Page 56 of Bedeviled

Finally, Memnon releases the demon. Along our connection, I sense his churning nausea, and I cannot fathom what my husband must’ve seen to make him, of all people, queasy.

Maelverynox is whispering something under his breath. “…Serve to, serve to, serve to…”

Memnon and I share a look.

“What’s he talking about?” I ask.

The sorcerer shakes his head, scowling. “I don’t know, his thoughts were more muddled than what I’m used to.”

Because the creature wasn’t human, and thus Memnon’s magic could only imperfectly perform what it was used to doing.

The demon rouses from his stupor with force, trying fruitlessly to lunge up from the ground, his lips drawn back. “I will rip your face off with my bare hands⁠—”

Memnon laughs low and hollow, reaching for a blade sheathed at his thigh, his magic still riding him hard. I tense as he draws the weapon. I sense now that though my soul mate has managed to restrain his power, his humanity has become untethered.

He taps the end of the blade to the scar on his face. “Someone already tried that.” His eyes blaze so terribly bright. “It ended worse for him than it did me. But sure”—he lifts his chin—“try it.”

“You motherfucker, I will eat you alive and make you watch as I …” Maelverynox slips into Demonish, promising foulness I can neither understand, nor likely fathom.

Memnon grabs the demon by the hair, forcing his head back.

My soul mate pauses then, glancing over at me. When he’s like this, when his power has soaked into every vein and pore and his mind is wholly consumed by it, he is another force altogether.

I don’t know what he sees on my face or pries from my thoughts, but he says in that unsettling voice of his, “I will spare you these grisly sights.”

He raises his free hand. “Sleep.”

CHAPTER 12

I wake to the sensation of my body rising.

You owe us…forgotten queen… the Hungering Ones hiss.

I blink up at Memnon, who cradles me in his arms. His eyes still glow, his hair still billows around him and his power swarms us.

“She owes you nothing,” Memnon proclaims in that unearthly tone. “You have the blood you insisted she give you. Feast on it and consider yourselves paid.”

The many voices hiss as one. …That was not the agreement…

I’m waking up rapidly. There is no sign of Maelverynox—not that I can see much in the dim light.

“You asked for blood,” Memnon responds. “You didn’t specify whose.”

I didn’t tell Memnon that, which means he either overheard my thoughts when I made the deal or he rifled through my mind.

The earth quiets at that.

I run my palm along his cheek. “Thank you for coming for me,” I say softly. “You kept me safe, est xsaya.”

His body trembles, and he shakes his head. “Not yet. You are not safe yet.”

With that, he carries me to his fancy sports car and, using his magic to open the passenger door, sets me inside. Nero hops in after me, draping his body over mine.

I run my hands over my panther’s fur as Memnon gets in. The sorcerer’s magic still grips him fast.

The car’s engine roars to life, and I jolt at the sound.

The sorcerer’s hand falls to the back of my neck, and when I glance at him I see that his illuminated eyes are fixed on me. It takes me another moment to realize he’s concerned for me.