Page 111 of Bad Demon

Fern gasped suddenly, her eyes rolling back down.

“Tink?”

She looked up at me, horror contorting her face. “He’s got them.”

“Who? What are you talking about?”

“The coven, Sutton …” She struggled to her feet. “The Chemist, Grady—they’re there, at the coven house.”

“You saw them?” Agatheena asked.

She nodded. “And I heard them. I fucking smelled that monster. I smelled his poison.” Fern grabbed my arm. “We need to help them.”

“Your power is still unstable, child,” Agatheena said. “More than someone as unskilled as you can handle. It could manifest in ways you’re not expecting. You need to be careful. Always be on alert and speak with care and caution. Anything can be a spell with the right motivation.” Her eyes slid to me. “Protect her with your life, hound, until she learns to do it herself, or I will cut you into pieces.”

I nodded, but the threat wasn’t necessary. I would always protect Fern.

“We need to go,” Fern said, fear vibrating through her. “We need to get to them before he kills them.”

“We’ll get there faster if I carry you.” I quickly texted Jag for backup.

“I’m okay. I can run,” she said.

“Not what I meant, Tink.” I pulled off my vest and shirt, and shoved down my jeans.

“Relic?”

I gave her a quick kiss, and let the hound explode from my skin. My mate stared at me, eyes wide, and I nudged her with my snout, before lowering to the ground, urging her to get up.

“Holy shit,” she whispered, unmoving.

I made a huffing sound and pressed my snout into her hand. She jolted, snapping out of it, and quickly scooping up my clothes, scrambled up onto my back.

I growled and gave her a shake when she didn’t hang on tight enough, and she quickly wrapped her arms around my neck. I huffed my approval, and took off.

Instead of heading back to my bike, I swerved to the left and exploded through the trees. We’d get there faster, cutting through the forest. Fern lay against me, her arms locked around my neck, gripping my fur. There was no way she was coming off, so I dipped lower and picked up my speed. I would not let her lose her friends. She’d just found them; she needed them, and I would not let her suffer their loss.

But more than anything, I wanted to hear that sick fuck scream for mercy while I shredded him with my claws.

* * *

FERN

My mind spun as we flew through the forest. Relic ran so fast that the trees were a blur. I clung to his thick neck, my face pressed to his fur, while images bombarded me. When I’d grabbed my phone, the world had spun around me. I saw the coven house, but it was dark. Someone had screamed, and then the smell had hit me: chemicals, blood.

My friends were in pain. Their cries still filled my head, the scent of warm blood and poison making me dizzy.

He was hurting them.

I had to stop him.

The spinning in my head grew wilder and had me fisting Relic’s fur tighter.

My body was yanked to the side, but Relic’s fur was still in my hands. I hadn’t moved. I was yanked again. Then, he was gone, and I was falling.

I hit the ground hard. Winded, I coughed and gasped for air.

Rolling, I climbed to my hands and knees and blinked down at my fingers. Not in dirt. Concrete. There were no trees or dappled light coming from the setting sun. And no Relic. It was dark and cold, and the only light filtered in through a small frosted window in the door beside me.

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