Page 105 of Bloodhunter

The trap was waiting.

Iwas waiting.

“When a demon is sick,” Joseph told me, “and then he gorgeson a human’s essence—in this case several humans—it doesn’t make him stronger.It keeps him alive, but it makes him sluggish even as it takes away the pain.Sort of like a human taking huge doses of painkillers after a trauma.”

I knew all about that.

“If he eatsregularhumans,” Rhys said. “If hemunched on our Trinity, he’d get his power, wouldn’t he?”

“Indeed,” the exorcist agreed. “But we won’t let him haveTrinity.”

“He munched on me once,” I said, shuddering. “Why is hestill weak?”

“I was told he got only a small taste.” Joseph waited for mynod before continuing. “You gave him the strength to kill eight humans. Yougave him the strength to continue with his quest. Nothing more.”

I stared at him. “I didn’tgivehim shit.”

His throat bobbed as he swallowed. “I’m sorry. I didn’tmean—”

“Just…” I took a deep breath. “I don’t want to kill you.Surely there’s another way.”

“You went over this with him already,” Miriam snapped. “Ithas to be done.”

Joseph nodded, his face serene, but his eyes…excited.Hopeful. “Don’t hesitate, Trinity. You’ll have only seven minutes before hefrees himself from me—those minutes will go quickly. Aim for my heart, oncehe’s inside me.” He swept his gaze over all of us. “Do not go inside thecircle. When the demon falls and the seven minutes are over, you’ll be safe.Not a second before.”

Apparently, when the demon possessed Joseph, the demon’sbody would be left behind. Not his glamoured body, but his true demon body.That would be the proof human law enforcement would need to clear thesupernaturals.

I hoped.

Joseph looked at Clayton. “Start it.”

Joseph’s one request was that the scene be recorded. Hewanted the world to see his sacrifice. They wouldn’t see Seth Damon until hisspirit left his body to enter the exorcist. Then it would appear, as itsun-glamoured physical entity, and could be recorded.

At least that was what Joseph said when he unfolded histripod with the camera facing the door.

I wasn’t sure I believed him.

The exorcist gave me a quick, eager nod. “Call him from hissleep, Trinity.”

The world took a deep breath, one that would not be releaseduntil this night had ended.

I stepped forward, drawing Silverlight—Joseph had salted andblessed her, and I’d been nearly certain I could hear her silently screaming—mytoes at the edge of the trap. I opened my mouth to call out, but my voice wasn’tneeded at all.

He didn’t need to hear my voice. He needed only to feel mypresence. I was close, and I was his everything.

Silverlight burst to life, lighting the house, the sky, theground. She wanted the demon as much as I did.

“Open yourself up, Ms. Sinclair,” Joseph screamed. “Offeryourself to the incubus!”

“How do I…I don’t know how toopenmyself,” I said.

But then suddenly, I did.

I dropped walls that had been built the moment I’d beenborn. Walls I hadn’t even been aware of. Walls I’d begun instinctively raisingafter the incubus had attacked me in the woods. I planted my feet, straightenedmy spine, and I welcomed the demon to come claim me.

And he came.

I felt his pull, now that I’d opened myself to him, but likelynot nearly as much as he felt mine. I felt his need, even through my terror. Asthe door flew from its hinges, the demon raced to peer through the opening, andhis glowing stare found me immediately.