Chapter Fifty-Nine

Demetria

Demetria’s body went numb, any idea of movement vanquished from her being, Ike rendering her helpless. The hope she had slowly leaked out like a pierced balloon, and her air went along with it. They should have never let their guard down, not even for a second.

Cynthia put her hands outward, and Demetria knew it wouldn’t work. He was using her to get what he wanted—the pendant.

Because Ike would die trying to fight for Sabrina. If he wasn't so hateful and selfish, it would have been romantic.

“Don’t even think about it,” Ike said. “That dragon will set this entire yard on fire in seconds, and Demetria will be tossed into the portal forever.”

Kerry shifted, quickly, and stepped toward Cynthia. “He’s not going to toss her in there,” he whispered to Cynthia. “He needs her to bring Sabrina back, and she is his vessel.”

There was a twinkle in Ike’s eye. “You’re right,” he said, tossing Demetria to the ground and lifting Cynthia up. Cynthia screamed, but invisible hands wrapped around her throat, strangling her words. Demetria stumbled to get up with Kerry helping her from the ground. “I need Demetria to bring back Sabrina, but I don’t need this witch or any of you. That dragon does as I say, and in seconds he will destroy everything in his sight."

Demetria glanced around the yard at the wolves, and her stomach dropped. Alpha Davers' body still lay to the side, and it formed tears in her eyes. She couldn't let him die in vain. She could try to use her magic against Ike, but she wasn’t sure she could get to him before he tossed Cynthia into the portal. She couldn't let her die over this either.

One life was one too many.

Dan had just found his second chance, and Demetria couldn’t let him lose it. He’d loved her sister fiercely, and he loved Claire the same. Swallowing her fear, she took a step forward, but Kerry refused to let go of her wrist.

He glanced at her in confusion. “What are you doing?” he whispered.

“I can’t let him kill her.”

Kerry shook his head. “I can’t let him kill you either, Demetria. I just found you. My wolf won't survive this. You deserve more."

“I grow tired of this,” Ike said, lifting Cynthia higher, her legs swinging in the air.

Demetria looked around, praying a plan would gather in her mind, but nothing stood out. The wolves still held Dom and Ivory on the ground, but Ike didn’t care about them, he was using them to get what he wanted.

Then there was the dragon. As if they needed anything else against them.

She looked at Roan, who eyed the dragon carefully. He’d fought it once, he said. He’d know how to do it again. They made eye contact, and he nodded as if he understood what she was asking of him.

“Cynthia isn’t going into the portal,” she said confidently. “And I’ll go with you if you spare them.”

Ike didn’t believe her. Why would he? “Come here,” he said, “and I’ll let this waste of space go.”

She pulled her arm from Kerry’s vice-like grip, and walked toward Ike. She saw the way he admired her from head to toe. He was very worried about his appearance; even with half of his hair missing, he smoothed it back against his head.

Demetria stopped a few feet from Ike, and he snaked his arm around her waist, keeping Cynthia dangling in the air. His gaze traveled over her face. “It won’t be long,” he said. "My sweet Sabrina will be here soon."

Without looking away from Demetria, he slung Cynthia toward the portal. Demetria’s scream ripped through her like electricity. She lunged for Cynthia but Ike held her back. Tears pooled in her eyes as Cynthia reached out for help.

Through the puddles in her gaze, she watched Dan leap forward, and snag Cynthia from the midst of the portal, jerking her back. He wasted no time before he launched at Ike, shifted, and took Ike's head into his mouth.

It startled even Demetria, and she sensed it coming.

The yard broke out into chaos. Roan swept over, dragging Demetria, and told Kerry, “We have to kill the dragon before Ike comes back. He will come back. There is no killing him this way.”

Kerry snatched Demetria away from Roan. “Seriously?” Roan asked. “I’m trying to help you save this pack. This girl hasn’t been this happy since dipshit left—whatever his name was—the ex-husband—and you’re worried about me being near her—”

“I got it,” Kerry said. “What do we do?”

Roan looked over his shoulder at Dan tossing Ike’s head, while Ivory and Dom struggled to break free from the wolves. The dragon began to grow restless, backing into a group of trees, and sending fire into the sky.

“Tell the pack to help me. We’ll take care of the dragon. You two need to overpower the witches and send them to Hell now.”

He jogged over to the dragon, shifting in mid-air, while Kerry signaled for half of the pack to follow him. Demetria turned to Cynthia who sat in Dan’s arms. “That was close,” she said. “We have to overpower him.”

Demetria nodded. “I think I have a plan. When I was in the other realm with them, he was reluctant to take off my finger. He said he thought that he could deal without it. If I try to sacrifice myself, potentially burn myself, it’ll distract him enough, because he desperately wants to keep me... dare I say, pretty? It has to be a big distraction or he'll send the dragon into chaos mode. It needs to be something that will distract him completely. Not a wolf attack, but an attack on what he sees as Sabrina."

Kerry shook his head. “I don’t like it. No. What if he doesn’t save you—”

“She’s right,” Cynthia said. “He is vain. He wants to make sure that Sabrina is being put into the body he remembers. He won’t let her get hurt, Kerry.”

Kerry closed his eyes and glanced over at Roan fighting the dragon with the other wolves. A tornado of inky dark magic appeared near Dom and Ivory. “That’s him. We need to agree,” she warned Kerry and cupped her hand over his jaw. “I’m going to be fine.”

He nodded. “You better be right. I don't care about your appearance, but I care about you," he said, tapping her mark.

She rested her forehead against his and smiled. "I'll jump toward the portal, you all be ready. Attack him as soon as he notices me. I'll make it look like an accident so he doesn't suspect anything."

Demetria stepped away from him and walked toward the portal. The flames licked at her skin. She readied herself, arms out, and waited for Ike to form. She was ready to end this.

Ike formed in front of her, his angry gaze sweeping over the grounds. Everyone looked ready for a fight, but none of it mattered to him when Demetria took a step toward the portal.

"No!" he shouted.