishment if her life ended now. Whether or not she deserved happiness might have been debatable, but maybe she could at least try to make a difference in the world before she left it. All she had to do was choose to live and fight for that chance with all she had in her.
The sun was moments away from peeking over the horizon, and then surely her opportunity would be gone. Cori couldn’t wait a moment longer. Ignoring all the aches and pains of her injuries, as well as the fire starting to burn through her clothes, she lifted her leg and kicked back into Griff’s shin. Her heel broke through his melting skin to the bone. He cried out and tightened his grip on her.
“No, you won’t escape. We die together!” he shouted in a garbled voice, holding her struggling form.
Her clothing began falling away in ashes, and the flames licked along her skin. She screamed as pure agony ran through her. All Cori could think about was getting away from the pain, so she fought even harder. She kicked again and again until Griff’s arms slackened enough for her to twist around and face him. As the blaze crawled up between them, she pushed against his blackened chest, burning her palms. He finally let go, and she collapsed to the ground. Rolling back and forth and crying out in pain, she worked to put out the flames covering her body. They died on her chest and back, but her lower legs were still engulfed. It wasn’t enough. She needed help if she was going to survive this.
Cori rolled once more, and her gaze honed in on a black stone with silver veins. It must have fallen from Griff’s pocket after his pants started burning. He’d meant for it to burn with him so her friends would never know that was the relic that drained their powers. Scraping the flesh from her elbows and knees, she crawled several feet to reach it. Her scorched fingers grasped it tightly. She closed her eyes and dug deep to the center of her very being, pulling on the last bit of strength she had to throw the stone as far as she could toward her friends.
It sailed through the air as she cried out, “Get it away from here!”
She could only pray they would understand.
Crumpling onto her stomach and squishing her face into the dirt, she watched as it landed at the edge of the minefield. Tormod, being the closest to it, snatched the stone up and tossed it to one of the werewolves unaffected by its powers. Several of them had just finished shifting back to human form with the dawn and were still naked, but one of them grabbed the stone. The man wasted no time running away with it.
Cori expelled a breath. No one could say she didn’t try to save herself.
The flames crawled their way back up her body, sending scorching pain through her legs, buttocks, and finally her back. She let out a choked scream, unable to move. At any moment, they would reach her head, and she would lose all will to live. As it was, her vision was growing hazy.
Bartol appeared before her. “Hang on, Cori!”
He stretched his hands out and in a burst of power, extinguished the flames. Her friends appeared next, hovering in a circle around her. She overheard a few others run into the house to check it, but they wouldn’t find anyone in there. Griff had sent away his human minions.
Cori wanted to shout or scream as the pain overwhelmed her senses. She wanted to tell the people who’d come to help her that it was too late and not even Micah could heal this much damage, but she couldn’t force the words from her throat. It was so swollen and sore that she could barely breathe. Lying there in horrible agony, Cori hoped they’d have mercy and put her out of her misery.
“Most of her body is too badly burned,” Micah said, crouching somewhere off to her side. “This is far beyond what I can heal before she succumbs to the burns.”
“We could take her to Kariann,” Derrick suggested.
Melena moved close to Cori and ran a soothing hand through her hair, which had mostly survived the flames. “Bartol said Griff has been hurting her off and on since she was taken, so I’m guessing she’s already had too much vampire blood. If we give her any more, she will start to turn and die.”
“We have to do something!” Bartol insisted, kneeling next to Melena. “We can’t leave her like this.”
Cori coughed. First once and then her hacking progressed into a full fit so that she couldn’t breathe. Micah shouted at the others to move aside and put his hands on her throat and chest. A minute later, she could draw breath again. The only trouble with that was it returned full attention to the burns covering her. She curled into herself, feeling almost all of her skin was scorched black from her chest down. Her clothes were completely gone.
