Chapter 4

Chapter Four

FERN

Taking a deep breath, I released my tight grip on the rock that Agatheena had given me and dropped it into my pocket—no more contact with my skin, no more protection. Thank the gods, my potion had finally kicked in. There were so many things I had to do tonight that I did not fucking want to do, and I needed all the help I could get. Physically, I knew what I was capable of. I was strong; I could fight, but my mind tried to sabotage me constantly.

After I’d escaped five years ago, after I physically healed and the rage finally burned out, all that was left was fear. So much goddamn fear. I needed that fear that I carried around on my back like a boulder to piss right off, and my potion did that. For a couple of hours at least, there was no anxiety, no intrusive thoughts, no compulsions, and my fear was at a normal fucking level. It wasn’t something I could take all the time though, or I’d be pouring that shit down my neck all goddamn day.

Unfortunately, it gave me one hell of a hangover—and not just a headache. When I’d gotten home from Agatheena’s last week, I’d puked for three hours straight, but it was worth it, and I’d tell myself that when I was hugging the toilet again later tonight and all the things I’d taken the potion to avoid for that short time, came back even worse for hours, sometimes days, afterward.

I subtly glanced over my shoulder. The demons who’d been hanging around the shop most of the day were nowhere in sight. They’d been watching me—I was positive of it. Where had they gone? I only needed one of those breeder scout fuckers. Not only would they be an excellent offering to Agatheena, but it would get one more of those assholes off the streets.

I really hoped Agatheena had some answers for me. What did being a threeling truly mean?

If I showed up empty-handed though, she’d send me away, and I’d get nothing.

The library at the asylum had been no help, there’d been no mention of a threeling or even triplets, not that I could find anyway. There wasn’t much about soul collectors either. The book Rune had pointed out hadn’t really been a demon compendium, but it had contained a basic ritual, and there was mention of a tithe that Lucifer paid when a soul was claimed. Nothing that I’d ever need to know. I was more interested in the blood-drinking side of it, like the dos and don’ts and how often, because the idea of hurting someone that way made me sick to my stomach. There had to be a way to do it that wasn’t painful though, right? Or there wouldn’t be donors lining up to get bitten at the feeding clubs … unless they were into pain.

I had no idea. All I knew was my own experience, and being fed on, drained by a starved being in a desperate frenzy, had been the stuff of nightmares.

Cursing under my breath, I stopped beside my truck and pretended my bootlace had come undone. Those pricks had to be here somewhere. They’d been watching me all freaking week. How easy did I have to make it for them to make their move? I had earbuds in, for fuck’s sake. I’d made myself appear as vulnerable as possible.

Approach me, assholes. Fuck.

All week, I’d been running from them, hiding with the help of Agatheena’s stone, and now, I was out in the open, all but asking them to come get me—and nothing.

Goddammit .

Cursing repeatedly, I straightened and scanned the street again. Those two assholes had completely vanished. Walking around my truck, I got in, started it up, threw her into gear, and headed out.

Agatheena wanted an offering, which left me one choice—I’d have to get one on the way.

Twenty-five minutes later, I was bumping along the forest track I’d driven down the week before. There’d been some rain the last couple of days, and the ruts and dips in the “road” were even worse. A few times, I had to go as fast as hell so I didn’t get stuck. I didn’t make it as far into the forest as I had last time, but I found a spot that wasn’t too boggy and parked.

Grabbing my pack and the charm Agatheena had given me, I locked up and started along the track. Gripping the charm tight, I tried not to jump at the demon shrieks and calls. Yes, I was a demon as well, and I’d doped myself up on courage juice, but some of the breeds in these woods were savage, totally feral—the kind of demons I did not want to fuck with. Even my potion couldn’t take away what I considered a healthy dose of fear—you know, like what normal people lived with.

I quickened my pace, walking as quietly as I could. Protection or not, I didn’t want to risk bringing any of them closer—not yet anyway.

I didn’t stop until I’d trekked almost all the way to the cottage. If I didn’t have to drag dead weight the entire way, I sure as hell wasn’t going to. The sound of demons still echoed through the trees, but they were more distant now—and something I’d been counting on. Agatheena’s wards were unbreakable, and any demon who had good instincts would stay the fuck away, but those capable of more critical thinking would use the area surrounding the cottage to their advantage—that was, avoiding the ferals.

I ran my thumb over the smooth charm. It was warm from being held, and I was positive I felt a vibration of some kind coming from it. If I were a true witch, I’d feel the magic inside it; I’d feel its power. Those kinds of thoughts used to hurt. I’d felt like a failure the majority of my life, until I got tired of trying, until I got sick of the self-pity and embraced my demon nature instead, but after seeing Agatheena and hearing the things she’d said, those thoughts had been creeping back in all week.

Gritting my teeth, I shoved them back down. I didn’t have time for self-pity right now.

