Chapter 30

ANITA

Heat burns through me like a fever, and my skin is so hot, I resemble a cooked lobster. My mind struggles to concentrate on what's happening in the room, and I grimace when the men act like I'm not present.

Like I don't have a say in my own life.

Since no one is paying me any attention, I grab the contract dangling from Porter's hand, then push myself up to stand on shaky legs. Though Soren said the contract is tamperproof, it doesn't stop me from trying to incinerate it.

Unfortunately, nothing happens.

Okay, plan B then.

"You're fighting over nothing." My voice emerges as a croak, my wrecked throat a mess after the heat sucked every drop of moisture from my body. I lick my cracked lips, trying to work up enough spit to continue. "The contract is null and void."

Everyone looks at me in surprise, but my tough girl act is ruined when a wave of dizziness sweeps over me, and I sway alarmingly. If I pass out, the guys will kill themselves trying to save me, so I grit my teeth and widen my stance.

"Really?" Though amusement twinkles in the demon's eyes, annoyance hardens his features. He ignores the rest of the men like they don't matter, and to him, they probably don't. "I'm disappointed you would try to deny the obvious. I thought you were smarter than that."

I lift my brows at the demon whom I refuse to acknowledge might very well be my father.

Right now, he's the demon who is trying to kill my mates.

"I'm very good at disappointing my family members," I snark back at him. "You might say that it's a hobby of mine." I lift the contract in my hand, holding it out between us. "But I didn't lie. Though I haven't had the pleasure of reading the contract that signed me away like a slave, I know my family well enough to guess what it says.

"Grant the Kerringtons wealth, power, and protection—blah, blah, blah—and they will turn me over to you on my twenty-fifth birthday." I arch a brow at him, my smile more of a baring of teeth. "But here is where you fucked up. I'm technically a Kerrington, at least that's what it says on my birth certificate. Where is my wealth, power, and protection?"

I crush the contract in my fist, never once looking away from my father. "You left me at the mercy of those sadistic assholes. Not a day passed where they didn't shower me with their hatred, and never once did you protect me as promised in the contract."

Before he can protest his innocence, the scroll crumbles to ash, and I blink down at my empty hand in disbelief.

It worked!

When I rub my fingers together, the ash flakes away, removing any evidence that the contract ever existed, and I look up with a triumphant grin—only to gulp when faced with a very furious demon.

A muscle ticks along his jaw, and flames actually flicker in his eyes. All my bravado fails, and I wonder if I might have jumped from the pan, skipped the fire, and landed in the pits of Hell.

Instead of leaving, he crosses his arms over his chest, and I hate that I'm so short that I have to tip my head back to look up at him.

It just ruins a good glare.

"Why don't you tell me what you want or, better yet, just leave?" I take a step forward, only to ruin it when I stagger.

Ugh…stupid fever.

Thankfully, Soren slips an arm around my waist and tugs me against his chest, keeping me from landing on my face and embarrassing myself further. Hardly able to keep my eyes open, I glare at the blurry shape of the demon standing just a couple of feet away, then squint as I try to bring him into focus. "If you wannata punnishhh anyone, take it ou' on the resht of mmmy fammillyy."

I blink in surprise when my words come out slurred. I clumsily clear my throat and open my mouth to tell him again, but my mouth is too numb to form the words properly.

He cocks his head to the side, the massive scowl on his face not disguising his concern. "You're dying. If I leave, you won't survive the night."

The guys curse, and Porter steps between me and the demon. He lifts my chin with two fingers, then tips my head back and searches my face. His scent of old books and rum has me swaying toward him with an appreciative hum, and I barely resist the temptation to bury my face in his chest. I feel drunk, the room all fuzzy around the edges, my body both light and heavy at the same time.

His shadows give him away, swirling along his arms in agitation. Fear darkens his burnt orange eyes, the yellow shards in them flaring brighter, and my heart sinks when I realize the demon isn't bluffing.

I'm dying.

I should be alarmed, but I'm actually surprised it hasn't happened sooner.

Porter turns, facing off against the demon, oozing confidence as he crosses his arms and lifts his chin. "What do you want?"

The demon purses his lips, rocks back on his feet, then rubs his jaw contemplatively. Delight sparks in his eyes, greed giving them a red sheen. "A negotiation, hm?"

My throat tightens, remembering the guys cautioning me to never negotiate with a demon, yet they are going against their own advice.

Not good.

While Porter towers over me at six-foot-two, he almost looks small standing in front of the demon. I grab the back of his shirt in my fist, wanting to yank him backward, but I only end up dragging myself forward and face-planting into the hard muscles along his spine.

"We both want something." The demon speaks first, his tone almost affable, but the tension in the room turns palpable. "I'm willing to offer my assistance, but it won't be for free. There is a cost."

