23. Blaise

Toby went to the roof to collect Lucky, leaving me in the kitchen with Oscar and Bailey.

"I've put the kettle on," Oscar said, a false note of airiness in his voice. "This feels like a cup of tea kind of situation."

"You're telling me," Bailey said with a sigh. "Might wanna chuck some whiskey in there too. Not that it affects us much now. Who knew mating with a demon would mean I couldn't get drunk anymore? Might've asked to read the small print if I'd realised that was the case."

A chuckle slipped from me and I tried to cover it with a cough. "Sorry."

"S'okay," Bailey said, smiling up at me softly. "I don't think I've heard you laugh before."

I felt my face heat. I had no idea what to say to that, but fortunately, Bailey filled the silence. "This better not interfere with the Loki finale tonight. I've been waiting all sodding week for it. Bloody typical this is happening now." His kind eyes met mine. "You don't happen to be an MCU fan?"

I found myself nodding. "Yeah. I haven't seen them all, but I've been watching them with Toby."

"Who's your favourite character?"

That was easy, given he was in every one Toby had made me watch so far. "Bucky."

Bailey slapped the table with a hoot. "Mine too. Oscar, you're in trouble. Blaise here is threatening your best friend status."

Huh, what were the odds of Bailey being a huge MCU fan, specifically of Bucky, and Toby not knowing about it?

My chest warmed. Toby must've foreseen that a day might come when I'd need to make conversation with Bailey, and without me even realising it, he'd given me the tools to manage it.

That man. What the fuck was I going to do when it was over? I'd been so lost before him, but every piece of my happiness was entwined with him. What if that all left along with Toby at the end of the contract?

Oscar didn't even turn around from where he was pouring boiling water into mugs. "You can have him, Blaise, but be warned, he doesn't share pizza and likes to run. For fun."

My lips twitched. I could do this, right? Have a conversation with them like a normal person? Well, I could try. "I like to run."

Bailey clutched his chest. "Bucky and running? Yep, it's official. Oscar, you've been demoted. Blaise is taking your place."

Oscar winked at me as he pushed a mug into my hands. "I think Harlow's dramatics have been rubbing off on him. He never used to be this annoying."

"Thank you," I muttered, accepting the cup from him. My head was spinning at the ease with which Oscar and Bailey had included me in their banter. Was this what having friends was like?

"I always preferred Wanda," Oscar said, pulling up a seat beside Bailey. "Her hero-to-villain arc is delicious."

"Nah, villain to hero is where it's at, right, Blaise?"

I recognised the ironic olive branch for what it was, inclining my head in his direction. "That's what I'm hoping."

The door to the roof opened, Toby and a very pale Lucky entering. He'd barely reached the table when Lucky gave a startled yelp before his eyes rolled back in his head.

Two chairs screeched backwards as the humans cried out in alarm. I surged forwards, but Toby beat me to it.

"I've got him." Toby lowered him to the floor before checking his pulse and lifting his eyelids to peer beneath. "He's okay. He's just fainted."

Lucky came to after a few seconds, blinking up at us in confusion.

"You okay, Lucky?" Oscar asked anxiously.

He nodded as he let Toby and Bailey help him into a chair. When he was sure Lucky was steady, Toby stalked over to me. "You take one entrance, I'll take the other. You armed?"

"Yes." Toby had insisted I carry a dagger at all times, just in case my powers were compromised. He'd been going over manoeuvres with me while we'd been travelling.

He squeezed my fingers briefly. "Good boy."

We both took up our positions while Oscar convinced Lucky to accept a mug of tea. My dagger was in my hand, while Toby was tossing his stake into the air and catching it. I almost smiled at the sight. Toby might have thought he had nothing in common with his cousin anymore, but that move was almost identical.

It turned out Lucky had felt pain from Dagon's side of the bond before blacking out. Now, he was feeling nothing. Understandably, he was panicked. Oscar was doing his best to reassure him. "He's alive. Well, technically, it means he's dead or unconscious. But he'll revive shortly."

