Page 38 of Demon

“You took what’s mine,” Callan growled. “Won’t happen again.”

“But it will. You’re under the misunderstanding that he’s your mate when I can prove he belongs to me.”

Callan made another of those low, growling noises. “I can hear your thoughts. Know you really believe this. You’re wrong.”

Roman narrowed his eyes. “You should have never touched what’s mine.”

There was a crunch near where the door used to be, and Lonnie looked around his protectors to see Xavier stepping over the debris. “He’s not your Greg. I would know if he were, and you know that.” He stopped next to them, facing Roman. “You should not have taken him, and you definitely shouldn’t have been terrorizing him. Is stalker behavior your idea of…wooing?”

“You scared him,” Callan fairly hissed. “Took him. You made a huge mistake.”

“Then I’ll be making that mistake again and again until he realizes what we are to each other. I’ve waited seventy yearsto find him again, and I’m not letting some demon take what’s mine.” Roman disappeared only to appear on the other side of the room and laugh. “I can show you that move again if you need to see it, but since you have Lake and Liam, you know exactly what my kind are capable of. You can’t hide him from me, and I can take him from anywhere.”

He suddenly jerked and Lonnie saw that Xavier had raised his hands.

“I was afraid you’d feel that way,” Xavier said, voice low and full of power. Lonnie shivered and clutched Callan’s shirt harder. Electricity filled the air, and Lonnie sucked in a quick breath as the black hair around Xavier’s face swayed. “You were once my friend, Roman, so it pains me to do this, but you have gone too far.”

True fear widened Roman’s eyes and he rapidly shook his head, struggling against some unseen force. Lonnie glanced at the preternaturals around him, taking in their confused expressions. He got the feeling he was about to witness something that even they thought couldn’t happen.

Roman managed to lift his hands but stopped in midair, seemingly frozen in place again. He paled, pure terror turning his face into a morbid, slack-jawed mask. “Xavier, no,” he whispered before he screamed long and loud, then slumped to the floor.

Lonnie peered around Callan to see Roman lying completely still, eyes closed. “Is he dead?”

“No,” Callan answered.

“He’s something much worse,” murmured Emory. “Did you do what I think you did?” A thread of something like fear was in his voice as he questioned Xavier. “I didn’t know you could.”

Xavier let out a sigh as he pinched the bridge of his nose. “I didn’t want any of you to know I could do this.”

“Do what?” Lonnie asked. “What’s worse than dead?”

“Stripped his powers,” Callan explained before turning to wrap his arms around Lonnie and lift him off the ground. He buried his face in Lonnie’s neck. “Roman deserved it. Are you okay? Did he hurt you?”

“I’m fine. He didn’t do anything but talk to me and stroke my hair a little bit.”

Callan growled.

Lonnie grabbed Callan’s horns and tugged his head back so he could look him in the eye. “I am truly fine, and I knew you’d come for me. He told me you think I’m your soulmate. Is that true?”

“Yes.”

Lonnie couldn’t help but smile at the short, succinct response. Callan would never be a man of words, which was perfectly fine with him. He liked… No, helovedthis demon just as he was. But his smile faded as he glanced around at the others.

“How is losing his powers worse than death?”

“Our magic is a part of who and what we are.” Xavier stared down at the fallen wizard, raw regret pouring from his dark eyes. “He will never feel like himself again.” He looked at Emory. “I’m sorry you were here to witness this.”

“This was different,” Emory said, voice low. “I’m fine, Xavier. More stunned than anything that you have this capability.”

Finn grunted. “I’m a little freaked out.”

“It is only something that is taken as a last resort. Roman was already walking on the dark side with his choice of past employers, but he never would have stopped coming after Lonnie. I did what I had to do.” He gave Finn a steady look. “It is not something I would ever do to any of you.”

“If you hadn’t, I would have killed him.” This came from Callan, who still held Lonnie close.

Lonnie got the feeling he wouldn’t be letting go anytime soon. As they all turned to leave, he couldn’t help but look at theformer wizard passed out on the floor. “What about him? Are we just leaving him here?”

“Yes,” Xavier answered.

---