Page 91 of Bite of Passage
“I haven’t been useful yet.”
“I would’ve stayed to finish the job at the church, maybe even died and let the world go to hell if you hadn’t convinced me otherwise.”
“I’d gloat about all this, but I think Gemma’s worth fighting for, even if she is quirky and prone to getting in trouble.”Softly, Cade added, “That’s why I’m here.You have a chance, a real chance at something good.I have a feeling we’re going to have to rescue her again.This time will probably be worse than before.There’s a high chance she’s already dead.”
Already dead?
His lungs refused to expand as if someone had swung an axe directly into his chest, twisting and breaking ribs in a relentless effort to split him in two.
“I don’t know what I feel for her or what we have.It’s been such a short time.I messed up.I said shit I shouldn’t have.I should’ve explained more to her, maybe brought her with me rather than leaving her in the inn.The mood in the town was sour.”
“It wasn’t your best choice, but ease up on yourself.You’re not used to working with entanglements who need explanations, even if the fate of the world depends on you protecting her.”Cade smothered a chuckle.
“Asshole.”
His brother shook his head as real laughter rolled out of him.“You fucked up, which is…” He laughed more.“I can’t remember a time you made a mistake.It was always you lecturing me.You’re the brother that does it right the first time.I’m the screwup.”
“I make mistakes like everyone else.”
“Not often.”
“I won’t do it again.”
Getting to Gemma might involve rescuing her from Petra or VanFliet if she hadn’t made it to the Vorche first.Saving her in such a case was his priority.Then he could find her somewhere safe to live.He wasn’t the type of person she deserved long-term.Maybe once, long ago before he became this half-dead killer of evil magic.She didn’t need a guy who lashed out when she needed help.
He couldn’t go into this all messed up.Demons preferred to inhabit humans, using them as vessels to maneuver in the world.The few times he’d won over a demon, including a demon king, had been the result of a combination of luck, timing, and skill.
They reached a clearing and Cade halted his horse, dismounting.He scanned the ground, picking up the bracelet Skarde had given Gemma.
“Not good,” Cade announced.He examined the muddy shoe impressions.“VanFliet may have been here.”He pointed at a large impression.“It’s so muddied from rain I can’t be certain of anything other than these tracks were left by a heavy male.There were horses.”
“Petra has her,” said a low voice.
Cade jumped back as Fontaine emerged from the foliage.“What the… Were you here waiting or do you have some sort of magic telling you we’d be here?”
The dwarf said, “Time isn’t on our side, Skarde.Petra has all the crystals and has started the summoning.”
Skarde dismounted.He pounded a fist against the tree next to him.
Demon summoning ceremonies were foul affairs.They required death to trigger a possession.In this case, possibly Gemma’s.
“The witch has taken over VanFliet’s place, a mile that way.”The dwarf pointed north.
“I don’t have the tools with me to deal with a demon or demon possession.”
Fontaine touched his calf.“Everything necessary you already have.This will require all you have learned, and what you suspect you’ve found.Send the demons back.Destroy the crystals.You’re one of few who can.As the prophecy states, our world will burn if you fail to save her.”
“She and I—” Skarde blew out a long breath.“I don’t know what we are to each other.Hell, we barely know each other.”
“Destiny, my friend, is a daunting bitch who cannot be evaded.Shed your fear or we are all lost.”The dwarf king paused for dramatic effect, which annoyed Skarde.“You have to believe in her love as much as you must earn it.”
“You’re kind of a freaky little devil.”Cade backed his horse away from the dwarf.“Skarde, I don’t see whyyouhave to deal with the demon army part of this.We can get Gemma out of there, but there’s enough magical beings in these woods that they should be able to band together and annihilate Petra or a bunch of demons themselves.”
Skarde ignored his brother, asking Fontaine, “What is Gemma’s story?The ring suggests someone from here gave it to her.Is she from here?”
Fontaine’s lips compressed into a thin line.
“Tell me.”The mages, including Serish, probably knew the answer as well.Perhaps, they all conspired to bring him to this place at this time.
