Page 45 of Accidentally Summoned an Incubus

Icy panic flooded my veins, my heart pounding, vision blurring as my body froze.

You’re a witch! Remember, he can’t harm you!a distant internal voice called.

Lochran took a step backward, the heat of his body against mine grounding me.

You can do this, Lex. You are strong enough to face your demons.

My vision focused enough to peer over Lochran’s crooked wing. Chad was hunched over like a wounded animal, his hair greasy and disheveled. His eyes were deep hollows, wide and manic. The stench of stalealcohol and unwashed body filled the air, wafting from his soiled clothes. But I didn’t have the chance to revel in what stock-photo Chad had been reduced to. In his outstretched, dirt-crusted hand was a gun, pointing directly at Lochran’s chest.

“They didn’t believe me,” Chad hissed, spittle flying from his crusted lips. “But I knew you were a witch. You did this to me!” He pointed a dirt crusted finger at his crotch. “You were fucking hard to find. I thought you might be somewhere north. Tried Seattle, I did,” Chad said, his voice almost delirious. “And then Brett managed to steal your HR files and find me your next of kin.”

Lochran’s movement was almost imperceptible as he crouched, ready to pounce. I flexed my fingers, willing my magic to return, but only the barest spark flittered over my hand.

Chad’s laugh was manic. “And now I’m going to fucking kill you!”

Before Lochran had the chance to react, Chad shot. Lochran’s body jerked, pinning me to the counter behind him. Plates and appliances flung themselves off the counters, as if the house had only just realized it had a monster in its midst. The clang of metal and pottery hitting the wall permeated the room as shards of ceramic fell like shrapnel on Chad, but my only concern was my mate.

“Lochran!” I cried as Chad shot aimlessly in the air, before his gun lowered and Lochran’s body jerked again. I scrabbled to get in front of Lochran, desperate to take the bullets meant for me and not my mate. But Lochran remained steadfast, his body pressing me against the counter, determined to shield me evenas hot blood pooled on his back, seeping into my shirt.

Fury like I’d never felt before flashed through my body, magic like liquid hot magma surging through me, but only enough for a single, concentrated strike.

Chad’s gun clicked but made no other noise.

Jammed.

“Fucking piece of shit!” Chad bellowed, thumping the gun against the kitchen island.

Lochran faltered just enough for me to shimmy out from behind him. I could see the shocked expressions of my family as they skidded to a halt at the kitchen door, shadows pooling from the incubi, witchfire flickering from the witches.

“He’s mine!” I bellowed, taking a step in front of my mate, a murderous rage flooding my body. I would kill my tormentor, and nothing on this green earth could stop me.

Until the sound of spluttering filled my ears.

I fell to my knees beside Lochran as blood frothed at his mouth. This couldn’t be happening. He was an incubus demon. They healed really,reallyfast. My hands glided over his chest, and sure enough, the bullet wounds had begun to heal.

But where were the bullets?

Fear doused my rage. If they were still inside him, no amount of supernatural healing would help. My mate coulddie.

Without a second thought, I let the magic reserved for Chad pour into my mate, poking and prodding until finally it found the bullets—two in his lung, one in his heart. Lochran winced in pain as I coaxed all three of the bullets back out, each one popping from the healing wound with a sickening squelchbefore clattering to the floor.

“You should have... used your magic... on your revenge,” Lochran said, each word causing him to wince in pain.

“Revenge would mean nothing if it cost me you,” I whispered, my hand pressed firmly against his chest, allowing the last of my magic to knit my mate’s wounds as best as I could before his healing took over.

Lochran pressed his forehead against mine. He placed one hand over my fingers that rested on his chest, the other pressed against the nape of my neck. It was irrational, because I knew my succubus side wasn’t potent enough to pick up on emotions, but in that moment, I felt enveloped by my mate’s love. It was as if our hearts melded together as one, something primal and eternal snapping into place.

“Do you still want your revenge?” Lochran finally asked, his eyes widening hopefully.

My gaze settled on Chad, who had one leg propped against the door, his hands twisting fruitlessly at the handle. I nodded.

Lochran placed a talon-tipped hand on the counter and pulled himself up, his tousled black hair hanging menacingly over his forehead. His violet eyes flared in vengeance, locked on to his target.

“Then allow me.”

Chad’s eyes widened, his body quivering in fear. “Wait!” he cried out. “I-I can just leave, and you’ll never see me again.”

“Never isn’t long enough,” I said.

---