Page 67 of House of Demons and Bones

I ignored them.

Silas and Louis lunged at me, each grabbing an arm to pull me off Cade, only to curse profanely as their energy flowed into me as well. Now we were all locked—me draining them, them unable to break free.

“What the fuck are you?” Silas snarled.

“Break it off, Barbie!” Louis barked.

The three trapped heirs couldn’t pull away, terror draining the color from their faces.

“Stop, little scorpion.” Killian moved toward me.

I pressed on. The Fury had shown herself, leaving a fresh trail. She’d burrow deeper into Cade if I quit now. I just needed more time.

Let me take over,Sy urged.I can do this without draining them.

I gave her a look.

Trust me,she said.

Her own power had emerged. I nodded and gave up the reins. Sy erupted from me before Killian reached us. Darkness blanketed me until I broke through it and moved closer to Sy, and I was looking through Sy’s eyes once the vertigo faded.

“Sy?” Silas leapt back, his voice cracking.

“Hello, princelings,” Sy purred. Her claws remained pressed against Cade’s face as she flashed them a sultry grin.

The mage prince gaped at Sy, color flooding back into his cheeks now that Sy had stopped me from draining him.

Focus!I snapped.I didn’t let you out so you could flirt with some hot guys. Help Cade.

Chill your perky tits.Sy rolled her eyes.I excel at multitasking.

“What trick is this?” Louis’s pale blue eyes went wide with shock. “What the fuck is going on?”

“Sy is Barbie’s alter ego,” Cade breathed out. “I should’ve known—they never showed up together.”

“Sy isn’t Barbie’s shadow,” Rowan declared like he’d written a thesis on it. “They’re two people with two separate souls. Sy is nicer and obviously more talented.” Sy preened. “Sy is my fated mate.”

“No fucking way can Sy be your fated mate!” Silas burst out.

“You’re out of your mind, man.” Louis fixed Rowan with a scowl. “At least Barbie and Killian have a mating bond. Where the fuck is yours?”

“We can fight about Rowan and Sy later,” Killian cut in sharply. “Right now, Cade needs our help!”

“Let me go, Sy!” Cade struggled to pull away.

“Don’t worry,” I said through Sy. “She won’t drain you like I did.” Rowan shot everyone a smug look, as if Sy’s gentleness proved his point. “But she needs to hold on until we root out the Fury and her curse.” I paused. “Brace yourselves, princes. Whatever comes next, don’t fucking interfere.”

“I can’t wrap my head around this—seeing Barbie shift to Sy,” Silas said, dragging his hand over his tired face. “I knew Barbie was a shifter, but I didn’t expect her to be this kind of shifter.”

“Take what you need, little scorpion.” Killian spoke to me directly, even though Sy had taken over.

“We’ve got your back, little monster,” Rowan said, hovering over Sy like a shield.

Sy and I tracked the Fury’s trail through Cade. Our mind-eyes followed his blood flow through every vein until we spotted it.

A black alien vein had latched onto the superior vena cava near his heart, siphoning his energy. The Fury clung on tight, gorging herself.

“Kiss Cade, Sy,” I said through Sy’s lips, playing it up for Rowan’s benefit to keep both him and Cade from freaking out. “We found the Fury, and we’re gonna take her down.”

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