Slipping the charm she’d given me in my pocket, I pulled my blowgun from my pack and loaded it. I might not have magic or powers of any kind, but I could brew a good tonic or elixir, and my poisons and sedatives were second to none. I also had excellent fucking aim.

It didn’t take long before I heard something moving through the undergrowth. The demon coming sounded large and heavy-footed. I screwed up my face, smelling the creep before I saw him. He smelled like he’d puked up horse shit.

He finally strolled out. I’d been expecting some ugly, deformed bastard. Instead, I was confronted by a male who could absolutely pass as human, and whatever that smell was, it was all over his clothes. I hid my blowgun behind my back.

“What’s a pretty little thing like you doing out here, all on your own?” he said, tilting his head to the side.

I kept my breathing even and hoped he couldn’t hear my heart racing, though thanks to my potion, it wasn’t from fear as much as adrenaline. “I could ask you the same thing.”

“Why, thank you.” He batted his lashes and chuckled, then shrugged. “I like to hunt every once in a while.”

“Right. Yeah, same here,” I lied—well, kind of. That was exactly what I’d planned to do tonight. “Just FYI, that shit all over you smells seriously rank. You might want to wash it off before you head back to the city.” In other words, fuck off and leave me to do my thing .

This guy wasn’t the right offering. Taking out another male with sanctuary would be a really bad idea.

“But I’m not finished getting dirty.” His gaze moved over me in a way I did not fucking like.

This male was trouble, and I doubted he was alone. He probably had buddies not far behind him.

“Well, I’ll leave you to it then. I have somewhere I need to be.”

He took a step closer and shook his head. “I’m sorry, sugar, but you have to know that everything in this forest is fair game.”

I fucking hated pricks like him. Twisted bullies, and he obviously didn’t give a fuck about the rules. “You think you can catch me?”

He grinned. “Oh, I know I can.”

“And what happens when you do?” I asked, my adrenaline spiking higher.

“Well, that’s for you to find out.” Hateful lust glinted in his eyes.

He’d hurt me, and he’d enjoy it.

He took another step closer—

I whipped out my blowgun from behind me, pressed it to my lips, and fired.

My dart hit him right between the eyes. He stopped in his tracks, blinked at me several times, and then reached up, pulling the dart out of his skin. “The fuck—”

He went down hard, hitting the ground with a thud.

Quickly pulling my charm from my pocket, I searched my surroundings again, listening, watching. Nothing.

I couldn’t hold the charm and drag the massive stinker on the ground, but Agatheena said the charm needed contact with skin, so I shoved it into my bra. Then I took a rope from my pack and hog-tied him. I’d dosed him good, but the male was big, so I needed to get moving.

Gritting my teeth, I dragged the demon behind me, and thanks to my excellent forethought, it was only a short hike to Agatheena’s cottage. As soon as I reached the pathway, I sliced my finger and pressed it to the marking on the tree to let her know I was there.

The door to the cottage opened a few minutes later, and she shuffled out. You didn’t need to be a witch to feel the buzz of power this close to her wards, and they didn’t drop as she made her way toward me. Dolores flew out and landed on her shoulder, its black eyes on me as she got closer.

“I brought your offering,” I said when she finally reached me.

Her eyes narrowed on the demon at my feet. “Toss me the rope.”

“Did you find anything out? I was hoping—”

“Toss me the rope, child,” she said again, more sharply.

I did as she’d said, right as the demon gasped in a breath, then slammed himself into the back of my legs, knocking me down. I spun around, diving on top of him, then pulling another dart from my pack, I stabbed it into his thigh. He shrieked, then collapsed back into unconsciousness.

Pushing away from him, I stood, shoving my hair off my face. “So, did you find anything out about this threeling thing—”

“I have no information for you yet. Come back next week, and don’t forget your offering,” she said.

Then, she tugged on the rope, and like the demon weighed nothing, his unconscious body shot across the ground and through the wards, and she dragged him down the path.

I stared after her, stunned.

She had nothing?

She was Agatheena Burnside, one of the most powerful witches in this city—if not the most powerful. And she had nothing at all for me?

My fingers curled into fists. Was this all some elaborate load of crap so I’d bring her demons to harvest? I wouldn’t put it past the old witch. She was my blood, but she felt no loyalty to me. I doubted she felt loyalty to anyone.

Brushing the dirt off my jeans, I cursed under my breath. I had no choice but to head back to my truck.

I needed answers. Maybe Agatheena was full of crap or using me for a steady supply of demon organs, or maybe it was hard for even her to find the information I needed, but in the meantime, demons were watching me, and the awful, dark feeling I kept getting—that monsters were coming for me—was real. It was so real.

I hugged myself against the chill and walked faster. The forest was creepy as fuck at night. My potion was starting to wear off, and charm or not, I just wanted to get back to my truck and get out of there.

I was over halfway to the truck when I heard something walking toward me. The trees rustled to my left, then my right. Dread shot through me so hard and fast that my nerve endings spiked as three demons stepped out of the trees. They were big and ugly and smelled worse than whatever Agatheena’s new friend had all over him. The one in the front grinned, flashing slimy, pointed green teeth, while the one beside him sniffed the air.