Micah sighed. “That’s the best I can do for her. If I start on her skin, the pain will intensify and send her into shock. She won’t survive it. Maybe in a human hospital…”
“No,” Melena said, emphatic. “She’ll only suffer more there.”
“Let me die,” Cori whispered, finally finding her voice.
Bartol kneeled over her and took her face into his hands. “I said you’re not dying on my watch. If it is the only way, I’ll give you my blood.”
Lucas grabbed his shoulder. “Don’t. The archangels will make you pay a high price for that, and you’re not in any shape to handle another stay in Purgatory this soon.”
“I don’t care,” Bartol growled. “You’d do the same for Melena.”
The nephilim clamped his lips shut and stepped away.
“Even if you don’t care about that,” Micah said, his gaze regretful. “No human has ever survived drinking nephilim blood. You will likely kill her or make her go mad.”
Melena’s voice rose above the others, “I can do it.”
“No,” Lucas barked. “You’ve pushed the archangels far enough lately.”
The sensor plopped down next to Bartol and stared at Cori. “She has the greatest chance of surviving with my blood, and I swear by all that is holy if you stop me I will shoot you.”
“I am your husband. You will not shoot me.” Lucas moved to grab his wife, but the sensor gave him a venomous look that stopped him in his tracks.
“Back off,” Melena ordered him.
“Please let her do this,” Bartol gazed up the nephilim. “I’ll tell the angels to punish me instead.”
Conflicting emotions crossed Lucas’ face as he stood there, weighing whether saving his wife’s friend was worth Melena being punished. Cori hated that they were even having this conversation. She didn’t deserve this kind of loyalty.
The sensor shook her head. “No, this is on me. She’s a good friend, and I’d save her even if she wasn’t mated to Bartol—consequences be damned.”
“It’s okay, Mel.” Cori inched her hand toward Melena, not quite reaching her. “I don’t want you or anyone else to get in trouble.”
Bartol caressed her forehead. “We aren’t going to let you die. Either she gives you her blood, or I do.”
Lucas cursed under his breath. “If anyone could get away with doing this, it would be Melena. She is also the most likely to succeed in saving Cori, rather than killing her. Let her do it.”
The sensor didn’t waste another moment. She pulled a knife from her pocket and cut her wrist. Pressing the wound to Cori’s mouth a moment later, she ordered, “Drink.”
Blood filled Cori’s mouth. It wasn’t as metallic as she’d expected, and actually had a somewhat sweet taste to it. Did immortals come in different flavors than humans? She was in such a haze that the oddest thoughts came to mind.
Cori continued to drink, feeling the wounds on her body begin to heal. It hurt, but everything was regenerating quickly enough that it wasn’t as bad as the slow process of Micah’s magic. Only when her cheek and wrist began to mend did she struggle against the agony of bones knitting back together. Bartol held her still while Melena kept her wrist pressed to Cori’s mouth.
“She’s taking too much,” Lucas warned. “You didn’t give Emily or Yerik’s wife half this much.”
“Cori needs more with her injuries. I can’t stop now,” Melena insisted.
Micah moved closer. “We don’t know what it will do to her. This is the first non-sensor to consume your blood.”
“Look, she’s healing.” Melena gestured down Cori’s body. “She just needs a little more.”
In fact, there was something else happening. Cori felt a thrum start in her chest, and it started to expand to the rest of her. The dawn sky became brighter and more vivid, and oddly, she was starting to see auras around everyone standing near her. Their voices became louder, and new scents she’d only vaguely picked up before became more distinct. It was as if her body was coming alive for the first time.
She pushed Melena’s wrist away and sat up. “Enough.”
“But you’ve still got…” Melena began, gesturing at Cori’s feet.
The skin remained mottled and half-healed down there.
“It’ll be fine,” Cori said, unworried.
“You can’t know that,” the sensor insisted, offering her wrist again.
