Demons of the Sun (32 page)

“I’m the Warrior. It’s kind of my job.” Jax swayed, and she and Wallace worked to steady him.

“Like I said, you take it easy, I’ll fight.”

“Never going to happen, babe.”

Persephone wanted to argue, but she knew how she felt when people told her she couldn’t fight. So she handed him his weapon and retrieved the sword she’d gotten from under the bar.

Jax glanced over his shoulder at the entrance, where several men were set up waiting. “I feel like a coward running away.”

“So do I.” Persephone tightened the arm around his waist. “But I guess sometimes retreating’s the right choice. I think we already got beat up pretty good today.”

A loud crack filled the room as something slammed into the front doors, splintering the wood.

“You guys get out of here.” Mara pushed them toward the back exit. “I’ll get in touch as soon as I can.”

Persephone and Jax, along with Wallace and Analise, rushed to the back door. The second they stepped outside, Persephone saw glowing red eyes, several sets, coming for them.

Wallace raised his sword. “There’s more than we thought. Analise and I will fight them off. You two—”

The demons charged for them.

“—get in the van!”

Persephone ran toward the black van, but a pair of demons cut her off. Jax stepped in front of her. His arm trembled as he raised his sword. He lunged for the one on the left; Persephone attacked the one on the right.

She killed him, but right behind him came another, larger and stronger than any she’d seen before. The demon blocked her blow with his forearm, grabbed the end of her sword and yanked. She stumbled forward and found herself up close and personal with the demon’s chest. 

“You’re coming with us,” he snarled, tearing the sword from her hand.

Persephone swung her fist into the side of his face. Pain traveled up her arm. The hit didn’t even faze him, but it felt like she’d broken bones.

His massive hand clamped onto her arm. He pulled her toward the mouth of the alley, where Wallace and Analise were fighting.

Persephone tugged against him, trying to break free.

The demon lurched forward with a yelp. Keeping his iron grip on her, he whipped around. Jax stood there, sweat across his forehead, face pale. Black blood dripped from the tip of his blade. He swung his sword again, and the demon let her go.

The demon blocked as Jax advanced on him, driving the creature backward.

Persephone scanned the ground for a weapon. Anything to help. She spotted a wooden pallet, lifted it, and slammed it into the side of the beast’s head. He staggered, and Jax thrust his blade into the demon’s stomach. He yanked up, ripping open the demon’s abdomen. He dislodged the sword and swept the blade across the demon’s neck.

The demon’s head went one way, the body went the other.

Jax propped his hands on his knees, gasping for air.

The van squealed to a stop next to them, Analise behind the wheel.

“Time to go!” Wallace sprinted to the van door and flung it open. He helped Persephone get Jax inside, and then Analise tore out of the alley.

Demons swarmed the entrance to Carrefour, red eyes dotting the black night. Their forms got smaller as the van sped in the opposite direction. Persephone’s heart sank as she thought about the people they were leaving behind—people who’d come to help and were now fighting her fight for her. People about to die.

Persephone ran her fingers through Jax’s hair as he dozed. He’d put his head on her lap after they’d collapsed onto the couch and drifted off in a matter of minutes. He was still pale, with dark circles showing under his eyes, but he was breathing steadily.

He came so close to dying.
Way too close.

And with all my nightmares coming true…

As soon as he woke up, she was going to tell him everything. About her nightmares, how she’d seen the members of the Order who’d turned up dead before they’d died, how the demons called her their queen, and how strongly she felt the pull. She only hoped once she’d confessed everything, he’d still want to be with her.

Because she loved him, and she was going to tell him that, too.

She relaxed into the couch cushions, the cuts on her back stinging, and closed her eyes. 

A knock sounded on the door, pulling her out of the heavy, almost-asleep haze. Persephone slipped out from under Jax and tiptoed to the door. Through the peephole, she saw Mara standing on the other side.

Quiet as she could, Persephone eased open the door and invited Mara in.

Gashes split Mara’s dark skin—a deep one on the neck, and several on her arms. “It’s nothing,” she said, apparently noticing Persephone’s alarm.

“It doesn’t look like nothing,” Persephone whispered.

Mara nodded her chin toward Jax and kept her voice soft. “How is he?”

“Okay, I think. His cuts are healing quickly, and so far the blood doesn’t seem to have had any negative effects on him. Thank you for saving him—for getting me to do what needed to be done. For everything.” She put her hand on Mara’s elbow. “What about the rest of the people who came to help…Are they…?”

“We lost a few,” Mara said, her voice raw, like she’d been crying. “Eventually, we managed to push the demons back enough to get away.” Her hand shook as she ran it through her braids. “I’ve never seen so many in one place, and they were huge.” She took in a deep breath and blew it out. “I guess I didn’t realize how bad it could get. And I’m afraid it’s going to get worse.” Her eyes lifted to Persephone’s. “More are coming. Rumor is, Hades is coming, too.”

“You think they know about the dagger?”