“She’s unmated.” He sniffed again. “And she’ll be in season soon.”

“I’ve been looking for another breeder,” another said. “I’ll take her.”

“I saw her first,” the third one said.

My hand flew to my chest. The charm was gone.

It must’ve fallen out back at the cottage when that demon knocked me down.

Fuck . I was in serious trouble.

Yanking my blowgun from my pocket, I loaded it with a dart. I couldn’t take them all down at once. Maybe two if I was quick enough, but that would still leave me with the third to deal with. My only option was outrunning him, but a chase like that through this forest would only draw more demons.

One of them charged me. With force, I blew air through the blowgun. The dart got him in the throat. He took two more steps and went down with a ground-shaking thud. The other two roared, then ran at me as well. The closest demon reached out, claws about to swipe across my face—and then he was gone. Something huge and black tore the demon to shreds with only a couple of swipes of its massive claws.

What the hell was that? A wolf?

The second demon tried to run, but the beast jumped on him and wrapped its huge maw around the male’s head. Its vicious fangs crunched through the demon’s skull before its head was torn completely off, leaving only a bloody stump.

The beast spat out the head, and the moment it did, the demon’s remains turned to ash.

Then, the beast turned to me.

Holy fuck.

Its eyes glowed red, and ash coated its mouth. No, not a feral wolf—or any kind of wolf. Running from this beast would be pointless.

“Easy,” I said softly, lifting my hands. “I’m no threat. I’m not—”

The beast contorted. No, not a beast, a dog … on steroids.

A hound.

A fucking hellhound.

He shifted suddenly, transforming into the big, arrogant male who’d been in my store. He stood tall and imposing—and completely naked. His hair was down and wild around his face. His wide, tattooed chest was covered in demon ash, and a decent dusting of hair trailed all the way down . His thighs were braced apart and bulged, and his abs—which looked like thick ropes slung across his stomach—were clenched tight.

He said nothing; he just strode to one of the trees, snatched up a pair of jeans, pulled them on, and then advanced on me.

I backed up. “What are you doing?”

He growled, as if the beast was still there and actual words eluded him.

“Stay back.”

He ignored me, and when I turned to run, he hooked me around the waist, hauled me off my feet, and flung me over his shoulder.

“Let me the hell go,” I yelled.

I tried to wriggle out of his hold while my heart exploded in my chest, and fear choked me so tightly that I struggled to drag in the next breath. I fought harder, but it was pointless. He had me pinned down with one tree trunk-sized arm.

“Where are you taking me?”

“You’ve been a very bad demon,” he said, his voice vibrating through my body, all the way to my bones.

“I’ve done nothing wrong. You said I wasn’t in trouble when you came into my store,” I rushed out.

“That was before,” he bit out. “This is now.”

“What the fuck are you talking about, Sasquatch?” I snapped, then quickly slammed my mouth shut.

The potion had worn off, and I was scared out of my mind, which meant going on the defensive. Even though pissing off a hellhound was just plain idiotic.

“What I’m talking about, Gremmy, is you kidnapping a demon—a demon with sanctuary—and delivering him to the crone to harvest for parts. That’s not allowed, or have you forgotten the rules?”

Shit . He knew.

“It was self-defense.”

“If he threatened you? I’d get it. But you dropped him before he laid a hand on you. Can’t scent any blood on you, except for that tiny slice on your finger, which means you took him down before he could touch you, and instead of walking away when he was out cold, you dragged his unconscious ass to Agatheena.”

“How do you know he had sanctuary?” I fired at him, grasping on to anything that could get me out of this.

His other hand lifted. He was holding a wallet. “He dropped this when you were dragging him to his death. He has sanctuary ID from the knights of Hell, like you do, along with everyone else living in Seventh.”

I was screwed. If he decided to enforce the rules, I was on my way to Hell. “Why didn’t you stop me then? You’re just as bad as me.”

A rough sound rumbled from him. “I found the wallet first and tracked you to the cottage just as Agatheena took him, but thank you for confirming what I suspected.”

Goddammit . “What are you going to do?”

“Lucifer’s in town, at our clubhouse. I could carry you out of this forest and take you straight to him.” He sounded angry again.

“You’d like that, wouldn’t you?” I bit out.

If I came face-to-face with Lucifer, I’d piss myself, then blackout.

“I don’t relish the idea of taking you to a place where you’ll suffer horrifically because you freaked out and chose your victim unwisely.”

The prick was far too perceptive.

He put me down suddenly, and I shoved my hand in my bag and pulled out the pepper spray I always carried, aiming it at his face. He’d be on me again in a heartbeat by the time I grabbed out my blowgun and loaded it.

“Okay, back the fuck up, or I’ll blind you, you fucking psycho.”

“You sure that’s the way you want to play this?” he rumbled.

No, I was not, but I was all out of options.