Page 176 of Living Legend

I closed my eyes, feeling the dagger’s pull to me as it laid in front of my eyes. "If I don't?"

Markus let out a dark laugh, as if my question was ill-advised. "You will. Look at the collateral damage your refusal would cause." He pointed at Elise, then Reese, and he made a point to turn my head so I would look right at Nick. "I don't like a mess, Soul Seether, so do us all a favor and act accordingly. You will enjoy it, I promise. You will be part of a whole new beginning."

I parted my lips to let out a solitary breath. Markus tapped the hilt of my dagger and stood up straight. I didn't know what to do. He was asking me to rip Jonah's soul out and take his angelic power for myself. He would be a shell, likely to want to die without it. He wanted me to use my enormous new hybrid powers to unlock the portal that held Lilith in place, giving her the free reign she wanted. He wanted to tear down The Skies and rebuild it, into what, I wasn't sure. Peace wouldn't be known after that; he was blind in ever thinking that.

What about Maurice and Daya? What would happen to all those villages? Would he bring them into his chaos as well? Would Lilith send her soulless demons on them? Nick gave me a sullen look as I met his eyes. His brown irises bore into mine, and that kind of intense staring would cause a lesser creature to look away, but I couldn't. He looked at my dagger and then quickly went back to me. His face started to morph into one of contemplation, his brow furrowing. Then his eyebrows rose and his eyes flicked down to my dagger intensely. I followed them, and then he was looking at me again, as if he was trying to make me understand. I shook my head slightly, but then stopped.I understood. I understood perfectly. He was saying so much without saying anything at all.

I cleared my throat, letting the energy from my dagger fill my nostrils and trace around my neck, humming in my ears. It wanted so badly to be with me.

"I'll do it."

Chapter Twenty-Eight

DANI

Ilistened to the gleeful hum of Markus hovering over me as I clenched my fingers around the end of the armrest. Isabel raised one of her eyebrows curiously but didn't say anything further. I then heard the all too familiar snarl of Elise at my left.

"What the hell? Dani, what the actual fuck?" Elise yelled, whipping her body around to try to get to me, to no avail.

"I'm actually with Elise on this, what the fuck?" Reese added, giving me one long stare, and then looking over to Nick, who remained quiet, just looking at the floor instead of meeting his best friend's eyes.

Isabel giggled, practically dancing over to my companions. "Oh, don't be mad just because she made the right choice." She patted Reese's cheek before moving along, making her way around the table to me.

Natalia's ever-knowing gaze was like looking into the sun when I made eye contact with her. It wasn't an accusing stare but one of contemplation, as if she was trying to piece together my motive and reasons. She cocked her head to the side as her eyes shifted from me to Isabel. Natalia's flawless face morphed into a scowl as she laid eyes on her former lover.

Isabel looked over my head to Markus, who simply nodded at her. The blonde leaned down so her face was parallel to my cheek. "You better not fuck this up, Soul Seether. Your friends are counting on your good behavior." She pressed a quick kiss to my cheek, snickering. Her hand hovered over my wrist and her fingertips pulsed out colorful magic that wrapped around my cuffs, sending tiny electric sparks into my skin. The magic jumped and dove into the cuff on my other wrist.

I heard a small clink as the handcuffs broke, nearly shattering as they released my wrists. The magic from my dagger could be felt immediately, and my hands were itching to be around it, consumed by it. I reached my hand out but stopped right above the leather hilt of my weapon. It spoke to me like a song that I knew all the words to. I wrapped my fingers slowly around the leather and breathed a sigh of relief. There was a welcomed warmth that flooded into my skin, sending a contrasting shiver down my spine.

Markus pulled my chair out for me as I stood up, moving each of my wrists in a circle. Everyone in the room watched me as if they were spectators at a show. It reminded me of where I came from, of what I did. I thought back to the lesser demons who would come and watch me torture and humiliate the well-deserving fuckers who came to me, the way the smell of fire would seem to unknowingly push me further into my crazed manner. This wasn't anything like Purgatory, but I didn't need the brimstone and demonic patrons to settle my need to be the best at what I did. They already knew that.

That was why I washere.

I swished my hips left and right as I made my way over to where Jonah sat. His eyes widened as he watched me stop in front of him, blinking and then looking away. I tilted my head to the side, my curls cascading over my shoulder. I extended my arm out, pressing the blade of my dagger underneath his chin and tilting his face up. I looked into his eyes and could practically taste the sadness and the apology. His eyes didn't look scared, which surprised me most of all. They did, however, look over my shoulder at my raven-haired angel, who had snuck a peek in our direction but turned away the moment eye contact was made.

"Make it slow, sweetheart. I want to watch him suffer," Markus said, his voice relaxed but eager.

I closed my eyes and let out a small smile before a sigh left my lips.

"Just do it," Jonah said, closing his eyes, as if he was waiting for what I was supposed to do. I felt power circulating in my toes and ankles, inching along my calves and thighs, the smell of dark magic heady and intoxicating. It enveloped my body like it had missed me, wrapping itself around my dagger, wisps of it wafting around Jonah's chin.

"Look at me," I said, my voice low and commanding.

He didn't respond and his eyes remained closed.

"Look.At.Me." I made sure every word was precise. Jonah pressed his lips together and opened his eyes, accepting my command. I could see a reflection of myself in his eyes.

My pupils were nonexistent, an inky black taking over. The dark smoke was seeping off me as if my hair had gotten caught up in some type of dark fire. This transformation happens so quickly, I'm never fully aware of it. When it's out, it rages. I wanted to take, take, take, but I yanked myself back from what the darkness wanted. I thought about what I wanted, right now. I heard the tapping of Isabel's fingernails on the wooden table without having to look back at her.

"You know what I think is sofunny, Markus?" I asked, sliding my dagger along Jonah's cheeks. The traitorous angel didn't speak, so I continued. "Is that you think that I give a fuck about what Lilith wants." I nearly felt his shoulders stiffen. "That woman stole a chance from me, and you think I will do her bidding just like that? I'm not so blinded by my revenge like you to not think of the aftermath. Lilith will get rid of you when this is through, like the trash that you are." I held the hilt of my dagger tighter, giving Jonah a small smirk as his face contorted into a dawning realization.

I turned sharply around on my heels. Markus and Isabel were staring at me, Isabel with her magic at the ready, but I didn't care. The sentries were starting to make moves to their weapons. I walked slowly, releasing dark magic near the ground in ropes. They were too focused on me to notice it. I stopped at Natalia's side, quickly looking down at her as she shifted her eyes to the space between her hands and back up at me. "I don't answer to Lilith." I twirled the dagger in between my fingers. "I don't answer toanyone."

I flipped the dagger so the hooked point was aimed downward. I had a death grip on it.

"Seize her!" Markus shouted, pointing in my direction.

Isabel furrowed her brow, looking annoyed and angry. "No need, I've got it." She lifted her hand quickly, the colorful shocks of light illuminating her hand. The ball of magic was growing as she started to thrust it at me, but I was quicker. I brought my dagger down in between Natalia's hands. The sound of shattering glass filled the room as opal shards clattered along the wood. The High Priestess was up on her feet in seconds, giving Isabel a cool, collected smile.

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