Page 54 of The Alpha's Rejected Arranged Mate

Finn growled.

Elin grabbed his hand. “Don’t listen to him.”

“Give it up, my son. Remove the protections on your person and give your body up to be my host. I will take you instead of her child. I will spare her and her baby.” Dukiel lifted both his hands. “If you doubt me, let me give you a demonstration. I’m the reason why her pregnancy had such a… burst,” the demon said with a grin. “I can kill her here and now and take the child as my host. Or I can have you instead.”

Elin’s grip tightened on Finn’s hands.

Like fuck was she letting this happen. She lurched forward, making the IV fall over. Christine shouted, but Elin ignored her, sticking her head through the window.

“Leave us the fuck alone, you fucking creep!” she screamed.

Dukiel smile. He waved a hand—and pain ripped through Elin’s body, making her vision go dark. Her back arched, and something snapped inside of her. A scream tore out of her throat, deafening her to everything except the laughter in her mind.

Chapter 25 - Finn

Finn caught Elin as she screamed, writhing. Christine vaulted over the back seat, but what could she do? Finn’s heart pounded in his ears as the wolf howled. He wanted to rush out there and tear Dukiel apart but couldn’t leave Elin. Her screaming stopped abruptly as she curled against his chest, sobbing and panting.

“It’s okay,” Christine said, her eyes wide. “It’s okay, you’re okay.”

Dukiel still stood there, smiling, waiting. Every nerve in Finn’s body was on fire, as though it was him and not Elin going through this torture. His jaw clenched so hard it hurt. The red light around Elin blazed, hot, and bold. Not quite enough to indicate possession. But close. Despite all their protections, Dukiel was still able to reach through and hurt her and their baby.

“Well?” the archdemon demanded. “What are you doing to do, my boy?”

Finn hated him. He hated that he kept claiming him as his son.I’m not your son,he wanted to shout, but that wouldn’t do any good. It would just give Dukiel another thing to argue with him about. Elin’s hands curled into Finn’s shirt as she clung to him, as though he could protect her.

Blood rushed in his ears. There was only one way he could protect her.

“My bag,” Elin whimpered. “Christine, give me my bag.”

Christine had Elin’s wrist in one hand, counting her pulse. Elin shook her off. “My bag.”

Finn pulled her closer to his chest. His gaze flickered to Derek in the front seat. Derek watched him, hands tight on the steering wheel, waiting for an order. A silent conversation passed between them. Finn would accept the offer. He would give himself up as Dukiel’s host. But as soon as Elin was established, he would kill Finn’s body.

What about exorcism?Derek asked silently.

Finn shook his head minutely. It was too risky. They didn’t have the supplies they needed to perform one right away. Out of everything he’d prepared, Finn hadn’t brought that with them. It was a stupid move, one that would cost him. But he wasn’t going to let it cost Elin. They didn’t have time to perform an exorcism on Dukiel’s current host, and it would be too late once he was in Finn. Besides being able to withstand the physical breakdown of a demon soul, what made Finn’s body perfectly suited as a host?

He was made to be this. He doubted that a simple ritual would be enough to oust Dukiel out of him once Dukiel had the hold he wanted.

Dukiel knew that they knew about exorcisms. The demons at Bluebell Valley had started to learn how to resist them. And in this situation? They wouldn’t know if it was successful or if Dukiel was just playing the long con. No. They would need to kill this body and perform the ritual to trap Dukiel, as he was vulnerable without a body.

It was the only way to make sure that he wouldn’t hurt Elin or their baby. Let him think he won. It would be worth it in the end. Just like Beth was certain, her sacrifice was worth it, too.

Pain flashed over Derek’s face. He wanted to argue, Finn could see that plainly. But what could he argue against?

They both knew this was the only way. Derek nodded slightly. It was the best way; they couldn’t risk letting Dukiel cause more damage to the world than he’d already done.

“Fuck that!”

Finn jumped, shocked out of his silent conversation. He twisted to see Christine’s blazing gaze had landed on him. Her lip curled back as she shoved Elin’s bag closer to them.

“Fuck what?” Derek demanded.

Christine turned her glare on him. It was strong enough to make him shy back from her.

“You two idiots forget that I grew up with you, too,” she snapped. “You’re not going to commit suicide, Finn. You’re going to fucking stay in here and just shoot the fucking bastard if you’re going to kill the host anyway.”

“The point is to make him leave Elin alone,” Finn hissed.

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