Page 94 of Dating the Dealing Demon

Which is why I leave her behind when I head to the house the next night.

Walking toward the portal at the head of the Infernal Army, I don’t stop when Nic asks, “Where’s Val?”

“I convinced her to stay here for her safety.”

Nic narrows her eyes. “Howdid you convince her?”

“I reminded her of a more binding commitment.” I’m almost through the portal when Val yells my name, her rage audible to any supernatural in the hell dimensions despite the groans and stomps of the Infernal Army.

“What did you do?” Nic calls out.

“I made sure she stays safe, chained to my bed.” With that parting shot, I’m in the human realm, standing at the driveway in front of the house that stands at a vortex of power unparalleled in this dimension.

The moon looms above it, shrouded in clouds and fog. The sea below churns in thunderous crashes against the cliffside. A vast stillness hangs heavy in the air, and a trickle of foreboding creeps along my spine, making my wings shudder.

Val will forgive me. But first, I need to end this.

CHAPTER FORTY

Val

Iwill end Theo.

My asshole of a mate drugged me and chained me to the bed.

I willneverforgive him if he left me behind.

He wouldn’t dare. Not again. Right?

“Shadowvale,” I call. “Can you help?”

The castle responds by magicking a soft blanket to cover me…on top of the chains.

Looks like I’ll need to figure another way out of this.

My soul guardian picks that moment to peek in mongoose form from around the pillow. I yank on the padded cuffs, making the golden links rattle and clank. “Did you let Theo do this to me, Monty?”

He rolls onto his back, sticking his front paws in the air while splaying his rear legs and tail.

“Playing dead won’t absolve you of this, buddy,” I tell him. “Start by helping get me out of these. Find a key or?—”

He chomps through the metal, ripping it apart with his teeth.

“Or that,” I finish lamely, not wanting to consider how supernaturally strong my mongoose is. “That works too.” When Monty rips through each of the four restraints—because yeah, my sadist mate bound my wristsandankles—and stands on his hind legs like he’s all proud of himself, my soul guardian gives a cheeky squeak. “All right then,” I say to him. “Let’s go tell off a demon.”

I storm into Theo’s study where we’d been when my head went fuzzy. A potion bottle lies atop the desk. We’d each taken a shot of whiskey. For luck, he’d said. Luck, my ass. The bastard slipped me a sedative. I would probably still be asleep if I hadn’t taken my ADHD meds before heading into his study, dressed for battle and ready to talk final strategy.

I’d agreed to stay in the background, to not use my magic, to stay vigilant, and to leave as soon as I saw Gilly hadn’t grabbed any family or friends. Theo had said it was enough.

“I’ll show him enough,” I tell Monty as he rolls the potion bottle with the clink of claws on glass.

Marching toward the wall of weapons Theo keeps displayed like prizes, I go straight for the hatchet that has called to me since the first day. If I’d taken a chunk of Theo with it Day One, he might’ve thought twice before chaining me to the bed. The padded cuffs and broken links still dangle from my ankles and wrists, jingling when I tiptoe and reach up for the weapon.

“Don’t touch it,” Nic says.

“Did Theo send you?” I demand.

“No. I came because I heard you scream when we were going through the portal.”

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