Something in her stomach clenched. Cori bowled over as intense pain ran through her, different from what she’d experienced with the burns. This was more like every fiber of her being was shifting and altering into something else. She squeezed her eyes shut, attempting to ride through the discomfort.
“What’s happening?” Bartol asked.
Cori cried out, and he pulled her into his lap.
“I don’t…” Melena began. “I think she’s changing.”
Bartol rocked her slowly in his arms. “To what? How?”
“She’s almost like a nerou,” Tormod replied, coming closer. “It’s very faint, but I can sense her now.”
“She couldn’t have become immortal with one dose. This isn’t like with vampires—and she didn’t die,” Melena argued.
As the pain began to ease, Cori opened her eyes again. She found everyone—including those who’d kept their distance before—were now huddling close together. They all looked at her like she was an alien.
Tormod shook his head. “Feel the vibe on her. She’s not immortal, but she is something more. If I didn’t know better, I’d say she’s part sensor.”
Melena’s eyes rounded. “The genes are recessive. She could have one from a single parent but not the other. It would explain why she’s always had a strong resistance to compulsion if that somehow influenced her genetic makeup despite not being the dominate factor.”
Bartol stilled his arms around her. “Does that mean your blood completed the process and made her a sensor?”
“She doesn’t feel like one.” Melena’s brows knitted. “But it’s like she’s something similar. Sort of like how the nerou aren’t quite the same, either. It’s…new.”
Micah put his hands on Cori’s feet. Unlike before, she could actually feel the tingling magic working over her along with the painful healing process. She pushed back at the first sign of discomfort, but then she forced herself to relax and let him work. In seconds, her feet were as good as new, including freshly grown toenails.
“I couldn’t have done that to a sensor, but she is able to resist magic now,” Micah informed them.
Cori adjusted herself in Bartol’s arms, finally realizing she was completely naked. “Can someone loan me a shirt?”
Lucas flashed away, returning a minute later with one of Melena’s large sweatshirts and a pair of yoga pants. Cori climbed out of Bartol’s arms and took the clothes. Everyone was polite enough to look away while she crouched on the ground pulling everything on.
Feeling a little less vulnerable now that she’d armed herself with cotton, she gazed around at everyone. She had dazedly noticed it before, but now she really took in how people appeared to her. Each person had a light aura around them. For the nephilim, it was gold—no surprise there. With Melena, it was the same shade of blue as her eyes. Tormod was violet and the werewolves brown. Derrick was an odd burnt-orange color, reflecting his werewolf heritage as well as the demon and angel mix he got from Yerik.
Unlike Melena, she couldn’t sense ages or any other specific details. It was just auras. Cori had been changed in some significant way, though she had no idea what that meant.
“I’m good now, guys,” she said, realizing they still had their backs to her.
They all turned, but it was Bartol who moved closest again and pulled her to her feet. “How do you feel?”
“Fine.”
“Just fine?” Melena lifted a brow. “What’s different?”
Cori explained about the auras.
The sensor frowned. “That’s…unexpected. I don’t see auras. It’s more like vibes for me and information flooding my mind.”
“We can discuss that later.” The alpha werewolf stepped forward. “Do you have any idea what that stone was that you threw at us?”
Cori nodded. “Griff said it was a Gregorian stone that’s supposed to drain the powers of anyone with angel blood. Apparently, Zoe dug a few of them up in Russia and sent one to him to test for her. He said they were very rare.”
A round of curses went through the group.
Melena threw her hands up. “That damned woman always has someone else doing her dirty work, so she can claim innocence.”
Bartol ran a frustrated hand through his hair. “I didn’t have a problem with her before, but now she’s going to pay for this.”
“Don’t do it because of me,” Cori begged, not wanting to see him go off alone and get hurt.
She’d witnessed what that stone did to her friends and couldn’t stand the idea of him taking on someone as powerful as Zoe without help. Most of the others were still restricted as part of their punishment for freeing the nerou and wouldn’t be able to go with him if he left now. “She’s stuck in Russia for a while longer, so we’ve got time to deal with her later.”
