Page 144 of Stone Cold Touch

“No,” Roth said fiercely, as if his words alone could prevent the inevitable. “You are not dying.”

“She’s in bad shape,” Cayman said. “The bloodroot has been in her system for a while.”

Wrapping his hand around mine, Roth shifted closer to me. As he spoke to Cayman, he didn’t pull his gaze away from mine, and that was good, because somehow it was anchoring me there. “I hadn’t been able to get in touch with her for three days. I thought she was avoiding me again.” He looked stricken. “I texted and called but...”

I wanted to tell him that there was no way for him to have known, but it was Cayman who spoke those words as he withdrew his hands. “This isn’t good.”

“No shit,” snapped Roth. “I know that, but we need to fix this.”

He shook his head. “She can’t heal, Prince. Do you understand what that means? This wound is deep. She may only be part demon, but the iron is doing its thing, and if she were human, she’d be—”

“Don’t say it,” he snarled, his golden eyes becoming iridescent. “There has to be something.”

Cayman stood, retreating into the shadows as if he was giving us space...giving Roth privacy. I opened my mouth, but blood seeped out. Roth was quick to wipe it up and then he cupped my cheek carefully.

“I won’t let this happen. There has to be...” His eyes flared bright and then he looked over his shoulder. “What if she feeds? Could that help?”

“I don’t know.” Cayman’s voice reached us. “Couldn’t hurt.”

“Find me someone. Anyone,” he ordered. “I don’t care who, just do it now.”

“No,” I croaked. Drawing on energy, I forced my lips to move. “I’ve already done enough damage. I won’t...feed. No matter...what.”

Frustration twisted Roth’s face. “You need to. You’re going to. I don’t care how much you object. I won’t let you die.”

It seemed weird that he’d fight this so much considering he’d been sent topside to take me out if I proved to be the cause behind the mess, but now wasn’t the time to figure him out. My chest rose sharply. “Don’t do this to me. Please. Please...don’t make...me do this.Please.”

He shook his head. “Layla—”

“Don’t...do this to me.”

His face contorted, skin thinning, and I realized he was close to shifting. He leaned in, pressing his forehead against mine as he took both of my hands in his. “Don’t make me sit here and watch you die.Youdon’t do that tome.”

Sorrow rose in my throat, nearly overcoming me, and although his words knocked me off-kilter, there was nothing I could do. I may not know how I’d taken the other souls, but I was not going to actively harm anyone else.

“Do you want to die?” he asked quietly. “Is that what you want?”

“No. I don’t want to, but I won’t damn another...person to Hell...so I can live.”

A shudder rocked through Roth and he drew in a ragged breath. “Oh, Layla,” he said sadly. “I can’t let this happen. You can hate me when all is said and done, but you’ll be alive.”

My heart tripped and I started to protest, but Cayman spoke. “Wait. There may be something else.”

Roth straightened, looking over his shoulder. “Details. Make it fast.”

“What about the witches?” he said, coming closer to the bed. “The ones who worship Lilith. They may be inclined to do something to save her daughter.”

Roth’s eyes widened. “Do you think they’d have something?”

“Who knows what those freaks are capable of, but it’s worth a shot.”

“Go,” he said hoarsely. “Give them anything they want if they can help her. Anything.”

Cayman hesitated for a moment. “Anything?”

“Go.”

And then Cayman was gone. Poof. No more. Roth turned to me. “If this doesn’t work, I will bring someone in here and you will feed.”

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