Page 72 of The Alpha's Forced Rejected Mate

“It’s okay.”

“If Sonya can keep watching the girls, we can go check on Jillian.” She stepped back, wiped her face, and peered around my left side. “Robyn? Can you come with us?”

Robyn stood at attention next to the couch, twiddling her fingers together. “Yeah. Of course. I mean, thank you for asking.”

“I’m sorry I barked at you.”

“Hey, we’re all wolves here.”

I chuckled. “Yeah, that’s true.”

Faye gestured to the door under the stairs. “After you.”

Shadows clung to the corners of the hallway under the stairs, leading into a dimly lit basement that smelled of crisp soil. Foam crates covered the walls, giving the cement space a chic asylum appearance with Jillian chained up inside a cage, dead center.

Despite the black that inked out her eyes, they looked wild, like twin mirrors reflecting my concerned curiosity right back to me. She gave me a wide smile, revealing a row of teeth that had somehow sharpened in the last couple of days. She shimmied her shoulders, a feat not easily accomplished while wearing heavy-duty chains and padlocks.

She nipped her lip, drawing a tiny river of blood. “Wolves taste better when they’re scared.”

“If you keep destroying that body, I’ll destroy you,” I warned.

Faye held up her right hand. The demon woman straightened her back and cleared her expression, looking alert.

“I know your name,” Faye stated, “and I have a good plan to use it. Stay still.”

The demon growled. “I wouldn’t go poking around in here if I were you.”

Faye glared at her. “Why?”

“Jillian likes me too much, yes,” the demon reported, “and her soul has gotten used to me being around. We’ve become friends,roommates.”

While wearing a fierce countenance, Faye waved her hand in front of her, palm facing the demon, and whisperedsomething in Latin. She halted and turned to me, promptly ceasing her chant. “I’m afraid that’s true, Cliff. Jillian bonded with the demon.”

Robyn pushed me aside to get to Faye. “What the hell does that mean?”

“It means if I banish the demon,” Faye explained shakily, “then I’ll end up banishing Jillian, too.”

My mate visibly shuddered. “W-what? No…” She stumbled away from the cage. “That can’t be true. Youhaveto be able to save her.”

“I’m sorry, Robyn. I can’t do it.” Faye folded her hands in front of her apologetically. “I mean, Icando it, but nothing would be left. She would just be an empty shifter husk.”

I glanced at Jillian, watching the demon woman who watched us with wide onyx stones for eyes. The gloss shimmered in the dim lights spelled above the cage to never turn off. She blinked, looked at me, and grinned. “I guess I’m sticking around.”

“Don’t get comfortable,” I spat. “You’re not welcome here.”

“Jillian seems fine with me.”

Robyn stomped toward the cage. “Yeah, well, we’re not. And we’ll figure out a way to get her away from you. Just you wait.”

“Oh, I’m shivering with anticipation,” the demon teased. “Hit me with your best shot,Princess.”

Chaos erupted as Robyn flung a fist into the cage. Faye and I dove into action to capture my mate, dragging her back up the stairs and to one of the bedrooms above. Faye retreated to the porch to check on the girls while I wrestled my mate down tothe dusty bed. Silk curtains hung over the headboard, a romantic thing if it hadn’t been for the demon downstairs.

“I’m sorry,” I wheezed as I pinned her wrists. “I’m just trying to protect you. I’m sorry. I love you. I’m sorry…”

I stroked her cheek, feeling the tears there, hating the way that demon made her cry. I swore then and there that I would do everything in my power to ensure Jillian’s survival.

Even if that meant losing a piece of myself in the process.

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