Chapter 23 ∣  Flickering Out

-Eris

"Lovely little succubus," his voice made me sick inside, but my demon continued to allow him to touch me, the desirable feeling of his skin connecting with mine...I couldn't do anything. His fingers traced up my jaw from my chin, taking a slightly firm hold on the back of my neck as his vivid purple irises remained locked with my own translucent green orbs. The Commander to the King of the Dominion Plane...he ruined my life...well, he was a part of its slow descent to my mind breaking.

Maverick...stop this.

Why?

I have no response. This thing is playing her own game and I'm just along for the ride. Her strength is unmatchable and it's the weakest I have felt.

"I believe you're lacking energy, care to join me?" His lips curled up in a twisted smile.

Don't...don't...

"Unfortunately, I'm already taken for the night," I winked at him and before I know it, I pushed up off the ground as my lips contacted his. There was a dark growl from the back of his throat and he quickly deepened the kiss, my breath stolen away as my heart rate accelerated. There was a warmth that started at the base of my spine, slowly working its way up to the base of my skull and I was afraid he'd end up seducing me, but I was wrong.

That feeling was blocked. The dominance of the kiss stolen by my own tongue dancing with his. My left hand cupped the side of his face, his skin heated as my other touched his at the back of my neck. When I suddenly drew my lips away from his he let out a gasp as the whitish-blue wisps left his parted lips and traveled through to me. The energy was exhilarating. The need to take more became harder and harder to resist, thrown into the merged feelings that my demon was forcing me to experience.

Though, in the next moment, everything cut off. I stopped, my lips pulling into a smirk. My eyelids fluttered open and our electric blue irises caught each other in a stare that rendered me speechless. His voice was lowered when he chuckled, "Oh, I see how sly you are. Well, love, the name is Harlan and if you need any further...assistance, feel free to ask for me at the palace."

"I'll remember that," I relinquished my touch to his cheek and hand, and he sighed before he too released me.

His eyes narrowed on mine, breathing in, and asking, "And your name lovely? I don't recall catching it."

"That's because I never gave it," the slyness continued, and he was enjoying this hunt far more than I was.

He arched a brow before stating, "You have an uncanny resemblance to someone who is long since left this world..."

"How about this," I struck a deal, knowing I'd definitely keep my end of the bargain, "I'll tell you my name when I ask for you."

It was Harlan's turn to smirk and with a slight nod of his head, he brought his lips down near my ear and whispered, "I'll hold you to it. Don't make me come find you, love."

"What if I'm counting on it?" The way the words came out, I knew the demon was seducing him, making me angry and trying to fumble for just a tad bit of control. It came out when I instantly went to hit his upper arm. She stopped it though, catching his arm and squeezing it firmly, playfully.

You bitch!

Don't you want him dead?

No! I want everything to stop! You're going to get us killed...again.

No, because you were in control and weak as fuck. I'll finish this, with or without you on board.

"Careful," Harlan trapped my wrist and twirled me around while fighting with the demon inside of me, With my back to him, I felt his lips against my neck, kissing my flesh before stating, "I just might not be able to wait...you're so tempting..."

Just like that though, his touch was gone. His presence vanished and the last remnants of his aura diminished. He'd fazed away, to where I had no idea...

How the hell was that smart?! What if he follows us? He knows Maverick...

Let him, I'd rather him know exactly who's going to kill him.

I hate you!

So, you've mentioned.

Slowly, the shift in my eyes switched and with that, I started to walk back to the couch which Maverick knew I'd settled myself onto before he left. Sitting, I relaxed as the music continued to swirl around me, bringing me almost out of my own awareness. There were so many thoughts that sparked my mind into a frenzy and the scariest one...

...Could this demon kill the part of my humanity that was clinging to existence? Could she very well take over and destroy who I am?

I jumped when I felt two hands fall on my shoulders, Maverick's voice the only soothing comfort I had left. But, in the way, he spoke the next words made me want to cry, "Who touched you?"

"Oh, don't worry yourself," I tilted my chin back so that our eyes were now staring into each other, "just some drunk guy that understood what no meant...eventually."

Maverick narrowed his eyes on me, defensive because I was supposed to be just a weak human who couldn't defend themselves from anyone.

He didn't know.

How can he not see through this charade? He's breaking my heart, the pain building and straining my muscles. The only hope I had was in him and believing that he'd save me...but how? He'd have to kill me...

She won't let go. She knows this is putting a wedge in the small amount of hope left in my heart, breaking it slowly and steadily. I can't let go though...I can't. I won't let her have him or the life that was given to me by Rook. He did this not only for Maverick...but for me. He wanted us to find our own love once again. The lengths he went to...I can't-I just can't...

