Page 25 of Love Summoned

“The lights.” Jett smacks a palm over his thigh. “Why didn’t I think of that?”

“I’m gonna take a guess that you were thinking of other things.” Lennox chuckles.

Talking with my brothers has eased some of the tension I’ve been carrying all day. Even though my troubles are no closer to being solved or understood, these two have always had a way of grounding me, of making me feel less alone in this life.

The smile drops from my face as my hands burn, and my heart feels like it’s being squeezed. A tugging sensation through my back drags me down. My eyes widen, and I look up at my brothers. They all feel it too. Catori is summoning us back.

Being dragged back to Hell is like falling through a frozen lake, unable to find the surface. Your lungs burn, and hands claw for escape, but there is no escape. These are the depths where you belong.

Despite Hell’s reputation for being hot, that’s not all it is. It smells rotten, like unquenchable greed. The hive mind rings around you in a high-pitched tone, singing songs to the tune of selfishness, lies, and loathing that make your skin tight and tingly.

“What have you found?” Catori’s voice booms through the darkened chamber once Len, Jett and me are dropped to the ground in front of him. Our warden doesn’t raise his voice; that’s just the power it wields with ease. “I thought I was sending my most trusted men to complete a simple task. I’m running out of time and you still can’t find the bloodline?”

Hynde stands to Catori’s right, along with a few other soldiers, some of whom I recognize from last night’s fight who weren’t vanquished.

We come to our feet, Jett and me standing behind Lennox as he addresses Catori.

“So far only wolves have been drawn out from the staged attacks. We have no reason to believe they’re any relation to the blood of the witches you seek,” Lennox answers, hands linked behind his back, stance wide and confident.

“I’m starting to question whether you’re all taking this threat seriously.” Catori’s taloned hands drum over the armrest of his throne. “Need I remind you a threat against me is a threat on us all?”

“No, Lord Catori.” The question was directed at me and my brothers, but every soul in the chamber echoes the response.

“Seer,” Catori calls.

The dark witch steps forward from the shadows, the place where she always hides, quietly observing. The sheer, black tulle of Chimere’s dress drags over the dusty stone floor as she comes to stand beside Catori.

“Yes, my king,” she croons as she lays a gentle touch on his shoulder.

Catori wraps an arm behind her back then pulls her across his lap. He drags a claw down her throat and chest, dipping into the cup of her halter top. “Remind me again of what you saw.”

Chimere sighs as she leans back and lifts her chest higher. Catori teases her breast beneath the fabric. “Many moons ago, there was a great battle between witches and demons. Lives were lost on both sides. A powerful coven known as The Seven Sisters offered a ceasefire by way of a blood oath to protect their town and their people. But it was a trick. A lie. When the blood was drawn, Catori was dragged to Hell, never to set foot in the human realm again.” Chimere gasps as Catori shifts her top aside, exposing her breast. His forked tongue flicks over her pebbled nipple.

“Very good.” Catori groans. I drop my head when Chimere moans louder as his hand disappears beneath her skirt. “Keep going.”

“I have seen a new threat. A descendant from the Seven Sisters bloodline means to vanquish Catori once and for all, and with him, all of his creations. If the witch is not found and destroyed by the next full moon, Catori falls.”

“The next full moon?” We’ve all heard the story. Our warden only says this to make us look incompetent in front of the other demons, to imply we don’t give a shit about saving Catori and all of his demon underlings.

Chimere gasps, her breath growing quicker. “That’s in one.” A moan. “Two,” Chimere cries out. “Weeks. We’re running out of time.”

“Yes. Yes.” Catori plays with Chimere, filling the room with her calls of pleasure.

“Hynde tells me there are witches in Hemlock.” He snarls, his own voice turning hot and ragged. The blood in my veins turns to sludge. It takes everything in me not to lift my eyes to Hynde. How much has he told Catori?

“Yes.” Lennox clears his throat. “But they are not local to the area. We have no reason to believe their business has anything to do with the current threat.”

“How can you be sure?”

“Nix has been surveilling them,” Len says without hesitation, as he lies to our warden in order to protect me. “They show no interest in us. They mostly keep to themselves.”

Catori looks up at Hynde who gives him a single nod. Lennox is the leader of our group. He has been ever since I arrived a century ago. My fists tighten as I stare at Hynde. What are you up to?

“Be wary of them.” Catori’s blue eyes burn to almost white as they bore into mine. “They’re conniving little things. Can’t be trusted.” It feels personal the way he speaks the words to me. Blood slips down Chimere’s side where he clutches her, his other hand still hidden beneath her dress. “Two weeks. Find the witch. Or Hynde will lead an army to storm every corner of the country. No souls left unclaimed.”

My heart seizes as Chimere’s orgasm finally crests, echoing off the walls. Her wails of pleasure threaten to drown out Catori’s warning, but it’s there.

Hynde’s jaw clenches as I meet his glare. He must have told Catori that I’m the one stalling because my head isn’t in this mission. It’s with Sera. He can’t have told him about the gold magic that binds us. If he’s going to say anything, why protect me with this? He’s my brother, but it’s no secret we clash the most in our found family of four, his loyalty is with Catori, as all of ours should be.