"How can you be sure?"

"Because you're still alive," Toby said bluntly, his stake still moving through the air. "One of you dies, the others do too. Remember?"

My powers tingled suddenly. What the?—

Bang.

A loud explosion erupted beneath our feet, rocking the whole building.

My gaze connected with Toby's. It was only a split second, but it felt like an eternity. Right there, I saw his fear. His desperation. His frustration that I was going to need to fight, that he couldn't just focus on protecting me.

I will be okay, I told him silently. I can do this.

He gave me an almost imperceptible nod before leaping into action.

"Get under the table," he barked, shoving Lucky from his chair. "All of you. Now."

As the humans scrambled to follow his orders, we both threw up our shields. Countless footsteps sounded from both the stairs and the roof. I tried to tamp down my panic. I had to protect the mates. Had to keep them safe. Keep Bailey safe.

Summoning my powers, I created a deep wall of fire around the table. It wouldn't touch the humans, but hopefully it'd keep other supes out. It'd be a drain on my power, but that'd be worth it if it kept them safe.

I moved fast, trying to barricade the door with every item of furniture within reach. A few feet away, Toby was doing the same with the other entrance. We were trying. It was hopeless, but we were fucking trying.

I had just enough time to glance at Toby. Just one glance. One helpless look where we both knew we were overwhelmed. That there was only one outcome for us.

Then all hell broke loose.

I incinerated the first three demons through the door before swiping my dagger through the throat of the fourth. Behind me, I could hear Toby snarling as body after body hit the floor.

We were fighting for our lives, but the demons didn't stop coming. Focusing my attention on the door to the stairs, I blasted as much power as I could spare through it. Gurgling screams met my ears, telling me my aim had been true.

"Duck," Toby roared. I did as he said, my body always reacting to his orders on instinct. A millisecond later, a blade whizzed over my head.

Twisting on my heel, I drove my dagger into the demon's gut, wrenching up and not stopping until it met the bottom of his neck.

Shoving him off, I spotted a demon approaching Toby's unprotected back. Now it was my turn to yell at him. "Go left."

Toby dove and I unleashed a blast of flame, knocking the demon off course. My master was back on his feet in a second, venom dripping from his fangs as he launched himself at his attacker.

Just then, something pulled at my power. Specifically, the power being used to guard Bailey and the others. My head swivelled around, my heart stopping at what I saw.

A demon had pulled a struggling Bailey from under the table. A demon I'd never seen before, but I knew in my bones who he was.

Lucifer.

"No," I roared, shoving off demons as they grabbed at my arms. A few feet away, Toby was doing the same. There were too many.

Lucifer paid as much attention to Bailey's attempts to get free as one would an annoying fly. He grabbed Bailey's head in both of his hands, holding firm.

I shot off flame after flame, bellowing in horror as I tried to get to Bailey in time.

I wouldn't fail him. Not this time. Not again.

Bailey's eyes were shining with fear as they met mine.

Then Lucifer twisted his hands.

A sharp crack filled the air.

And that shining light left Bailey's eyes.

"No!" Fire blasted every demon holding me. "No."

Before I could take another step forwards, I was engulfed once more. My flesh was being singed by the fires of Hell, but I didn't care.

Toby was yelling beside me, but I couldn't make out his words over the screaming in my ears.

Screaming that only intensified as Lucifer dropped Bailey's lifeless body to the floor. As he reached under the table. As he pulled a white-faced Oscar out.

"Blaise!"

Toby was trying to get to me, cutting through the swathes of demons weighing me down. Why though? Why wasn't he protecting the humans?

Why was he choosing me?

I couldn't look at him. I couldn't look at anything except for the king of Hell as he dragged his dagger across Oscar's throat.

I didn't even notice I was dying alongside Oscar. Didn't feel the sword piercing my gut. Didn't realise my blood was gushing out at the same time as Oscar's.

I knew none of it until I saw Toby's horror-stricken face screaming in front of me.

Then, all I knew was darkness.