Chapter Sixty

Kerry

Watching Demetria make her way toward the portal sent vomit up Kerry’s throat. As if the sound of the wolves tearing into the dragon behind him wasn’t stressful enough, and the death of his alpha, now his mate was risking her life… again.

The inky blackness crawled upward from the ground and molded into Ike’s form.

When he blinked, realizing everything that happened, what little resolve he had left evaporated. Dan still cradled Cynthia to his chest, daring Ike to make a move and touch his mate again.

Ike’s deep chuckle melted into a low hum, and then a roar like he was the animal, not the pack. Putting his arms outward, his body shook, and he began to seethe. It reminded Kerry of a deranged 'Dragon Ball Z' character, and he fought his laugh.

Demetria made eye contact with him from across the yard and nodded. Stepping closer to the portal, Kerry curled his fingers into a fist. He could see the heat licking at her body, forming sweat against her skin. He went to step toward her, to stop the madness, when Ike looked over as if he sensed her pain. One arm dropped, and Demetria put her arms out, pretending as if she would toss a spell at him, slipping closer to the portal.

Ike turned his body to face her, and Kerry knew Demetria had been right.

Dan sat Cynthia down, glancing around at all of the wolves ready for action. Ike reached forward to bring Demetria toward him. It all seemed to happen in slow motion for Kerry.

But when he leaped into the air, everything fell back into place, and he pinned Ike facedown to the ground. Demetria and Cynthia both launched at Ike, trapping him with invisible hands.

Ike screamed, chanting something to the dragon, who Roan had down on its back as wolves continued to attack it.

Kerry stalked around Ike, ready to launch in case he broke free, but Demetria and Cynthia both looked in control. Ivory shouted from her place on the ground, pathetically asking for them to take her instead.

Demetria bent her knees, a determined look on her face, lifting Ike higher in the sky as he had Cynthia moments before.

The fierce look on her face made Kerry proud.

“You don’t know what you’re doing,” he said.

“I know what I’m doing,” she said. “I’m sending you where you belong. Away from me and my family. We’ve all suffered enough.”

There was a lost look in his eye, one that Kerry had seen before, it mimicked the one that looked back at him in the mirror for years.

Ike was scared to lose his life. Scared to lose Sabrina again.

It didn’t justify everything, but it made Kerry understand the lengths he was going to bring her back.

But once someone died they didn’t come back.

Not naturally.

And Kerry wanted nothing to do with someone that thought so highly of themselves that they could bring someone back from the dead.

Ike’s eyes turned a fiery red as he struggled against the invisible restraints. Kerry watched him attempt to come up with a new plan, but everything began to unravel, and his shoulders slumped.

He gave up. It was a look Kerry wasn't sure he'd ever see on this man's face.

Kerry kept a close eye on Ivory and Dom as they watched helplessly from the group of wolves. Demetria and Cynthia worked together to move him toward the portal. Fire licked up toward the sky.

“Save her,” he said helplessly. “Let her go.”

“What?” Demetria asked. “Save who?”

Ike closed his eyes. “Sabrina. She’s… she’s near. She’s in my bird.”

Ivory gasped dramatically. “Ike, you’ve tortured her—”

He whipped his head around. “You killed her, you cunt!”

Ivory swallowed and lowered her gaze to the ground. Kerry closed his eyes and tried not to remember all the times he tossed the bird against trees, and tortured her himself.

Demetria looked disgusted. “You kept her in a bird Ike—”

“It was the only way I could keep her near for whenever I found you. Having you catch her and bring her here was just a perk. Let her go,” he said.

“How?” Demetria demanded.

A single tear raced down his cheek. “With the pendant. I used the pendant to bring her spirit here. She can’t go into a living being unless it's her reincarnated human, so I put her into my bird. Just release her.”

Cynthia had a disgusted look on her face.

“What do you want me to tell her?” Demetria asked. “Any final words?”

Ike glanced at the dragon falling back and withering at the gaping hole the wolves had torn into it. “Tell her I’m sorry I failed. To go be free, and forget about me.”

Demetria’s bottom lip trembled, and Kerry thought she almost wavered, but it was short-lived.

Like the flick of a pen, she tossed him into the portal, flames engulfing him. A welcoming gesture for the added evil of his new home.

Kerry walked over to Demetria, who fell to the ground in exhaustion.

Cynthia sat beside her, resting her head against her shoulder.

The dragon shrieked loudly and disappeared. Roan, who had been standing on top of it, fell to the ground, landing on his feet. “Not again!” he shouted. “I almost had it.”

Ivory cursed under her breath. “Let us go,” she said, trying to break free. “We didn’t do this to you—”

“Shut up,” Demetria said. “Put them both in the dungeon, and I’ll put a spell over it to keep them there. I’ll figure out what to do with them later. I’m tired.”

Kerry bent down and scooped her into his arms.

Demetria didn’t use magic often, so when she did it wore her out. He carried her toward the group of wolves near the dragon. Claire and Axel shifted and ran to meet them. Axel’s face was stern; it was the face of a child who just lost their father.

“I’m so sorry,” Demetria mumbled.

Axel shifted to hide his face, while Claire placed her palm on his shoulder. “What do you need from us?”

Kerry cleared his throat. “Just help them get the witches to the dungeon.”

“Demetria needs to rest,” Cynthia said, walking over. “I’ll put something over the cells. Take her to rest. I’ll come to see about you all in a while. She needs water.”

Kerry tried to make eye contact with Axel, but he stared off into space, avoiding anyone’s eyes. Kerry took Demetria to his house in silence. The moon hung beautifully large in the sky, almost mocking them, so calm and peaceful during the midst of their turmoil.

Kerry kicked in his door, avoiding Cynthia’s room where the bird—Sabrina—rested, and took her toward the bed. “I need a shower,” she whispered, her pretty gaze lifted to his. “Will you take one with me? I’d love a long hug.”

Kerry nodded. “As long as you need, D.”