Lucas began to pace. “Zoe will use this time to further her plans. That’s no doubt who Griff called before he decided to let the sun take him.”
“It was a female,” one of the werewolves confirmed.
A brilliant flash of light filled the yard, followed by several explosions.
Everyone jumped back, moving closer to the house. A moment later, a very annoyed archangel with short, auburn hair and fair skin appeared before them, wearing a tattered and scorched robe. He glowed such a gleaming gold color that it was difficult for Cori to look at him, though she recognized his face.
Tormod snickered at the newcomer. “There are mines all over the place, so you might want to watch out.”
“Not anymore,” the glowing man replied, sweeping out a hand. Dozens of small potholes formed in the earth where they must have been before.
“Remiel,” Melena said, putting her hands on her hips. “Don’t you ever get tired of irritating us with your presence?”
The archangel gave her a disapproving look. “Yes, I do. If you would stop getting yourselves into trouble, I would gladly take a sabbatical from seeing any of you for a while.”
The sensor sighed. “What now?”
“I think you know.” Remiel headed toward Cori, moving with surprising grace despite the state of his clothing. Why he didn’t just repair it with magic was anyone’s guess, but maybe he wanted to prove a point that he was untouchable.
Bartol stepped before the archangel. “If you wish to blame someone, blame me.”
“No.” Cori moved around him. “I got myself into this mess, and my friends were just trying to save me. I deserve whatever punishment you want to give.”
Melena raced to the front of the line and put her hands out toward Remiel. “Don’t listen to them. I’m the one who gave her blood even though I knew I wasn’t supposed to do it.”
Cori moved next to the sensor. “You know I’m the guiltiest one here.”
The archangel sighed and flicked a look up at the heavens. “Since when are they volunteering for punishment?”
“Melena and Bartol have suffered enough,” Cori insisted. “I’m the one who deserves it.”
Remiel met her gaze. “You are still mortal—mostly. You do not fall under my jurisdiction for punishment.”
She clenched her fists. “I don’t care. You can’t hold them responsible for my actions.”
“What do you want?” Lucas growled. “Just spit it out already.”
The archangel pasted a blank expression on his face. “I’m not here to punish anyone.”
“You’re not?” Melena gave him a doubtful look. “I thought you liked that sort of thing.”
“No,” he answered, keeping his attention on Cori. “This is one of the few humans you could have gotten away with giving your blood.”
Rumbles of surprise went through the group.
“Is it because I have a sensor gene?” Cori asked, relieved no one was going down for her.
“That is part of the reason,” the archangel replied. “Though Melena must not do it again.”
The sensor glared at him. “What if Cori is dying?”
Remiel turned his attention to Bartol. “Then someone else can save her.”
“What are you trying to say?” Cori squinted at the archangel, finding it very hard to look at him for more than a few seconds at a time. “Can Bartol do it?”
“We heard his confession to Melena recently, and we’ve heard the truth about his previous crimes,” the archangel said, gaze still on the nephilim in question.
The truth about what? Cori wondered, glancing at the sensor.
“I’ll explain later,” Melena mouthed.
Remiel continued, “In light of the fact he did not seduce the former angel, Clarissa, and in recompense for a punishment severer than his actions, we will not interfere in his dealings with his mate, Cori.”
Bartol crossed his arms. “Are you saying I could make her immortal the way Lucas did with Melena?”
The archangel nodded. “If that is your wish, though you should gain your mate’s permission first and allow her time to adjust before giving her a final dose.”
“Wait a second,” Cori interjected. “As great as all this sounds, I’m not exactly chomping at the bit to be turned immortal. I just resigned myself to death not half an hour ago.”
Remiel lifted an imperious brow. “Your lifespan has already been doubled since then, assuming you are not mortally wounded. Are you saying you wish to die?”
