Page 74 of Last Gift: Supernatural Battle

I believed now that nearly every facet of my life was linked to this battle against the demons. My past and my present, my demon, and the mating ritual. My leadership and magus magic too. If something had to give for us to make progress, then I couldn’t see anywhere to achieve that except one place.

“We decided a divination journey was too risky,” I said in the quiet. “I think we need to reconsider.”

He shook his head. “It’s not the time. There’s too much that could go wrong.”

“You’re saying that from the viewpoint of my protector.”

Wild sat abruptly, turning from me to sit on the bed’s edge. “Of course that’s where it’s coming from. Someone’s got to protect you against all the fools in here.”

I sat in bed. Slower. “That can’t be the only viewpoint, though. We can’t go through this only thinking of defense.”

He surged to his feet and faced me, expression thunderous. “Right now, that’s all there is. There are any number of threats against you, Tempest—from the demons and the fucking coven. And I can’t protect you from any of it. No wonder the mating ritual has stopped, when I’m useless at the single job I have in our connection.”

Mother be. Where was this coming from?

“You were at the demon gates all night protecting me,” I said quietly. “Yesterday, you were ready to defend me against the coven by telling them about our mating ritual. Wild, protecting me is all you’re doing. You aren’t failing at anything.”

“I’m not doing enough.”

“You’re doing everything you can.”

“Then why has the mating ritual stopped?” he roared.

We’d already figured this out—or figured out a theory. Which Wild couldn’t access while in this state. I stood and started to circle the bed toward him. “Because my demon is gone.”

“She left because I’m not a strong enough mate.”

We’d never left this long between steps in the ritual. I was seeing what happened when the ritual wasn’t respected and nurtured. I’d felt the danger of disregarding what was between us several times. What we shared was powerful, but we could share it in darkness or in light—harmony or chaos.

Things had taken a turn with Wild.

There was a knock at the door.

Wild blurred to it, nearly ripping the iron and wood off the hinges.

Sven was on the other side. He glanced at Wild, who was clearly furious, then decided that wasn’t a big deal.

He said to me, “Tempest, I’m really sorry for earlier.”

Wild growled, “What. Happened?”

Sven blew out a breath. “I had a go at her for making things worse. It was a shitty thing to do. This isn’t?—”

Exactly what it wasn’t, I never got a chance to hear as Wild ripped Sven into the room and slammed him against the wall, a hand clawed about his friend’s throat.

“Wild,” I shouted, rushing forward to grip one of his arms.

Fuck. I was powerful, but something was possessing Wild right now. I couldn’t budge him. “Wild, stop!”

Sven’s eyes bugged out.

“This isn’t protecting me,” I said in a rush. “Sven is your best friend. He’s on our side.” What else could I say to break the hold over him? “If we’re to make it through this, then we need all the help we can get.”

He blinked once.

“We need Sven,” I whispered. “Let him go. Come on, loosen your hand.”

The fury left Wild in a rush. He was left staring at his friend in horror.

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