Page 28 of Stolen By the Demon

He squeezed my hand reassuringly. “This will be over soon. I won’t let anything happen to you.”

We waited a few moments to give Devon’s friends time to jump the fences of the sprawling property and spread out. The gate, however, opened before Devon even rang the bell.

“They must have cameras,” he commented.

I didn’t ask what cameras were or why the gate was being opened by invisible hands. By now, I realized there was much to this time I didn’t know yet, and I looked forward to discovering all of it at Devon’s side. I purposely shut out any thoughts of us dying. This would end today, one way or another.

He drove the car slowly down the gravel driveway. Small rocks crunched underneath the tires, sounding ominously like breaking bones, and a shiver rolled up and down my spine.

It was dark. Only a few lamps were lit down the driveway and inside the house, but as we got closer, I made out figures standing by the entrance door, waiting for us.

Devon stopped the car in front of the long, rounded steps leading up to the grand entrance platform. He gave me an encouraging nod before he exited the car and opened the door for me.

“Well, look who is gracing us with their presence. Have you come to your senses?” Jonathan asked.

“We came to propose a deal.” Devon took my hand and led me up the stairs. I still wasn’t used to the silence inside my chest. Right now, my heart should have been beating up a storm. Instead, it lay there dormant, making me even more nervous.

“Come on in,” Jonathan offered with a false smile, unable to hide the glee in his eyes. Without Sir Roger, he wasn’t half as smart as he thought himself to be.

“Search them,” he ordered when we entered the grand foyer.

Four vampires stepped forward, and I followed Devon’s example, spreading my arms out and enduring their hands as they moved up and down my body.

“We didn’t bring any silver or stakes,” Devon joked, but neither Jonathan nor any of his henchmen acknowledged it.

Without another word, Jonathan waved us into a large sitting room. The balcony doors were wide open, allowing a view of a large, park-like area behind the veranda. I didn’t dare look, but I was sure that Vasili, Faro and Cantor had already slipped inside, hiding, just as Devon had predicted, the tall figure of his brother entered through the open patio doors.

“Well, good to see you again, little brother. You don’t look worse for the wear. And look, you brought the lovely bride.”

“Adramalech,” he acknowledged tightly.

“Time for you to leave, little brother. You’ve done your duty.” Adramalech stared me up and down gleefully.

“Not going to happen. But you should consider leaving if you value your life.”

Adramalech tsked. “You still haven’t learned your lesson, little brother?”

From the shadows, another form materialized.

“Ah, Dagon, how good of you to join us.” Adramalech inclined his head.

“Don’t celebrate too soon, brother. I have yet to make up my mind whose side to choose this time,” Dagon replied coolly.

“You’re not going against Father. I know that,” Adramalech said just as equably.

Dagon crossed his arms over his chest and leaned against the large, empty fireplace. He waved a hand in a let’s get on with it motion.

“Very well, then. Take the girl,” Adramalech instructed my father’s vampires.

Devon turned into a fighting stance at their approach, and I instinctively hissed, turning my hands into claws and baring my fangs.

Adramalech recoiled. “What the fuck?”

Dagon laughed heartily. “Well, that’s an unexpected turn of events. Congrats, Devon. Seems you outwitted him.”

“I wasn’t the one who changed her,” Devon informed his brothers, keeping an eye on the vampires who looked at Jonathan for guidance.

“Who dared?” Adramalech hissed.

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