Page 137 of Their Demon

We were fucking crazy.

For her.

We all loaded into the elevator, the four of us surrounding the person we treasured most in this moment, knowing here in a few short hours, things would be very different.

“No, I don’t think so,” Lilly said to Mavis as her friend tried to scurry toward the front doors. “You’re riding with us, right?” She looked at me and my brothers, a plea in her eyes.

“I think that’s a good idea, Mavis,” Keir responded, my twin and I nodding in agreement. “We’re going to look for your mom the moment we get there. You may as well arrive with us so we can stick together.”

“We should split into groups when we get there,” Nicholas suggested. “Cover more ground faster. We need to find her as quickly as possible.”

I opened the back door for everyone as we headed to the waiting limo. “Keir and Mavis can go one way, and we can go the other.”

“Well, where am I going?” Lilly asked.

“You’ll stick with the twins,” Keir told her. “There’s two of them; better protection in case something happens.” He looked at Mavis and winced. “No offense.”

Mavis shrugged. “None taken. I’m just ready for this nightmare to be over.” She ducked into the car.

“You and me both,” Lilly said as she followed her friend.

“Don’t let her out of your sight,” our older brother warned.

“As if we would.” I clapped my hand on his shoulder. “We areallcoming home today, safe and in one piece. Nothing is going to happen to her. I’d sacrifice myself before it came to that.”

Nicholas’s hand came down on both our shoulders. “We all would.”

We all nodded, the silent agreement exchanging among us.

When we climbed into the car, Lilly and Mavis were already on one side, laughing about something and whispering while eyeing us suspiciously.

“What’s so funny?” I asked, narrowing my eyes on them.

“Oh, nothing,” Lilly answered, giggling even harder.

“Girl talk,” Nicholas said in a hushed tone. “I hate it. It makes me feel like they’re talking about me.”

“Don’t get a big head, brother. They’re definitely talking about me.” I playfully shouldered him.

We took our seats on the other side, and Keir sat in his seat in the back. I was almost sad we didn’t get one last chance to be alone with our girl, especially after the show Keir gave us before the last trial, but seeing her smile and laugh with her friend made up for the loss.

She looked happy.

I liked that.

The girls whispered the entire way there, the whole fucking forty-five-minute drive. I just wanted to know what she was talking about. I would’ve given anything to borrow Keir’s telepathic connection if I could just get one little peek inside that head of hers right now.

She seemed totally fine, not scared, anxious, anything. She was her usual bubbly self, whereas I was a fucking wreck worryingforher. We had no idea what we were about to walkinto. The need to keep her safe was driving me mad. I didn’t like the unknown, especially if it meant she could get hurt—or worse.

“Remember the plan,” Keir reminded everyone as we got out.

We walked into the giant stone arena, the air buzzing with deadly energy as people walked by, pointing at Lilly like she was a damn spectacle.

She sort of was, and I hated that so much.

It didn’t seem to bother her much, though. Good.

“Lillian, do not leave their sides. Promise me that.” Keir held both her hands, looking right into her eyes with a passion I’d never seen in him before, a passion only she brought out.

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