Page 366 of Castings & Curses

But her girl was already in action. Arms thrown wide, she whipped the tempests from teacups to tornados, hurling them at the creature.

Cappelli dove at it, struggling to subdue it, even with her superhuman strength. The creature shook her off, and Devi heard the unmistakable crack of her head hitting one of the large rocks near the fire pit.

Fuck.

“Why don’t you tangle with someone your own size, asshole?” Her blade was in her hand before she even realized it and she took her place at Kate’s side. Her gusts were getting fewer, and the creature was getting too close for comfort.

“Take what you need.”

Kate’s eyes met hers and she thought she saw a shimmer of something that looked like tears.

“I’m not going to use you. You have to do this because you want to.”

It wasn’t even a question.

But Devi didn’t have time to answer. The beast was on her, grabbing her by the hair and throwing her toward the nearest tree.

Fuck.

She slammed into the bark and blinked, her face numb from pain, and her arm twisted at an off angle.

Double fuck.

Moving it gingerly, she scraped her body off the ground and stalked back toward the fray. Cappelli had risen and was holding the creature back, but one good jab and she lost her footing, and the beast lunged for Kate.

Devi lost her mind.

Nothing else mattered.

Not her job.

Not the demon.

It was only ever about Kate.

The shift happened without her thinking about it. Muscles reformed and bones crunched, but this time, she allowed Kate’s power inside of her. They were one, and as one they were stronger.

And a fuck ton larger.

The snarl ripped from her chest, and she charged the beast. Claws out, she swiped at it, sending it sailing. Kate lay too still, her perfect skin marred by bloody furrows from the creature’s claws.

Enraged, Devi stalked forward and they met, claw for claw, fang for fang.

Pain didn’t exist.

She was fighting for Kate’s life. There was a connection, but it was growing fainter.

She had to end this.

Now.

“Get it to come to you,” Cappelli snarled, heaving herself out of the dirt. Her suit hung in tatters, and she shrugged off the jacket in disgust.

Devi yowled as the beast crashed into her, but she held on, twisting her legs up around its neck. It struggled, but she dug deep.

“Hold it!” Cappelli stalked forward, her perfect blonde hair askew, eyes black with fury.

Jaws snapping, it tried to latch on, but Cappelli was faster, snapping its neck with a swift twist of her hands.

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