Page 47 of All the Devils are Here

I peeked over my shoulder and Ariel turned me so I could see, keeping my back pressed against him. His fingers dug into my hips, and in spite of what and who was in front of us, I craved that feeling. I loved the desperation in the way he was touching me.

I fought the instant wave of shame that hit me for wanting it so badly and pushed it back. Now wasn’t the time.

“I want what I’ve wanted since I brought you out of that rock,” Prospero said. “I want my freedom. And you’ll give it to me.”

“The hell I will,” Laurent said.

The slow smile on Prospero’s face raised chills on my arms. “You will. Because if you don’t, your mate dies, and I’m free anyway. I’ve had a long time to think about this, Khal—”

“Don’tcall me that.” Laurent snapped.

Prospero ignored him entirely. “I’ve had a long time to plan for this. You have until the magic takes Meg to offer yourself to me. It will kill her, eventually. Whether through whatever it decides to throw at you, or absorbing her soul into the island, she will die. But if it transforms her fully, I’ll have her heart, and my freedom regardless of what you want. So I suggest you enjoy your time with her before she dies, or you do. She will be released once I take back everything I gave you, and you are dead. Don’t bother with the loopholes, I’ve already addressed them. I can’t be harmed while she holds it. By any of you,” he looked at Laurent. “And the magic returns to me when she dies.”

Ban growled, and Ariel tightened his arms around me. “That’s not going to happen,” he whispered.

“You bastard,” Trin hissed. “She’s innocent.”

“Every day, it will take her more. How long? I’m not sure. I think the record is three days. But given the amount of magic she now holds, I can’t imagine it will take much time. It will be interesting to watch.”

“I should have killed you before I left,” Laurent growled.

Prospero laughed. “As if you’re capable of it when I have my power. Take your time and say goodbye. And good luck,” he looked directly at me. “The island’s power knows my every thought and every idea. Every… creative way to kill you. And given that the power in your body doesn’t belong to you, it wants to return to its true master.” He lifted a hand, and pain raked through me like claws made of diamond.

I barely kept myself quiet, a whimper still making its way out.

Silver magic soaked through me, easing the pain and wrapping me in comfort. Still, it was agony.

“One way or another, Prospero,” Laurent said. “I will kill you.”

The sorcerer sighed. “You won’t, but I’m sure you’ll figure that out. In the meantime, at least try to make it interesting. It’ll come for you, Meg. Sooner than later. I’ll make sure of that.”

He smiled and vanished like he’d never been there in the first place, and everyone blew out a breath in relief.

“That must have exhausted him,” Trin said. “Borrowing what little of the island’s power he can access?”

Ariel nodded, his cheek still pressed to mine. “Hopefully it will have taken enough out of him that he needs to keep to his fucking self for a while.”

Laurent turned, slowly reverting to his human form. “Meg, are you all right?”

“I think so.” Now that the pain was gone, I didn’t feel any different. And as it was, I couldn’t feel the magic he’d put inside me. It was justthere, lurking like a shadow.

“Good.”

I looked between the four of them. “Will it really try to kill me?”

“It’s one of the reasons removing the chains was a risk,” Ariel said. “They negate the effects, but only to an extent.”

“Let’s go home.” Ban stepped toward the edge of the cave and sank into his feline form.

Home. The energy in the air shifted, and Laurent reached out and took my hand. “Couldn’t agree more,mate.”

The heat rose so quickly it nearly made me faint. Four of them? That made me feel like this? There was a chance that was what would kill me.

My skin began to prickle like I was burning. Or a sparkler. How intense was the connection to make me feel like this?

Glancing down, I saw the tips of my fingers were glowing the brutal, neon shade of violet. And thereweresparks coming from my skin.

This had nothing to do with my mates. This was the magic.

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