"Eris?" Maverick's voice was laced with worry, letting go of my shoulders and coming around to the couch, sitting down and brushing his thumb against my cheek. It was wet, a small number of tears escaping, begging to be noticed...that my pain could be eased, be seen, and taken away. "Eris, why are you crying? Is this place upsetting you?" The love and concern only brought out more of a need to be held in his arms, to be comforted.

It didn't happen though.

It felt like my chest constricted for a brief second like my lungs were tied off from any oxygen...my supply dwindling. A spark struck me, deep in the depths of my mind I cried and coward away, the fear now registering within.

I'd rather not kill my host...

Stop it...please...

Let go then.

No!

What scared me more, is my vision was crossing...though the windows to my soul were left wide open. Subconsciously I was about to blackout, leaving the demon to run wild and do as she pleased...maybe it would be better that way?

At the same moment I felt my strength fade away, I stood to my feet and brushed away the remaining tears, smiling, "It's just...I miss the only people I knew...Salana, Brice, Teddy..."

"We can visit them more if you'd like," Maverick rose to his feet, his arms pulling me into his chest as I inhaled his scent. My mind relaxed...I wanted to sleep. To fade away and remember just this moment, his warm and welcoming arms always ready to take away any pain.

He couldn't though.

He couldn't take away this pain. Not now, not ever.

Hope.

I'm losing...

I'm losing him and losing myself.

**

-Evicka

"Zak move!" I glared up at the tree branch that he still remained on, watching his hands tighten on the handles of his duel medium length daggers. He couldn't, he's not thinking. Clover flew past me, pushing off the ground as she outstretched her hand for Ryker's. He caught it and flung her forward a few trees ahead, glancing at Zak and then to me.

It was a few moments later, I heard his pounding heart advancing. Zak was transfixed, the emotions crossing his face were conflicted and at the moment, so was my heart for him. We had a plan and we needed to stick to it...regardless of how we felt.

Pushing off the ground, I landed next to Zak, grabbing his upper arm, "Look at me," I tried to catch his attention. If anything, his hold only switched on the handles, as though he meant to draw them.

He wouldn't dare...

"I said look at me!" I growled at him, my nails digging into his arm and finally, his head snapped to the side and caught my angry look. He was living in his own world within that head of his, my heart fluttering for a second at the conflicted pain he was going through. Rainier may have been one of the hunters I had saved, but he had quickly become Zak's closet friend and ally. He betrayed many people the day he chose to side with that damned Alpha.

"Zak, please," I begged him, catching Ryker's questioning look. This wasn't supposed to be our battlefield, but in the next moment, I couldn't have stopped Zak no matter how much I tried. In his mind, I wasn't his friend, I wasn't his relative, I wasn't his Queen...I was preventing him from ending the one person who he shared a deep bond with, especially after Janie's death. I knew he felt like he lost everything...

"Zak!" I screamed, but he'd already left the tree limb, causing it to shake just slightly from the force he used. In the distance where the two teenage boys' bodies lay unconscious, I saw his blonde hair, his white irises filled with hate and anger...pointed in our direction.

Evie, where are you?!

Take Alpha Hendrix back, now!

Wh-

It's Zak.

Don't risk your life...

It's in my nature...my hunter side and I won't leave him to die. I'm nothing like my father, I won't let fate decide his end...

Wolves were behind Rainier, some transformed while others remained in their human skin. This was supposed to be a kidnap...an extraction, not a fight to the death.

Zak's feet contacted the forest floor; his blades were drawn. Both blades were flipped backward and running up the lengths of his arms, shaking my head as I glimpsed Rainier reaching behind his lower back. Before I could leave the tree branch, Ryker was beside me, stating, "Don't, Evie you're the Queen, you can't jeopardize your life."

I couldn't respond to him, because he flung himself forward, his scythe drawn and held at an angle on his right. Rainier's twin chain blades were out, his eyes solely on Zak, as though both of them had left this world and only the two of them were at war.

"No...Zak..." I clenched my hands into fists, my anger continuing to skyrocket. I watched the wolves who remained in their human skin nearing the teenage boys, finding the Omega near the tree base beneath where I stood. I shook my head, glaring at Zak as he deflected an overhand swing from Rainier, the chain blade coming down hard. Zak exhaled harshly, Ryker leaping through the wolves, following my orders, and trying to get Zak without any deaths...

...I hate all the killing and what it has brought upon this world.

Three wolves noticed me; my scent strong...knowing who I am. Before they could even attempt to climb the tree, Clover had dropped to the ground, firing two shots quickly with the dual pistols and then another single shot in succession. They were immediately brought to their knees, panting, and grabbing at the site at which the liquid wolfsbane had entered. Quickly, Clover left the forest floor and landed beside me stating harshly, "What happened?!"

