Page 48 of Snow

Chills scrape through my insides. Nova is screaming. Fear and rage rattle my veins but I stay quiet, stay in the shadows.

Miranda didn’t know I followed her here, just like she didn’t hear me following her across the green. She thinks she’s sealed the room, locked the others out, and with them any chance of Nova escaping.

But she’s wrong.

Nova is tied to the bed, her shirt torn open. Miranda — or the demon living inside Miranda’s skin — sheds its witch-shaped chrysalis and becomes its true self. A monstrous creature with tentacles and scales, its inky black eyes fixed on her.

It starts to speak, but I stop it in its tracks.

With one quick leap, I jump from the corner of the room and clamp my jaws down on its arm. Its tentacles writhe and hiss. It shakes me off. I lunge again, my jaws snapping, aiming for its throat.

It swipes at me with a clawed hand, but I dodge, my wolf reflexes keeping me just out of reach.

We circle each other, the demon's gaze never leaving mine. I can sense its power, the dark energy that radiates from its twisted form. But I have power, too, born of my love for Nova and my determination to protect her.

To finally be of use.

I jump to the left, then dart right, my teeth sinking into the demon's shoulder this time. It howls in pain and rage, its tentacles lashing out, trying to catch me. I let go, then twist and roll, using my smaller size to my advantage, then leap up and bite again.

I have hold of two tentacles. I bite down. Its teeth puncture the inside of my mouth, but I keep biting.

The demon’s blood is hot and acrid in my mouth, but I don’t let go. I shake my head violently, tearing at its scales, feeling them give way beneath my fangs. The creature screams, a sound that seems to shatter the air. But then, with a final, desperate lunge, I lock my jaws around its throat. I bite down with all my strength, feeling my teeth puncture its hide, sinking deep into the pulsing darkness of its veins.

The demon convulses, its tentacles flailing wildly, two of them half hanging off. And then, with a sickening crunch, I feel its windpipe collapse under my jaws. I hold on, even as its thrashing grows weaker, until finally, it goes limp, its black eyes staring sightlessly at the ceiling.

I release my grip, panting heavily. The demon’s body begins to dissolve, melting away into a puddle of foul-smelling tar. I turn my attention to Nova, shifting back to my human form as I rush to her side.

“Nova,” I whisper, my hands shaking as I fumble with her restraints. “It's okay. I'm here. You're safe. I’ve got you.”

Her eyes flutter open. “Sam,” she croaks, her voice hoarse from screaming. “You came.”

“Always,” I promise, gathering her into my arms as the last of the straps fall away. I hold her close, feeling her heart beat against mine. “I’ll always come for you, Nova. Always.”

She clings to me, her body shaking with sobs. I stroke her hair, murmuring soothing words, even as my own eyes sting with tears.

Over her shoulder, I see the remains of the demon, now nothing more than a dark stain on the floor.

“Get this off,” she says, pulling at the gemstone that is still stuck to her belly.

“I’m not sure we should…”

She ignores me, ripping it free with a grimace, and leaving an ugly red welt on her beautiful skin.

As she rubs her stomach, I lift her into my arms, cradling her against my chest. She feels so small, so fragile, and my heart aches for her. I know she's strong, stronger than anyone I've ever met, but right now, she needs me to be her strength.

I carry her out of the room, navigating the dimly lit corridors of the museum. The others are in Mack's room, and that's where we need to be. Together. Always together. All of us.

As I push open the door, the sight that greets me makes my stomach clench. Mack is lying in the bed, his face pale and drawn. He looks worse than I've ever seen him.

Tanner and Kole are at his side, their expressions grim. They look up as I enter, their eyes widening at the sight of Nova in my arms.

“What happened?” Tanner demands, rising to his feet.

“Miranda," I reply, my voice tight. “Yuri was telling the truth. It wasn’t her, it was some kind of demon. It had her. I killed it…” I trail off, looking down at Nova. She’s still clinging to me, her face buried in my chest.

Kole steps forward, his hand outstretched as if to touch her, but he hesitates. “Is she hurt?”

I shake my head. “I don't think so. Not physically. But it did something to her powers. She couldn’t use them, and it was using some kind of stone.” I lower Nova into the bed opposite Mack’s. Tanner rushes to her side, and I point out the place where the stone fused to her flesh, and where she ripped it free.