“The dagger was never mentioned. They said they were looking for their queen.”

Ice traveled down Persephone’s veins, making her cold inside and out.

“What’s that mean?” The voice came from behind her. Persephone turned and saw Jax leaning against the wall, eyes on her.

Mara didn’t say anything, simply continued staring at Persephone.

She knows. She knows they think I’m their queen.

Jax pushed off the wall and took a few slow steps forward. He put his hand under Persephone’s chin and tipped her head up. “What is it? You know where their queen is?”

Trying to keep the tears from coming, she bit her lip. “It’s me. They want me. They think I’m…” Looking into his eyes hurt too much, so she focused on a spot on the wall over his shoulder and forced the words out. “They think I’m their queen. Because of my blood. In my dreams…” The icy sensation increased until it felt like her internal organs were dead and frozen. “I don’t think I can stop it.”

Jax’s arms came around her. “No talking like that.”

“But the blood and the pull.” Her voice cracked. “You don’t realize how strong it is. Because of me you guys were hurt tonight, and I’m afraid you’re going to get hurt again, and it’ll be all my fault.”

“I’m not going to let you cop out because of a little demon blood. We’ll stop them, we’ve just got to come up with a plan.”

Determination filled Mara’s features. “He’s right. No way we’re giving in. I’ll gather everyone I can, and we’ll be ready when they come.”

Jax nodded. “I think it’s time I called for a little Warrior back up. If it’s a fight Hades wants, we’ll give him one.”

As Mara and Jax sprung into action mode, the world seemed to blur. Persephone stood in place, anxiety and guilt weighing her down.
None of it’s going to work. I’ve got to figure out a way to fix it on my own, before I get everyone killed.

“I’ll be in touch,” Mara said, bringing Persephone back to the present. Mara hugged her. “There’s no way we’re letting them take you. You belong on our side.” A quick encouraging smile and she was on her way out the door.

Jax slammed his phone down on the counter and turned to Persephone. “I can’t get a hold of anyone back home. Something’s wrong.” She could tell from the look on his face, she wasn’t going to like what he was about to say. “I’ve got to go back to West Virginia and see what’s happened.”

The thought of him leaving made all the air shoot out of her lungs. Working to mask her pain, she managed a nod. “I understand.”

He put his hand on the side of her neck. “You’re coming with me. You’ll be safe, we’ll get help, and the demons won’t be able to reach you anymore.”

“I can’t run away.”

“Just till it’s safe.”

Her chin quivered. “It’ll never be safe. I want to go with you, I do, but I can’t. I can’t leave the dagger unguarded, and bringing it out in the open without protection from all the spells, it’ll bring all Hell down on us. And I’m talking literally.”

Not to mention handling it now, hearing its call, I’m terrified I might just answer it.

“Going for help is the only way I know to keep you safe,” he said, his words coming out in a whisper. “I don’t want to leave you, but it’s the only thing I can think of that gives us a fighting chance.”

The logic was there but it didn’t stop her from wanting a different solution. One that didn’t leave him or her way too exposed for comfort.

But if he’s not here, he’ll be safer. At least he’ll have a fighting chance of making it. By my side…

“You’re right,” she said, even though the words were physically painful for her to say. “You need to go.” A traitorous tear ran down her cheek, and she swiped it away.

Lips clamped together, he turned and started packing a bag. “The sooner I go, the sooner I get back.”

“Take my car. It’ll be faster.”

He shook his head. “No way. You need it. I’ll take a bus to Alabama and pick up my truck. I’ll be to West Virginia and back before you know it.”

The ten minutes it took for him to pack wasn’t near long enough for her to prepare for his departure.

“Promise me you won’t go out after dark while I’m gone.” His gaze met hers, and she thought about how much she’d miss those blue eyes.

“I’ll be careful,” she said.

He raised his eyebrows and crossed his arms. Obviously that wasn’t the answer he wanted.

“Fine,” Persephone said. “I’ll stay in after dark.”

Apparently satisfied, he nodded. He moved his sword to his belt and readjusted his bag. She felt hollow as she walked to the door with him.

She put her hand on his arm and gently ran her thumb over the spot where she’d given him blood. “Are you sure you shouldn’t wait until morning? You almost died earlier tonight.”

That cocky grin of his spread across his face. “It’s going to take a lot more than some freaky snake chick to take me out.”

She tried to smile back, but she couldn’t. “Be careful. And If you get held up, or if it’s too dangerous for you to come back, then don’t—”

“I’ll be back. No matter what.”

“But just in case you don’t, you should know—”

He put his finger to her lips, cutting off her words for the second time. “I’m coming back for you.”

Heart pounding, she stared up at him, fighting tears. She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him. Heat traveled through her as he covered her mouth with his. She melded her body to his, parted her lips and kissed him with the riotous mixture of emotions coursing through her. Urgency, worry, love—she threw it all in there, soaking in every detail of his lips, his taste, and how it felt to be pressed against him.