"Zak," I pointed, wolves keeping their distances but growling and snapping their jaws when he stepped too close to the edge of the circle quickly suffocating him. I then pointed to Rainier, "I can't stop them."

"Maybe you shouldn't," Clover's words shook me and I glared at her, but she stated, "If you were betrayed...wouldn't you want the one who stabbed you in the back to die? For them to pay for what they've done?"

She's right, but I didn't want to see any more bloodshed, especially between those two. I inhaled sharply, the circle about to close completely on Zak as he continued to meet Rainier's strikes with his own. They were breathing hard, their eyes set with a look that would eventually kill.

"No..." I was about to launch myself and stop Ryker, for he had finally made it over the circle, his scythe ready to swing. His grip tightened, and my eyes shifted to their black rose once again.

"He's not going to kill them," Clover smiled at me, sighing softly at my sudden confusion. Before I could even blink, I was no longer looking at Clover's soft features, but Ryker who now stood with his scythe guarding me. My eyes snapped back to the battlefield, Clover twisting in the air before she fired multiple rounds, striking the wolves in their upper legs or their hind legs depending on her position. The ones who had followed Rainier into battle either fell to the ground, the drug working its magic, while the ones who were spared from the dosage backed farther away. I could hear them whining, begging Rainier to retreat, knowing they could do little to protect him, their instinct to protect their Alpha's mate ringing strong. They howled, but Clover threatened them with her pistols, ready to fire if any came too close.

That's when everything happened really fast.

Rainier threw one of his chain sickles in Clover's direction, catching her off guard and striking her ankle. Quickly, he wrapped the chain portion around her limb and brought her to the ground with a loud thud. Her body ricocheted, the pistols flying from her hands.

"Clover..." Ryker growled next to me, his heart skipping a beat.

"What?" I asked, unsure of what exactly was happening.

"She won't let me connect with her," he turned to me, debating leaving my side to protect his sister.

Clover screamed loud, the chain retracting and pulling her closer to Rainier. Ryker tensed and before he could do anything, Zak yelled, "Don't you fucking dare!" He dropped one of his daggers, the other slicing across his palm. His blood trailed down his fingertips and to the ground, staining the grass. When the second chain sickle flew over Rainier's head, aimed for Clover, Zak's arm extended, and the blood flickered across the air faster than I'd ever seen before.

The shield that morphed before Clover, stopped the impact of the blade, clattering to the ground next to her as it lost momentum. Rainier's eyes found Zak's and he growled, "Fucking blood magic..."

Rainier hadn't noticed the blood on the ground slithering toward him, and he paid for it when his back hit the ground after it had wrapped around both of his ankles. His head smacked against the forest floor, a crack making my own stomach sick. Zak just glowered at Rainier, walking toward him slowly, the blood circling around both of his hands.

"He can't..." time was running out and I noticed the wolves were either becoming bolder or forced to their last resort to save Rainier. I breathed in sharply, turning to Ryker and hastily asking, "Can you take me with you?"

He furrowed his brows and caught onto what I was saying. With his scythe still wrapped around me, guarding me, he quickly took hold of my upper arm and drew me close to him. It felt like my heart had stopped and the air had completely left my lungs, but in the next moment, we were just feet away from where Zak was ready to kill Rainier.

Despite what Ryker would have liked, with my strength I quickly broke free from his grasp and launched myself toward Zak, dropping him to the ground as we rolled over each other a couple of times. Ryker was near us in a heartbeat, readying his scythe to strike any who challenged him. When we stopped, I was on top of him, glaring down with my hand wrapped around the front of his throat.

"Zak!" I yelled.

Nothing.

"Zak!" I tried again, his eyes almost looking through me. I felt the blood tendrils entwining around my body as he tried to stop me.

"STOP NOW!" With my final effort to stop him, he blinked his eyes a few times, letting the fog dissipate from his mind.

"E-Evie?" The control on the blood was released and so was my limbs from the magic that had tried to entrap me. Letting go of his neck, I helped him to his feet, my eyes darting to Rainier who was also trying to recover, seeing blood coming from the gash on the back of his head. They would tend to him...

In the commotion, I threw Zak in front of me, forcing him to run, as he did, he dropped to the ground and took his daggers, glancing over his shoulder and meeting Rainier's eyes. Rainier growled, "It's not over."

"Far fromit..." Zak's words were so quiet I almost couldn't hear them. Rykerwatching us, we ran with him at our heels, Clover above in the trees as we leftthe forest as quickly as we could.

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To Seduce a Mortal by K. A. Young and Laisha C. Gardner

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