“No, I mean I want to live now, but I like the idea that I can still check out someday.” Especially after finding out about how Bartol’s torture went and enduring what she did over the last couple of days. Cori wasn’t sure she could stand to live forever. “So, um, this is as far as it goes. A few extra years is more than enough for me.”
“If that is your wish, but the choice is yours,” Remiel replied, then produced a carved wooden box in his hand and held it out to one of the werewolves, who’d thankfully put on some clothes. “Retrieve the Gregorian stone and put it in here. Bring it back to me after you’re done.”
Cori was fairly certain he’d addressed the same guy who’d carried it away earlier. The werewolf took the box, keeping his gaze averted from the archangel, and ran in the direction he’d taken the stone.
“What are you going to do with it?” Melena asked Remiel.
“Destroy it.”
Lucas glared at the archangel. “And the others Zoe may also have?”
“She is not my jurisdiction,” Remiel replied, sounding as imperious as ever. “But one of my brethren will handle it.”
Derrick crossed his arms. “How can we be sure?”
Remiel pierced the alpha with his golden gaze. “You will have to trust that we will handle it.”
“Oh, sure,” Melena groused. “Because you guys have such a great track record with Zoe so far.”
The werewolf came back a moment later with the box in his hand. Everyone tensed. It took a moment for them to relax and mumble their relief that the stone no longer affected them. It appeared the container had some sort of mystical blocking power.
“Why hasn’t anyone heard about these stones before?” Cori asked.
“They were the work of a demon that once inhabited the Earth long ago,” Remiel replied, taking the box. It disappeared from his hand a moment later. “We thought we’d destroyed them all after eradicating him.”
“Leave it to Zoe to find the few he hid,” Melena said, then lifted a brow. “Are you going to punish her for this?”
“That is not your concern. For now, try to concentrate on keeping yourself out of trouble.” Remiel gave her a pointed look and flashed away.
The sensor stared at the spot where the archangel had just disappeared. “Dammit, he never sticks around to answer all my questions.”
Bartol rounded on Cori. “Why would you reject immortality if I offered it to you? It would keep you safer.”
She was surprised by how upset he seemed. They’d grown closer over these past few weeks, but it was like he took her choice personally.
“Come on,” she said, attempting to lighten his mood. “You can’t really want me around forever, can you?”
His expression turned intense, and he took a step closer. “What if I do?”
Cori swallowed, not liking where this was heading. “This isn’t the time or the place.”
“I don’t care.” Bartol gently took hold of her arms. “Tell me why?”
She pulled away from him. “Because I’m not ready for that kind of commitment. Not after all of this.” Cori gestured toward the house and Griff’s pile of ashes. “And if you were being honest with yourself, you’d know you aren’t ready, either.”
He flinched. “That is how you feel?”
“Yes.” She hated seeing the pain she was causing him, but it would be so much worse if they tried to force anything right now. “I need time to figure out what comes next. I’ve lost my home, my truck, most of my belongings, and probably half my customers. Never mind that it only took a matter of hours for Griff to reduce me to a suicidal state. I’m not…I’m not the woman you deserve right now.”
He backed away from her like a wounded animal. “How is it that you can come after me when I am at my most vulnerable, but you are unwilling to allow me to help you after all you’ve gone through? We are mates now.”
Cori could feel everyone’s attention on them. She hated having to discuss this while so many people watched, but it also told her Bartol’s state of mind to bring it up with an audience there. She had to make her feelings clear to him even if it hurt them both.
“I didn’t ask to be your mate,” she whispered. “I’m not ready for that.”
Bartol’s expression hardened. “Then I won’t bother you anymore.”
“But that’s not…”
He flashed away before she could finish, leaving a cold chill in his wake.
Cori crumpled to the ground. It had taken everything she had to keep a brave face for this long, but she couldn’t hold herself together a moment more. By pushing him away, she’d given up the last precious thing she possessed, even if it had been the right thing to do.