Soren growls, then gently nudges me toward Cassius, and the basilisk quickly gathers me against his chest. I'm barely clinging to consciousness, and he's forced to take most of my weight. The cool touch of his skin feels good against my heated flesh, and the scent of dry desert sand and thunderstorms helps clear my head a little.

"What do you want in exchange?" Soren snarls and steps into line next to Porter. He flexes his shoulders, twisting his head side to side, as if bracing himself to take the brunt of the cost.

Horror slashes through me, and I push away from Cassius, taking him by surprise. It gives me precious seconds to shoot forward, and I shove myself between the two men and face off against my father. "No, if there is a cost, it's mine to take."

The thought of them being at my father's mercy chills my blood and bile rises in my throat at the mental image of them clamped in chains.

I can't do that to them.

I won't.

Not that I think my father would take it any easier on me because I'm his daughter. If life has taught me anything, it's that the opposite is true.

When the guys protest, I raise my hand to shush them. "We do it my way or no way at all."

The three men stand side by side, practically vibrating with rage. Knowing I only have seconds before they try to interfere again, I plop my hands on my hips and turn to glare up at my demon father. "My guess is you need my cooperation for this to work. You touch them, you get nothing from me."

Familiar eyes narrow on me, but I refuse to be cowed. My muscles tremble under the strain of remaining upright, and it takes all my willpower not to collapse to the floor and curl up in a ball of pain. After what feels like an inordinate amount of time, he finally nods. "Very well. Any other conditions?"

"What do you want with me?" I'm not sure I want to know the answer, but I refuse to blindly accept his offer, even if it saves my life. My family taught me that there were worse things than death.

He purses his lips, his canny eyes easily reading that I won't be deterred, and fury swirls in the air around him. If he didn't need me, I have no doubt I would be a pile of ash on the floor. "Very well, but the information will remain between us."

I huff in annoyance, reluctantly agreeing to his demand. "I promise I won't reveal anything you tell me in confidence."

His gaze sweeps over my head and pins the guys with a glare.

When I glance at them over my shoulder, I see them standing with their arms crossed, their expressions harsh and implacable. Getting them to budge is going to take a miracle. Before I can argue my case, the world around me tilts, and the next thing I know, I'm on the ground with the guys hovering over me with concerned expressions.

My insides feel like they are being liquified, and breathing becomes difficult. I cough weakly, then wince when I take my hand away and it's speckled with blood.

"Ticktock," my demon father warns in a cavalier voice, but the tightness around his eyes betrays his agitation. "She doesn't have much time."

The guys exchange grim glances, and I weakly pat their hands. "Go. Wait in the hall. I'll be fine until you get back. Promise."

Soren growls in worry, his beast brushing against my mind, as if checking for himself that this isn't some sort of trick. Cassius squeezes my hand, the slight hiss of scales rubbing against each other coming from his basilisk, like it's coiling itself readying to strike, just waiting for my signal.

Tears sting my eyes at knowing they would risk everything for me, and I squeeze his hand back. Porter grunts in annoyance, brushing my sweaty hair away from my face. His cool shadow detaches from him and slips into my hair, and something inside me eases at knowing I won't be alone.

Even better, I'm technically not breaking my vow. It's not my fault that the demon didn't order me to protect his secrets as well.

I'm under no obligation to tell the dickhead about any spies.

Porter peers down at me, silently letting me know he would fight for me if I asked, and I lose a piece of my heart to him. I caress his face in wonder, as if seeing him for the first time, silently memorizing his handsome features, then I give him the reassurance he needs to be able to leave. "If he wanted me dead, I would be dead. I'll be here when you get back."

It's a promise.

With a shuddering breath, he presses his forehead against mine. "If you need us, we'll be right outside the door."

At my nod, he stands and lifts me in an amazing display of strength. He reluctantly settles me on the couch, then proceeds to fuss over me. After a minute, I catch his hand to stop him. His eyes flash toward mine with the hope that I changed my mind, but we both know there is no delaying the inevitable. He sighs and squeezes my hand before straightening and heading toward the door without once looking back.

I don't blame him.

If he looks back, he won't be able to force himself to leave again.

Cassius looks at me, his reluctance to leave in every line of his body. When I give a little shake of my head, asking him to stand down, he huffs and storms after Porter, stomping across the floor as he, too, leaves. Soren kisses the top of my head, brushing his cheek against mine before tearing himself away. He looks uncertain, and I give him a weak push. "Go. I'll be fine."

When he whirls away, he leaves burned footprints in his wake, steam rising from each one as he disappears through the door. Hopefully, he doesn't burn down the house while he's waiting.

The snick of the latch closing echoes in the silence, and I reluctantly turn to face my demon father. "I wish I could say I was looking forward to some father-daughter alone time, but I can't seem to catch a break in the family department. It's full of sadistic assholes and power hungry dickheads. Which one are you?"